Category Archives: Cruises

Scylla AG & VIVA Cruises have joined hands with Global India Reps to introduce their premium river cruise brand in Europe to the Indian Market. Scylla AG, a leader in exclusive river cruises across Europe since 1973, has a fleet of 40 in-house designed ships that offer unparalleled experiences for tourists and event organisers alike. VIVA Cruises, established in 2018 as an extension of Scylla AG, specialises in river cruises tour operator that explores Europe’s most picturesque destinations. Operating year-round, VIVA Cruises’ modern fleet navigates the Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône, and the Baltic Sea coast. Global India Reps is a representative/marketing platform having the collective experience of almost 20 years in consulting, launching, promoting & creating a network for sourcing business for its Principals from India. Rony H Broun, Regional Vice President, says “I am delighted that through our collaboration with, Global India Reps, we can introduce VIVA Cruises Journeys, facilities, custom services to the Indian market. This collaboration is set to showcase the unique offerings and exceptional service standards of Scylla shipping company & VIVA Cruises to potential partners and customers in India. Outbound Travel from India presents a significant opportunity given the huge demand for this region and we wish to offer and serve the outbound travel market for 2024 & beyond.” Reach us at Booth F530, BLTM! “With their unique experience, strong trade relationships and proven track record of success launching new international products from India, we are confident that Global India Reps, headed by Mr. Ashish Saran will springboard and accelerate our entry into the Indian outbound market”, Broun added. Ashish Saran, Co-Founder & Business Head, Global India Reps added “there is a major …

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to announce that the Genting Dream will use the historic port of Melaka as the gateway to Kuala Lumpur for its 2 Night Cruises departing from Singapore on Sundays, starting 10 November 2024. As ‘the cruise line that knows Asia best’, passengers will enjoy a new and enhanced experience with dual visits to the city of Melaka and the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. With port stay time extended from 10 to 12 hours, passengers on the Kuala Lumpur excursions will have ample time to explore Melaka before boarding the ship.

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on 8 August at 3pm highlighting the unique experiences of BLS Interlaken’s lake cruises, Aletsch Arena, Swissminiatur and Foxtown factory stores. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2025! For more details, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to announce that the 150,695 gross tonnage Genting Dream successfully completed its first berthing alongside the Phuket Deep Sea Port on 24 July 2024, making it the largest cruise ship to do so. As ‘the Cruise Line that Knows Asia Best’, Resorts World Cruises has the vast and in depth expertise in enhancing experiences for its passengers. Genting Dream passengers departing from Singapore for the 3 Night Phuket Cruise will now have the convenience and comfort of disembarking and re-embarking the ship in Phuket without using tender boats. In addition, inbound passengers can enjoy the flexibility without having to worry about the tender boat schedule and at the same time maximise their stay in Phuket. “Our Marine Operational team, the Captains of Genting Dream together with the Phuket Pilots have conducted comprehensive studies, risk assessments and ship simulations over half a year with the Thailand authorities to ensure the feasibility and safety of this pioneering initiative. With our ship now able to berth alongside Phuket Deep Sea Port regularly, our passengers will enjoy the convenience, which will further boost Phuket’s image as a cruise destination”, said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises. “We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the Marine Department, The Governor of Phuket province, the local port authorities, as well as to Wallem Shipping Agency for their support and coordination,” he added. With a cruise terminal at the Phuket Deep Sea Port, the berthing of a large cruise ship like Genting Dream also creates new opportunities for Phuket and Resorts World Cruises to explore future possibilities, as well as as a potential cruise and clearance gateway for outbound …

Travelport, in its 2024 State of Modern Retailing Report, finds that most respondents (88%) agree they would prefer to see all flight options and fares on one screen, which is likely the reason that more than half (54%) said they frequently use a comparison site to search for information before purchasing their ticket. The majority of Millennial (70%) and Gen X (64%) travelers often use online travel agencies (OTAs) to book, citing choice and price transparency as the primary reasons.

Presenting the Union Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed a simpler tax regime for foreign shipping companies operating domestic cruises in India, aiming to boost cruise tourism. She highlighted plans for ownership, leasing, and flagging reforms to enhance the domestic shipping industry’s share and create more jobs.

The Ministry of Tourism has been encouraging cruise tourism for a while now, and we have seen some developments on that front. But in this Interim Budget, the FM has gone a step further. She said, “There is tremendous potential for cruise tourism in India. To give a fillip to this employment generating industry, I am proposing a simpler tax regime for foreign shipping companies operating domestic cruises in the country.” For domestic tourism, the FM announced projects for better port connectivity and more tourism infrastructure, that will be taken up on islands in India, including of course Lakshadweep! All in all, her Budget highlighted promoting investments into India, including its infrastructure projects. The FM has also proposed to put in place a presumptive taxation regime for cruise ship operations of non-residents. Further, it is proposed to provide exemption for any income of a foreign company from lease rentals of cruise ships, received from a related company which operates such ship or ships in India.

Rules for FDI and Overseas Investments to be simplified to increase FDI inflows and promote use of Indian Rupee as currency for overseas investments, said the FM in her Interim Budget speech. She also said that 1.5 lakh core provision for long-term interest-free loans will be made to support infrastructure investment by state governments. The states will also be incentivised to implement Business Reforms Action Plans and digitalisation to develop tourism. All in all, the Union Budget 2024 was not a total let-down as far as tourism is concerned. Perhaps it has sown the seeds for a better tourism experience in India. But that may be too far into the future. Moreover, there has been no change in taxation, which has disappointed the travel trade no end. Their main gripe was the extremely high GST rates and the procedures, as well as bearing the onus of determining the quantum of TCS.

Sitharaman has raised our hopes when it comes to tourism in India, which bodes well not just for domestic but also inbound tourism, which has been suffering since Covid. Delivering to the states, she highlighted the development of ‘iconic’ tourism centres by the states who will be allowed long-term, interest-free loans for such long-term development. For domestic tourism, the FM announced projects for better port connectivity and more tourism infrastructure, that will be taken up on islands in India, including of course Lakshadweep! All in all, her Budget highlighted promoting investments into India, including its infrastructure projects. In positioning India as a global tourist destination, we’ll also create jobs, stimulate investments and unlock economic opportunities for other sectors. In addition to the measures outlined in the interim budget, I propose the following measures. Vishnupath temple at Gaya and Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya in Bihar are of immense spiritual significance. Comprehensive development of Vishnupath temple corridor and Mahabodhi temple corridor will be supported, modeled on the successful Kashi Vishwana temple corridor to transform them into world-class pilgrim and tourist destinations. Rajgir, Rajgir holds immense religious significance for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. The 20th Tirthankara Muni Suvaratha temple in the Jain complex, Jain temple complex is ancient. The Sapta Rishi or the seven hot springs form a warm water Brahmkund that is sacred. A comprehensive development initiative for Rajgir will be undertaken. Our government will support the development of Nalanda as a tourist center besides reviving Nalanda University to its glorious stature. Odisha’s scenic beauty, temples, monuments, craftsmanship, wildlife sanctuaries, natural landscapes and pristine beaches make it an ultimate tourism destination. Our government will provide assistance for their development to Odisha …

With the aim of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Interim Budget 2024 yet again showcased a lofty imagery of the ‘new and improved’ India. However, it does fleetingly mention tourism and its development – directly and indirectly. To build a foundation for future development, the FM underlined its Startup Credit Guarantee Schemes that will encourage new businesses in various sectors including, hopefully, tourism. She mentioned that the country ‘is capable of creating more opportunities’ which cannot be further from the truth. Sitharaman added that the focus will be on ffostering and sustaining growth to create great opportunities for all and to fulfil aspirations. She said that the MSME will be an important element of this policy. Coming to aviation, she said that it has been ‘galvanized in the past 10 years’ with number of airports doubled, expansion of the UDAN scheme, 517 new routes carrying 1.3 crore passengers, and the expansion of existing and new airports that will continue, she committed. Mentioning the success of G20 meets that took place across India, she said the country has made itself an attractive destination for MICE. ‘The corporates want to explore India and religious tourism offers great opportunities.