Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Munich Tourist Office, India, has launched a specialist-training program called Munich Travel Guru for the travel trade. The programme builds on the theme ‘Simply Munich’ and engages the travel trade through 10 online informative modules. The participants will have to score a minimum of 90 per cent in each module to proceed to the next level. Once the participant clears all modules and becomes a Munich Travel Guru, certificate will be issued online and the early birds will be rewarded. SanJeet, India Representative, Munich Tourist Office, said, “We have been actively working with our travel partners with an objective to create the buzz and help build business for Munich City. The program has also been designed specially to enhance knowledge of the frontline staff through extensive education and sell packages to Munich more effectively.” As per the latest statistics, Munich has recorded a year-on-year growth of 21 per cent during January–June 2016 in Indian visitor arrivals and 14 per cent growth in Indian overnights.

Bali has witnessed around 55.47% growth in Indian visitor arrivals to the country during the first six months of 2016 as compared to the same period last year, according to the Bali Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD). India ranked sixth for inbound visitor arrivals in 2015 for Bali. During January-June this year, 92,519 Indian tourists have travelled to the Bali as compared to 59,509 tourists for the same period last year, according to data released by BPPD. “Our focus is on the MICE se­gment. Factors such as marketin­g support for BPPD Ba­li, support from the Emba­ssy and Consulate, efforts o­f the Ministry of Tou­rism of the Republic ­of Indonesia and most­ importantly Visa on ­Arrival for Indians re­ally helped to achieve­ this sustainable gro­wth of over 50 per cent in fi­rst six months of 201­6,” said Vineet Gopal, D­irector India, Bali T­ourism Promotion Boar­d.

The flight frequency between Delhi and South Korea is set to increase to 12 flights per week by this December owning to an increase of 47.9 per cent in Indian visitor arrivals to the country. While Korean Air will be launching its Delhi operations in the month of December with five times a week frequency, Asiana Airline has increased its operations from three to five times a week from Delhi and plans to operate daily in the near future. As per Korea Tourism Organisation, New Delhi office, South Korea welcomed 88,917 visitors from India by the end of July 2016, which is an increase of 47.9 per cent as compared to the same period  of the previous year. According to Byungsun Lee, Director Korea Tourism Organization, “The tourism board’s effort on educating the travel trade partners to promote the destination in the best possible manner, the proactive business approach from the DMCs have been the key factors in the result. Over 1,50,000 Indians visited South Korea last year and we have almost 90,000 within seven months. So we are confident of surpassing the last year’s numbers by the end of 2016. As we approach the festival season and the winter holiday season, we plan to widen our efforts and establish South Korea as a preferred leisure destination amongst various traveller segments including families, honeymooners and adventure lovers.”

Looking at the increased number of Indian tourists to Australia, Tourism Australia is planning to increase direct flights to the country from major Indian cities as part of their marketing campaign in metro cities. Indian arrivals to Australia continued to reflect the positive trend with 21 per cent growth in year ending June 2016 as compared to June 2015, making India the ninth largest inbound market for Australia in terms of tourist arrivals. Australia witnessed the maximum number of tourists from Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. John O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Tourism Australia, said, “Australia will lobby for more flights connecting India. The promotion with regard to India will be focused on three points – lobbying for more flights, designing tourism products that will give more value for the tourists and to integrate content of promotion by adding local flavor.” Scoot Airlines, which offers competitive fares and quick connection from Singapore, has eased the travel woes a bit. This has also increased the volume of tourists in recent months. However, there is very little scope to increase flights via Singapore, because Singapore Airlines has almost exhausted their quota of flights into India. Source: Times of India

Seychelles records 62 per cent increase in tourist arrivals from India during January-July 2016, compared to the same period last year. This surge in the arrivals can be attributed to the India tourist office’s increasing focus on educating and hand holding the trade to better promote the destination, increase in Air Seychelles daily flights from four to five times a week, special efforts from the hotels and DMCs to tap the India market and increasing efforts to reach out to the customer through association with Bollywood and other avenues. Sherin Naiken, CEO, Seychelles Tourism Board, said, “We are thrilled with the way India market has responded to our efforts. We have seen a phenomenal increase in arrivals since we opened office three years ago. However, this is not the time to bask in the current successes and relax. As we enter the pre-honeymoon and festival season we will double our efforts to reach out to both travel trade and consumers. We are fortunate to have supportive partners like Air Seychelles, the DMCs and the hotels who walk with us hand in hand in going the extra mile to support the India travel trade. As a result, owing to its diversity, we have been able to position Seychelles as a destination which is meant for all – families, couples, small groups, celebrations and MICE.” New hotels have opened in the Seychelles in the past one year giving tourists more options. Carana Beach Hotel, the 40 chalet four-star property in North Mahe, opened its doors to guests in April 2016. It is the only resort in its category to boast of in-villa plunge-in pools. Dubai-based H Hotel and Resort Management Company opened …

The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) is currently on a five-city roadshow that started from Mumbai on Aug 22 and reached Ahmedabad on Aug 23. The delegation will then travel to New Delhi on August 25, Bengaluru on August 26 and finally concluding in Chennai on August 27. Leading a 30-member delegation from Mauritius was Kevin Ramakaloan, Director, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. Mumbai saw attendance from more than 170 agents and tour operators and about 15 wedding planners from India to meet the international sellers. Ramkaloan said, “The Indian market is extremely important for Mauritius. We have over the years seen an increase in the tourist numbers from India. But recently, as of last year, we have seen a 20 per cent increase, we hope to reach the 100,000 mark by 2017 with the help of MPTA India. Apart from honeymooners, we are targeting the MICE segment as well as cruise tourism. We currently see around 5,000 arrivals for MICE from India so we can easily double and even treble this number.” He added, “In 2015 Mauritius we had growth from 2014-15 of more than 11 per cent in the number of tourist arrivals. And close to eight to nine per cent in terms of tourist earnings. This year we would like to continue this growth and hence from 1.15 million tourists overall coming to Mauritius grew to 1.2 million. India represents 72,000 tourists per year. Last year we did a 20 per cent increase which brought us to 72,000 tourists from India. For the half from January to July this year, we did 12 per cent increase. Just in July we saw 43 per cent increase in arrivals. By 2017 we should …

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi are in the midst of a four-city roadshow. TAT Delhi began the roadshow with Raipur on August 18 and Bhubaneshwar (August 20) while TAT Mumbai will take the annual initiative to the travel trade in Hyderabad (August 22) and Pune (August 24). “We are taking the Thailand product beyond metros because we are also experiencing huge traffic and interest from these cities,” says Soraya Homchuen, director, TAT Mumbai office. “The focus of the roadshow will be new segments and new regions. In Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata we have already announced our focus on families, women-only holidays, bachelorette parties and luxury-seekers. We have already begun to see traction for new regions such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Rayong, Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan,” adds Homchuen. The Amazing Thailand roadshow will see over a dozen suppliers visit all four cities. Sellers will be briefed on each city’s unique needs and way of doing business, along with demand-related information, trends and connectivity to ensure that they are on the same page as the travel trade who will attend the roadshow. “The focus of the roadshow will be new segments and new regions. In Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata we have already announced our focus on families, women-only holidays, bachelorette parties and luxury-seekers in a clear shift away from bachelor parties and budget holiday makers. Additionally we have showcased and begun to see traction for new regions all over Thailand such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Rayong, Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan,” adds Homchuen. She and the team …

The Reunion Island Tourism Board (French Island in Indian Ocean) has announced the appointment of Representation World LLP as its representative office in India. Representation World LLP has been tasked to implement ongoing public relations and travel trade programs, to educate potential travellers on the destination’s unique attributes, thereby attracting a larger number of visitors to Reunion Island from India. Reunion Island aims to receive more Indian Tourist, with this Partnership with Representation World. “Reunion Island offering Activities for all segment of the travellers be it in Air – Paragliding, Heli Tours , On Land – Casino, Culture Tour, Lava Caves. In Water – Deep Sea Diving, Coral Tours, Surfing, Canyoning etc will surely be interest of Indian Traveller and 42% whole Island is Protected by UNESCO world heritage and only place to see Volcanic Eruption even by hiking. The Mars Surface resemblance will definitely attract Indian Visitors Said Mr. William TECHER Head of Marketing & Promotion INDIA. Vineet Gopal, Director, Representation World LLP added, “We are thrilled & honoured to represent the Reunion Tourism Board in India. The destination offering will definitely attract Indian Honeymooners, Family, Adventure Tourist, etc. Also the 15 Days Short Stay Visa simplification for Indian who wish to travel to Beautiful Reunion Island will also boost Tourism from India to Reunion Island.”

Indian tourists travelling to Thailand after September 27, 2016 will be charged 2000THB for Visa on Arrival (VoA), according to the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi. Tourists from Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan are entitled to apply for VoA at 42 designated immigration checkpoints, which will allow tourists to stay in the country up to 15 days. The reason for the doubling of the VoA fee, which earlier stood at 1000THB, is to encourage tourists to apply for visas at Thai embassies or consular offices instead to enable thorough inspection and avoid security threats.

The Sultanate of Oman in association with the national airline Oman Air will conduct multi-city roadshow for the travel trade in India during September. The roadshow will commence on September 19 at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad; September 21 at The Oberoi, Kolkata; September 23 at Courtyard by Marriott, Ahmedabad; and conclude on September 26 at JW Marriott, Pune. Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative – Ministry of Tourism, Oman says, “In 2015, we witnessed 17 per cent growth in Indian arrivals and in the first six months of 2016 too we have seen a positive growth. Encouraged by these figures and to penetrate better in tier II cities, we have decided to conduct the roadshow in Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. This year, we also identified Kolkata as a new market for Oman and will be conducting our first roadshow in the city. With this new addition, Oman has made presence in 8 Indian cities with Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai being our main source markets.” Representatives from Ministry of Tourism, Oman along with a 15-member delegation representing hotels, DMCs and attractions in Oman will interact with key travel agents and tour operators from India. The roadshow will follow a pre-fixed meeting format whereby the invited travel agents will get adequate time to meet each delegate from Oman.