India has bagged awards in three categories at the PATA Gold Awards 2017 scheduled to take place in Macao SAR on September 15 during PATA Travel Mart 2017. The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India will be honoured under the Marketing Media – Travel Advertisement Print Media category for its Go Beyond project, while Kerala Tourism has secured an award for Marketing Media – Consumer Travel Brochure on Film Tourism. Travel provider Cox & Kings is the other winner for its Social Media marketing project Forever Young. Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA, said, “On behalf of PATA, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all 2017 Grand and Gold Award winners. This is no better time and place to celebrate their accomplishments, than this International Year for Sustainable Tourism for Development in Macao SAR during the 40th Anniversary of PATA Travel Mart. I look forward to celebrating this year’s winners who represent the values of the Association in working towards a more responsible travel and tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region.”

Cathay Dragon has become the first international airline to introduce self-printing web generated boarding cards at Kolkata Airport. The online check-in feature allows passengers to check-in and print their boarding cards forty-eight hours to one hour prior to their flight. Passengers eligible for lounge access will be able to view their invitations on the boarding card. Any International passenger, with a web generated boarding card will be required to report to the Cathay Dragon counters for check-in of baggage and verification of travel documents only. They can visit the Cathay Pacific website for further details. Rajesh Menon, Regional Sales & Marketing Manager, South Asia, Cathay Pacific Airways, said, “We are confident our passengers will benefit with the introduction of self-printing web generated boarding cards. It will help reduce check-in time and they will experience shorter queues making the entire process swift.” He further added, “At every step, we are striving to provide a seamless experience to our customers. With the introduction of new retrofits on Cathay Dragon aircraft last year, passengers from Kolkata can not only travel at ease but also have a comfortable experience during check-in.”

According to data provided by Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of medical visas issued by India in 2016 rose by 45 per cent over 2015. India issued more than 1.78 lakh medical visas in 2016, including for follow up treatment, as against 1.22 lakh in 2015, according to the data. A Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) report titled “India Services Sector—A Multi-trillion Dollar Opportunity for Global Symbiotic Growth 2017” stated that the presence of world-class hospitals and skilled medical professionals has strengthened India’s position as a preferred destination for medical tourism. Treatment for major surgeries in India costs only a fraction—in some cases as low as 10 per cent of that in developed countries. “Majority of the patients coming to India for treatment are from the Middle East, Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. India’s cost advantage will significantly open doors to the US and Europe over future, due to lower cost than the US and almost half that of Europe.” Dental tourism accounts for 10 per cent of the medical tourism and the government is keen to promote it. “India provides competitive cost advantage at one tenth of the cost of the US and Europe. By 2020, medical tourism industry of India is expected to touch $8 billion,” the report said. Source: Livemint

Odisha is planning to develop coastal tourism circuit in the state and for the same, the state government has announced an investment of funds to the tune of Rs. 76 crore. “We have taken several steps to tap the tourism potential in the state and attract more tourists,” said Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Government of Odisha. He further added that the government is giving added emphasis on the development of infrastructure facilities in tourist spots. Ashok Panda, Tourism Minister, Government of Odisha, informed that the government would develop the coastal tourism circuit with an investment of Rs 76.50 crore under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Centre. Gopalpur, Tampara, Barkul and Satapada will be in the coastal circuit tourism project. Infrastructure growth and beach development will be the priority in the state and the Central government has released about Rs 15.30 crore in the first instalment of the project and work shall begin for the same shortly. He further added that the government has provided over Rs 20 crore for infrastructure development of tourist spots in Ganjam district in the last two years. Source: PTI

In a move that will ease the visa application process for potential travellers from the surrounding regions of Delhi/NCR, the Embassy of the Czech Republic and VFS Global have opened a Visa Application Centre in Gurugram. Earlier this month, visa applications centres were also opened for the Czech Republic in Chandigarh and Jalandhar. H.E. Milan Hovorka, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, said, “The Gurugram centre marks the launch of another important location within Delhi and NCR where people can submit their Schengen visa applications for travel to the Czech Republic via VFS Global. We thus continue to deliver on our promises. This is not the end of our endeavours, as we will soon announce the opening of additional Czech Visa Applications Centres in the market.” Commenting on the new VAC in Gurugram, Vinay Malhotra, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East and South Asia, VFS Global, said, “It is our privilege to be the trusted partner of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in India. The extension of our association with this esteemed client across the region reflects their faith in our ability to provide services to enhance the visa application experience for travellers. In view of the increase in travel to the Czech Republic, we are confident our efforts will make the travel experience seamless and smooth.”

Supratim Raj Basu, Founder & Director, Help Tourism, has been conferred the DDP Game Changer at the East India Travel Awards. In 1991, the dynamic gentleman founded The travel company, which pioneered sustainable development of communities through ecotourism and supported preservation of culture and nature. He was able to identify and promote destinations, based on ecotourism and is also the founder of The Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT), a non-profit NGO initiated to promote ownership of local people highlighting the natural and cultural resources around them. Additionally, he is an expert in identifying rural tourism products, motivating communities into rural tourism services and training local stakeholders into hospitality and allied services.

The Managing Director of Himalayan Holidays, Tsering Wange, has been honoured with the DDP Trailblazer award at the East India Travel Awards. Throughout his career map, he has added several feathers to his cap including the title of the first Indian ever to do the world’s highest sky jump; the Chief Adviser of the Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operators Association; Vice President of the North East India Tourism Confederation; President of the Arunachal Mountaineering & Adventure Sports Association and Adviser to the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators Association. He has also produced two popular travel serials on the North East circuit which have aired on national television.

Dilip D Khatau, Chairman, The Corbett Foundation & Chairman, Conservation Cooperation of India, has joined the Gallery of Legends at the East India Travel Awards, for his exemplary contribution to travel and tourism through the years. Wildlife conservation has played an important role in the fourth-generation businessman’s career as he expanded his chain of properties to places like Kutch, Bandhavgarh, Kanha Tiger Reserve and Kaziranga, in the lap of wildlife. In appreciation of his contribution, the Government of India appointed him to the National Board for Wildlife – an apex advisory body under the Prime Minister. He set up a charitable trust, The Corbett Foundation (TCF) in 1994 where the foundation’s work in and around Kaziranga is targeted at reducing and mitigating human-wildlife conflict.

Celebrating the contribution of stalwarts in the travel and tourism industry, the East India Travel Awards commenced in full swing on July 26, 2017, at Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati. Gathering the region’s movers and shakers under one roof, the event was inaugurated by R Sudhan, Special Secretary (Tourism), Government of Manipur, who also was the Guest of Honour for the awards ceremony. The India Travel Awards salutes the best in the industry and awardees are selected based on a non-biased system of voting.

Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Airlines Group organised a six-city road show over 10 days across India and Colombo with participation from 39 Singapore stakeholders and over 800 in-market travel agents. India continues to be the fourth-largest source market in terms of visitor arrivals and third-largest tourism receipts generating market for Singapore. The roadshow in India commenced on July 10 in Pune followed by Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata and Hyderabad and concluded in Colombo on July21. Themed ‘Growing Tourism into Singapore, Together’, the delegation was led by G.B Srithar, Regional Director, South Asia Middle East & Africa, STB; Adrian Kong (Area Director, South Asia, Mumbai; and Yuemin Li-Misra, Area Director, South Asia, Delhi. The roadshows featured stakeholders from Singapore representing hotels, airlines, integrated resorts, attractions, Destination Management Companies (DMC) and cruise operators interacting and networking with STB’s travel and trade partners in India. There was also an update session on Singapore’s upcoming tourism offerings as well as Singapore Airlines Group’s range of cabin products and experiences. Srithar spoke about fostering collaborations with the travel trade partners especially from secondary cities across India. He said, “India has always been an important market for us. For the second time in a row, Singapore received more than one million Indian visitors in 2016. As the region’s middle-class becomes more affluent, there will be immense opportunities for international outbound travel and tourism, especially among families, working millennials and incentive movements. Through the roadshows, we seek to renew our ties with the travel trade, entrenching existing partnerships and forging new ones. Through these partnerships, we seek to bring Singapore’s tourism offerings to our target audiences through creative promotions, and in the process, ensuring meaningful results for …