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≪ PROMOTING SOUTH ≪ PASSENGER TRAFFIC
21 December 2012
▶ P1
The Ministry of Tourism has set up Southern Zonal Tourism Council…READ MORE
India carried 4.65 lakh more passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012... READ MORE
Movenpick debuts in Paris, Vueling forms new hotel brand...READ MORE
≪ EYE ON EUROPE
MoT sets up Southern Zonal Tourism Council
The council will help facilitate development of tourism and tourism products of Southern India…
Coco opens private retreat in the Maldives
C
T
Cathay Pacific resolves cabin crew dispute
athay Pacific has resolved its dispute its cabin crew, averting the danger of industrial action over the busy festive travel period. Hong Kong's Labour Department mediated in talks between the company and the Flight Attendants Union (FAU), leading to a new agreement. The deal includes a promise by the airline that it will not base more than 15% of its cabin crew outside Hong Kong, and that non Hong Kong crew members can only operate routes not originating in the city. "This is the best possible outcome for our customers, who have always been at the forefront of this issue for us. They can now look forward to their holiday travel plans with confidence,” said Cathay's Chief Executive, John Slosar.
C
he Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has announced the setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council (SZTC). The SZTC will comprise the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Dr K Chiranjeevi welcomed the idea that emanated from the World Travel and Tourism Council India Initiative (WTTCII) Bekal Retreat in September this year. “The setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council will help facilitate development of Tourism and tourism products of Southern India in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Development of integrated tourism circuits among the southern states will be the way forward. The issues of competitive taxation of tourism products, inter-state taxation, seamless tourist movement by facilitating smooth facilitation at entry and exit points of the states will be addressed by the council.” The MoT will be writing to the Chief Secretaries of the States, who could chair the SZTC by rotation. Tourism Secretary and Finance Secretary of the respective states will be permanent invitees to the SZTC. The council will also interact with the stakeholders to understand the concerns and issues facing the tourism industry. The SZTC will have a mandate to look at the inter-state taxation on tourist vehicles, interstate permits, smooth facilitation at the entry and exit points of the state, development of requisite infrastructure to and at the destinations.
oco Collection has opened a new luxury resort in the Maldives. Coco Privé is a private island retreat in the North Malé Atoll, accommodating just 12 guests with rates ranging from US$8,000-32,500 per night, depending on the season. The resort features one split-level grand Master Residence and five luxurious villas for accompanying guests. Two of the smaller villas have private pools, while the others have access to the main infinity-edged pool. Other facilities include a large wine cellar with on-site sommelier, while five restaurants are located at the neighboring five-star resort Coco Bodu Hithi. Guests also have access to a private chef, butler, unlimited beverages, daily spa treatments and watersports.
Etihad in talks Indian carriers
T
Shangri-La opens in Mumbai
S
hangri-La Hotel is now open in Mumbai. Located in High Street Phoenix, Shangri-La Hotel Mumbai sits above Palladium mall. Of the 38 storey, three floors are currently operational. The hotel comprises 390 rooms including 31 suites and also offers 28 fully serviced apartments. “In the first phase 80 rooms and all day dining restaurant Seven and Lobby lounge are operational. Catering to the business clientele,
the soft opening of the property took place today,” Farhat Jamal, General Manager of Shangri-La Hotel Mumbai said.
he Indian government has said Etihad Airways is in advances discussions to buy a stake in either Jet Airways or grounded rival Kingfisher Airlines, Reuters has reported. According to one government official, who asked to remain anonymous, a deal could be announced as early as next week. "Etihad has not yet decided. They are talking to both," the official was quoted saying. Any deal would be the first since the Indian government relaxed ownership rules in September to allow foreign airlines to invest up to 49% in a domestic carrier. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad already has stakes in Virgin Australia, airberlin, Air Seychelles and Aer Lingus, and earlier this year it was rumoured to be interested in Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet.
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TRAVEL DAILY ASIA
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CRUISE NEWS UK
www.traveldailymedia.com/ india
21 December 2012
▶ P2
HAPPY TRAVELLERS
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India releases domestic air passenger data
India carries 4.65 lakh more passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012...
ndia carried 4.65 lakh more passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012. As per the passenger traffic data submitted by various domestic airlines, the total domestic passengers carried by scheduled domestic airlines was 50.20 lakh in November 2012. The total domestic passengers carried by the scheduled domestic airlines last month was 45.55 lakh. IndiGo topped the list with 27.3% market share by carrying 13.95 lakh passengers, followed by Air India carrying 20.7% market share with 10.38 lakh passengers. Low-cost carrier SpiceJet carried 9.78 lakh passengers with 19.5% market share, while full service carrier Jet Airways flew 9.17 lakh passengers and its subsidiary Jet Lite carried 3.45 lakh passengers. The break up for the month of November 2012 is as follows:
ITDC signs MoU with Hindustan Salts
Boeing hails in-flight Wi-Fi "breakthrough"
ngineers at Boeing have devised a new method to test wireless signals in aircraft cabins, potentially securing more reliable in-flight connectivity for passengers. Hailed as a "breakthrough" by the US planemaker, the new process uses new measurement technology and analysis tools to detect radio signal quality. This enables engineers to more efficiently measure how strong a signal is and how far it spreads, potentially offering more powerful signal penetration throughout an aircraft cabin. "Every day we work to ensure that Boeing passengers are travelling on the safest and most advanced airplanes in the world," said Dennis O'Donoghue, Vice President of Boeing Test & Evaluation. "This is a perfect example of how our innovations in safety can make the entire flying experience better." Passengers using in-flight Wi-Fi commonly complain about signal and connectivity issues, as a wireless signal inside an aircraft can deviate randomly when people move around. Boeing's new test process uses new technology to identify strong and weak signal areas and balance them by adjusting the connectivity system accordingly.
E
I
T
Airline
Air India Jet Airways Jet Lite IndiGo SpiceJet GoAir
Passenger Carried
10.38 lakhs 9.17 lakh 3.45 lakh 13.95 lakh 9.78 lakh 3.73 lakh
Market Share
20.7% 18.3% 6.9% 27.3% 19.5% 7.4%
he India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Hindustan Salts Limited have come together to promote tourism in state where they make salt. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 20 December to promote Gujarat, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. There are good prospects to development mine and salt-related tourism, said Lalit Panwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of ITDC and R K Tandon, CMD of Hindustan Salts. The two PSU heads said that a circuit could be developed around Jaipur-Ajmer-Sambhar areas, so that tourists can make day trips or have overnight stays in hotels and tents, to be set up for the purpose. The large land bank available with the Hindustan Salts will be utilised to create facilities and the ITDC will act as a facilitator, helping hoteliers to set up accommodation at the complexes.
Arunachal Pradesh to promote Parashuram Kund
Indian carriers hike prices for excess baggage
Click here for full story.
I
ndian domestic carriers have increased the cost of excess baggage. SpiceJet and Jet Airways and its subsidiary JetLite are charging INR250 per kg of excess baggage. Jet Airways increased the rate from INR210 a kg, while SpiceJet use to charge INR200 per kg, reported The Hindu Business Line.
T
he state of Arunachal Pradesh is looking at promoting the holy pilgrimage site of Parashuram Kund in Lohit district. The idea was mooted by the state’s Tourism Parliamentary Secretary P D Sona, who recently visited the site to inspect the tourism assets in Parashuram Kund in the wake of the Parashuram kund Mela which starts from mid-January.
ysore will get a Hanuman statue as its latest tourist attraction. The monolithic statue will be open to public from 23 December on Vaikunta Ekadasi, an auspicious day for Hindus. A 36 feet Hanuman statue already exists at Namakkal in Tamil Nadu.
Mysore gets Hanuman Statue
M
GOOD WEEK/BAD WEEK
A good week for:
Southern India: Tourism in South India will get a push with
the Ministry of Tourism setting up a Southern Zonal Tourism Council (SZTC). The new council comprises states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and union territory of Puducherry.
A bad week for:
Receiving complaints: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has received complaints from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) highlighting their difficulties faced during Air India flights. The complaints mainly correspond to Kerala-Gulf sector and relate to cancellation of flights, hike in air fare and flight timings. Outdated Aircraft: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released data on outdated aircraft. A total of 708 aircraft (411 airplane and 297 helicopters) remain outdated in India.
Aviation numbers: Domestic air travel in India for the
month of November 2012 saw an increase of 4.65 lakh travellers as compared to October 2012.
follow us on
Editor: Krupa Vora *
Editor-in-Chief: Mark Elliott *
Advertise with TDA today! Email us at [email protected]
112 Robinson Road, Singapore Ph: +65 6323 8520
TRAVEL DAILY ASIA
TRAVEL DAILY UK
TRAVEL DAILY ME
SINGAPORE TRAVEL NEWS
CRUISE NEWS UK
www.traveldailymedia.com/ india
“Truly Thai - Truly Exquisite”
21 December 2012
▶ P3
KANDABURI RESORT AND SPA
Tel: 66 77 428 888
e-mail: [email protected]
www.kandaburi.com
IN NUMBERS
20.7
Air India’s market share in domestic passenger traffic in November 2012
Fiji ready for festive season after cyclone passes
The majority of Fiji’s resorts have now reopened
EYEON EUROPE
KLM allowed to keep ‘Royal’ tag
Brought to you by
27.3
IndiGo tops the list with 27.3% market share in November 2012.
250
The cost of per kg excess baggage charged by Jet Airways and SpiceJet.
390
The recently opened Shangri-La Hotel in Mumbai will offer 390 rooms.
465,000
India carried 4.65 lakh more domestic passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012.
iji has reassured tourists that it is ready to welcome visitors over the festive season, after Tropical Cyclone Evan hit the country earlier this week. Nadi International Airport has new reopened and all flight schedules are back to normal. Tourism Fiji added that after major clean-up efforts, "many, if not most" of Fiji's resorts and hotels have reopened. Apart from the Westin at Denarau Island, which will be closed for roof repairs, all resorts on Denarau Island have now reopened, while all properties in Taveuni, Savusavu and the Northern Region of Fiji are also open for business. The Fijian Ministry of Health said there have been no reports of typhoid, dengue fever or other health hazards anywhere in the country. All electricity and water supplies are expected to be restored by this weekend, including those to outer islands. "Fijians everywhere depend on tourism for jobs and income for their families, and we would urge visitors who have plans to come to Fiji to catch your flight and continue to come," said Elizabeth Powell, Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Tourism.
F
KLM will be able to continue calling itself the ‘Royal’ Dutch airline in future. The company received an official certificate yesterday, confirming that the Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix has given the Royal family’s backing to the airline for a further 25 years.
“KLM is exceedingly proud that Her Majesty the Queen has seen fit to bestow this honour upon us once more,” said KLM’s President & CEO, Peter Hartman said.
Movenpick debuts in Paris
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has opened its first property in Paris. The 300-room Mövenpick Hotel Paris Neuilly is located on the French capital’s Boulevard Victor Hugo, in a high-end residential area. While Switzerland-based Movenpick has already taken over the hotel’s running, it will soon embark on a multi-million-dollar refurbishment to modernise the hotel’s rooms. Work will start in summer 2013, although the hotel will remain open throughout the project.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council will help facilitate development of Tourism and tourism products of Southern India in a holistic and comprehensive manner.”
Dr K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State for Tourism with Independent Charge.
Assam plans golf courses
Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling has announced plans to set up a new hotel brand. In partnership with Hoteles Catalonia, the new Vueling by HC hotel brand will launch a 64-room property in Barcelona in the first quarter of 2013. The hotel will be operated and managed entirely by Hoteles Catalonia, but both companies will be involved in developing the brand concept. The companies said they expect to export the brand to other cities in Vueling’s European network.
Vueling forms new hotel brand
A second edition of France’s famed Louvre museum has opened in the city of Lens, northern France. Set in a glass and aluminium building, within a landscaped park, the new attraction will feature a series of exhibitions and collections, some of which have come from the Louvre in Paris. Paintings on display in the Lens Louvre will include works by Botticelli, Raphael, Le Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt and Goya. The museum will also hold a series of temporary exhibitions.
New Louvre museum opens in France
Latvian carrier airBaltic has announced plans to launch a series of new European routes next summer. The airline will commence weekly flights from its home base of Riga to Malta from May 2013, the same month its kicks off a new twice weekly service to the city of Olbia, on the Italian island of Sardinia. Then from June next year, airBaltic will launch a new weekly service to the city of Rijeka, on Croatia’s Adriatic coast.
he Assam government is planning to develop 22 golf courses in the state. “We have 22 golf courses, which is a big number. The golf courses are located mostly in tea gardens. So, we want to have a tie-up with the tea garden owners. The consultant has given a suggestion that we need to go in for some king of public-private partnership with the tea garden owners under a revenue sharing model,” Anurag Singh, Managing Director of the state’s tourism board said.
airBaltic adds summer routes
T
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed its third Holiday Inn hotel in Madrid, the Holiday Inn Madrid Calle Alcala. Opening in April 2013, the new property is a conversion from the previous Velada Hotel and will operate under a franchise agreement with Rentas Hoteleras Socimi. It will feature 261 rooms, along with 17 meeting rooms and a restaurant and bar area. IHG now has 34 hotels open in Spain, with another three in the pipeline.
IHG signs new Holiday Inn in Madrid
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21 December 2012
▶ P4
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APPOINTMENTS
JAMES RHEE has been announced as AirAsia’s new Chief Executive Officer for North Asia, covering Japan, Korea, China and the Philippines. Rhee was most recently Managing Director of an investment company in Taiwan and has previously worked with computer firm Dell.
SPARK
Can virtual go to far?
JEFF SMISEK has become the new Chairman of United Continental Holdings. Smisek is the current President & CEO of the US airline and replaces Glenn Tilton, who was Chairman since October 2010. He will oversee the next stage of integration between United and Continental.
MYLA CACARES has becomes the new Director of Sales & Marketing at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park. Ms Cacares worked in the Philippines before moving to Thailand in 1994 and has since worked for Accor, Pan Pacific and Minor Hotel Group.
RICKY CHEUNG has been named as the Assistant Director of Global Sales of Jin Jiang’s Hong Kong regional sales office, reporting to Suzanna Wong. Cheung joins Jin Jiang from the V Serviced Apartments in Hong Kong, where he was Corporate Senior Sales Manager.
T
BRYAN GABRIEL has been named General Manager of the Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island, which is currently being developed in Wanchai. Gabriel has spent the last 20 years working on a number of hotel projects in Asia and Australia, including a spell with IHG.
SEBASTIEN MENESGUEN has been appointed General Manager of Tauzia Hotel Management’s upcoming Bali property, the Eden Hotel Kuta. Since 2008, Menesguen has served as GM of another Tauzia hotel in Bali, the Harris Hotel & Residences Riverview Kuta.
SUZANNA WONG has been appointed Deputy General Manager of Jin Jiang Hotels’ new Hong Kong regional sales office, which opens in January 2013. She has worked for the Chinese hotel group for 21 years and will now be responsible for Hong Kong and Taiwan sales.
BERNARDO DE LA GARZA has been named as the new Food & Beverage Manager at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park. Having started his career with Hyatt in Texas, De La Garza has since worked in Qatar and Vietnam before moving to Bangkok.
here are different types of tourists out there all looking to get something different out of a trip. Yet there is the danger that the only growing sector of tourists out there is those who do not travel at all. With more information available at our fingertips more than ever, as well as limited time and money for holidays, the ‘sofa tourist’ now has more of the world to explore than ever and does not even need to leave their home. In previous Spark articles we have shared how mapping tools and apps can help travellers to visualise a journey. These are great tools to help people get around cities or simply identify a building. Now Google is taking this a step further with showing attractions and historic buildings virtually. It is a technique that could be beneficial for travel agents or students to learn about places without needing to visit them, but does it spell trouble for tourism? This tool first came to attention from a release from the UK’s Salisbury Cathedral, which now has a virtual tour through Google and on its website. “We’re always looking for ways to reach out and engage with the many people who care about and take an interest in this special place, and the digital world offers ever more opportunity,” explained David Coulthard, Director of Marketing & Communications at the Cathedral. “This 360-degree interactive virtual tour provides us with a powerful new way to open up the Cathedral to those who are planning to come here, or indeed those who might not be able to be here in person. Now everyone with an internet connection has the opportunity to walk around, explore and interact with the Cathedral wherever they are.” The cathedral plans to go a step further and have an online walkthrough recorded with its images to be updated regularly. Rather than shy away from the technology the cathedral has embraced it, although there is the case that some, and it should always, be better to see it in real life. Others may argue the move is simply merging maps and images already found on the internet into a clever visual. But I, for one, hope I do not hear “oh I saw that on the internet” more often.
DONNA TOON has been named as the new Food & Beverage Director at the Paresa Phuket. A New Zealand national, Ms Toon has had spells at several luxury resort companies including Hayman Island in Australia and Per Aquum Resorts in the Maldives.
MARIANO LIM PEFANCO JR has been announced as the new Spa Manager at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. A Filipino national, Lim Pefanco graduated from the Thai spa training school, the Chiva-Som Academy. He also holds a BSC degree in physical therapy.
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112 Robinson Road, Singapore Ph: +65 6323 8520
Travel Daily India is a publication of Travel Daily Asia Limited (Singapore). All content is fully protected by copyright law. Written permission from the Editor-in-Chief Mark Elliott ([email protected]) is required to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of Travel Daily Asia no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Content is published in good faith. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Krupa Vora.
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CRUISE NEWS UK
www.traveldailymedia.com/ india
≪ PROMOTING SOUTH ≪ PASSENGER TRAFFIC
21 December 2012
▶ P1
The Ministry of Tourism has set up Southern Zonal Tourism Council…READ MORE
India carried 4.65 lakh more passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012... READ MORE
Movenpick debuts in Paris, Vueling forms new hotel brand...READ MORE
≪ EYE ON EUROPE
MoT sets up Southern Zonal Tourism Council
The council will help facilitate development of tourism and tourism products of Southern India…
Coco opens private retreat in the Maldives
C
T
Cathay Pacific resolves cabin crew dispute
athay Pacific has resolved its dispute its cabin crew, averting the danger of industrial action over the busy festive travel period. Hong Kong's Labour Department mediated in talks between the company and the Flight Attendants Union (FAU), leading to a new agreement. The deal includes a promise by the airline that it will not base more than 15% of its cabin crew outside Hong Kong, and that non Hong Kong crew members can only operate routes not originating in the city. "This is the best possible outcome for our customers, who have always been at the forefront of this issue for us. They can now look forward to their holiday travel plans with confidence,” said Cathay's Chief Executive, John Slosar.
C
he Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has announced the setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council (SZTC). The SZTC will comprise the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Dr K Chiranjeevi welcomed the idea that emanated from the World Travel and Tourism Council India Initiative (WTTCII) Bekal Retreat in September this year. “The setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council will help facilitate development of Tourism and tourism products of Southern India in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Development of integrated tourism circuits among the southern states will be the way forward. The issues of competitive taxation of tourism products, inter-state taxation, seamless tourist movement by facilitating smooth facilitation at entry and exit points of the states will be addressed by the council.” The MoT will be writing to the Chief Secretaries of the States, who could chair the SZTC by rotation. Tourism Secretary and Finance Secretary of the respective states will be permanent invitees to the SZTC. The council will also interact with the stakeholders to understand the concerns and issues facing the tourism industry. The SZTC will have a mandate to look at the inter-state taxation on tourist vehicles, interstate permits, smooth facilitation at the entry and exit points of the state, development of requisite infrastructure to and at the destinations.
oco Collection has opened a new luxury resort in the Maldives. Coco Privé is a private island retreat in the North Malé Atoll, accommodating just 12 guests with rates ranging from US$8,000-32,500 per night, depending on the season. The resort features one split-level grand Master Residence and five luxurious villas for accompanying guests. Two of the smaller villas have private pools, while the others have access to the main infinity-edged pool. Other facilities include a large wine cellar with on-site sommelier, while five restaurants are located at the neighboring five-star resort Coco Bodu Hithi. Guests also have access to a private chef, butler, unlimited beverages, daily spa treatments and watersports.
Etihad in talks Indian carriers
T
Shangri-La opens in Mumbai
S
hangri-La Hotel is now open in Mumbai. Located in High Street Phoenix, Shangri-La Hotel Mumbai sits above Palladium mall. Of the 38 storey, three floors are currently operational. The hotel comprises 390 rooms including 31 suites and also offers 28 fully serviced apartments. “In the first phase 80 rooms and all day dining restaurant Seven and Lobby lounge are operational. Catering to the business clientele,
the soft opening of the property took place today,” Farhat Jamal, General Manager of Shangri-La Hotel Mumbai said.
he Indian government has said Etihad Airways is in advances discussions to buy a stake in either Jet Airways or grounded rival Kingfisher Airlines, Reuters has reported. According to one government official, who asked to remain anonymous, a deal could be announced as early as next week. "Etihad has not yet decided. They are talking to both," the official was quoted saying. Any deal would be the first since the Indian government relaxed ownership rules in September to allow foreign airlines to invest up to 49% in a domestic carrier. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad already has stakes in Virgin Australia, airberlin, Air Seychelles and Aer Lingus, and earlier this year it was rumoured to be interested in Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet.
follow us on
Editor: Krupa Vora *
Editor-in-Chief: Mark Elliott *
Advertise with TDA today! Email us at [email protected]
112 Robinson Road, Singapore Ph: +65 6323 8520
TRAVEL DAILY ASIA
TRAVEL DAILY UK
TRAVEL DAILY ME
SINGAPORE TRAVEL NEWS
CRUISE NEWS UK
www.traveldailymedia.com/ india
21 December 2012
▶ P2
HAPPY TRAVELLERS
Accomplish more with happy travellers.
Click here to see how Happy Travellers everywhere are using GetThere
get more with
India releases domestic air passenger data
India carries 4.65 lakh more passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012...
ndia carried 4.65 lakh more passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012. As per the passenger traffic data submitted by various domestic airlines, the total domestic passengers carried by scheduled domestic airlines was 50.20 lakh in November 2012. The total domestic passengers carried by the scheduled domestic airlines last month was 45.55 lakh. IndiGo topped the list with 27.3% market share by carrying 13.95 lakh passengers, followed by Air India carrying 20.7% market share with 10.38 lakh passengers. Low-cost carrier SpiceJet carried 9.78 lakh passengers with 19.5% market share, while full service carrier Jet Airways flew 9.17 lakh passengers and its subsidiary Jet Lite carried 3.45 lakh passengers. The break up for the month of November 2012 is as follows:
ITDC signs MoU with Hindustan Salts
Boeing hails in-flight Wi-Fi "breakthrough"
ngineers at Boeing have devised a new method to test wireless signals in aircraft cabins, potentially securing more reliable in-flight connectivity for passengers. Hailed as a "breakthrough" by the US planemaker, the new process uses new measurement technology and analysis tools to detect radio signal quality. This enables engineers to more efficiently measure how strong a signal is and how far it spreads, potentially offering more powerful signal penetration throughout an aircraft cabin. "Every day we work to ensure that Boeing passengers are travelling on the safest and most advanced airplanes in the world," said Dennis O'Donoghue, Vice President of Boeing Test & Evaluation. "This is a perfect example of how our innovations in safety can make the entire flying experience better." Passengers using in-flight Wi-Fi commonly complain about signal and connectivity issues, as a wireless signal inside an aircraft can deviate randomly when people move around. Boeing's new test process uses new technology to identify strong and weak signal areas and balance them by adjusting the connectivity system accordingly.
E
I
T
Airline
Air India Jet Airways Jet Lite IndiGo SpiceJet GoAir
Passenger Carried
10.38 lakhs 9.17 lakh 3.45 lakh 13.95 lakh 9.78 lakh 3.73 lakh
Market Share
20.7% 18.3% 6.9% 27.3% 19.5% 7.4%
he India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Hindustan Salts Limited have come together to promote tourism in state where they make salt. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 20 December to promote Gujarat, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. There are good prospects to development mine and salt-related tourism, said Lalit Panwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of ITDC and R K Tandon, CMD of Hindustan Salts. The two PSU heads said that a circuit could be developed around Jaipur-Ajmer-Sambhar areas, so that tourists can make day trips or have overnight stays in hotels and tents, to be set up for the purpose. The large land bank available with the Hindustan Salts will be utilised to create facilities and the ITDC will act as a facilitator, helping hoteliers to set up accommodation at the complexes.
Arunachal Pradesh to promote Parashuram Kund
Indian carriers hike prices for excess baggage
Click here for full story.
I
ndian domestic carriers have increased the cost of excess baggage. SpiceJet and Jet Airways and its subsidiary JetLite are charging INR250 per kg of excess baggage. Jet Airways increased the rate from INR210 a kg, while SpiceJet use to charge INR200 per kg, reported The Hindu Business Line.
T
he state of Arunachal Pradesh is looking at promoting the holy pilgrimage site of Parashuram Kund in Lohit district. The idea was mooted by the state’s Tourism Parliamentary Secretary P D Sona, who recently visited the site to inspect the tourism assets in Parashuram Kund in the wake of the Parashuram kund Mela which starts from mid-January.
ysore will get a Hanuman statue as its latest tourist attraction. The monolithic statue will be open to public from 23 December on Vaikunta Ekadasi, an auspicious day for Hindus. A 36 feet Hanuman statue already exists at Namakkal in Tamil Nadu.
Mysore gets Hanuman Statue
M
GOOD WEEK/BAD WEEK
A good week for:
Southern India: Tourism in South India will get a push with
the Ministry of Tourism setting up a Southern Zonal Tourism Council (SZTC). The new council comprises states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and union territory of Puducherry.
A bad week for:
Receiving complaints: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has received complaints from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) highlighting their difficulties faced during Air India flights. The complaints mainly correspond to Kerala-Gulf sector and relate to cancellation of flights, hike in air fare and flight timings. Outdated Aircraft: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released data on outdated aircraft. A total of 708 aircraft (411 airplane and 297 helicopters) remain outdated in India.
Aviation numbers: Domestic air travel in India for the
month of November 2012 saw an increase of 4.65 lakh travellers as compared to October 2012.
follow us on
Editor: Krupa Vora *
Editor-in-Chief: Mark Elliott *
Advertise with TDA today! Email us at [email protected]
112 Robinson Road, Singapore Ph: +65 6323 8520
TRAVEL DAILY ASIA
TRAVEL DAILY UK
TRAVEL DAILY ME
SINGAPORE TRAVEL NEWS
CRUISE NEWS UK
www.traveldailymedia.com/ india
“Truly Thai - Truly Exquisite”
21 December 2012
▶ P3
KANDABURI RESORT AND SPA
Tel: 66 77 428 888
e-mail: [email protected]
www.kandaburi.com
IN NUMBERS
20.7
Air India’s market share in domestic passenger traffic in November 2012
Fiji ready for festive season after cyclone passes
The majority of Fiji’s resorts have now reopened
EYEON EUROPE
KLM allowed to keep ‘Royal’ tag
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27.3
IndiGo tops the list with 27.3% market share in November 2012.
250
The cost of per kg excess baggage charged by Jet Airways and SpiceJet.
390
The recently opened Shangri-La Hotel in Mumbai will offer 390 rooms.
465,000
India carried 4.65 lakh more domestic passengers in November 2012 as compared to October 2012.
iji has reassured tourists that it is ready to welcome visitors over the festive season, after Tropical Cyclone Evan hit the country earlier this week. Nadi International Airport has new reopened and all flight schedules are back to normal. Tourism Fiji added that after major clean-up efforts, "many, if not most" of Fiji's resorts and hotels have reopened. Apart from the Westin at Denarau Island, which will be closed for roof repairs, all resorts on Denarau Island have now reopened, while all properties in Taveuni, Savusavu and the Northern Region of Fiji are also open for business. The Fijian Ministry of Health said there have been no reports of typhoid, dengue fever or other health hazards anywhere in the country. All electricity and water supplies are expected to be restored by this weekend, including those to outer islands. "Fijians everywhere depend on tourism for jobs and income for their families, and we would urge visitors who have plans to come to Fiji to catch your flight and continue to come," said Elizabeth Powell, Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Tourism.
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KLM will be able to continue calling itself the ‘Royal’ Dutch airline in future. The company received an official certificate yesterday, confirming that the Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix has given the Royal family’s backing to the airline for a further 25 years.
“KLM is exceedingly proud that Her Majesty the Queen has seen fit to bestow this honour upon us once more,” said KLM’s President & CEO, Peter Hartman said.
Movenpick debuts in Paris
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has opened its first property in Paris. The 300-room Mövenpick Hotel Paris Neuilly is located on the French capital’s Boulevard Victor Hugo, in a high-end residential area. While Switzerland-based Movenpick has already taken over the hotel’s running, it will soon embark on a multi-million-dollar refurbishment to modernise the hotel’s rooms. Work will start in summer 2013, although the hotel will remain open throughout the project.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The setting up of the Southern Zonal Tourism Council will help facilitate development of Tourism and tourism products of Southern India in a holistic and comprehensive manner.”
Dr K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State for Tourism with Independent Charge.
Assam plans golf courses
Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling has announced plans to set up a new hotel brand. In partnership with Hoteles Catalonia, the new Vueling by HC hotel brand will launch a 64-room property in Barcelona in the first quarter of 2013. The hotel will be operated and managed entirely by Hoteles Catalonia, but both companies will be involved in developing the brand concept. The companies said they expect to export the brand to other cities in Vueling’s European network.
Vueling forms new hotel brand
A second edition of France’s famed Louvre museum has opened in the city of Lens, northern France. Set in a glass and aluminium building, within a landscaped park, the new attraction will feature a series of exhibitions and collections, some of which have come from the Louvre in Paris. Paintings on display in the Lens Louvre will include works by Botticelli, Raphael, Le Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt and Goya. The museum will also hold a series of temporary exhibitions.
New Louvre museum opens in France
Latvian carrier airBaltic has announced plans to launch a series of new European routes next summer. The airline will commence weekly flights from its home base of Riga to Malta from May 2013, the same month its kicks off a new twice weekly service to the city of Olbia, on the Italian island of Sardinia. Then from June next year, airBaltic will launch a new weekly service to the city of Rijeka, on Croatia’s Adriatic coast.
he Assam government is planning to develop 22 golf courses in the state. “We have 22 golf courses, which is a big number. The golf courses are located mostly in tea gardens. So, we want to have a tie-up with the tea garden owners. The consultant has given a suggestion that we need to go in for some king of public-private partnership with the tea garden owners under a revenue sharing model,” Anurag Singh, Managing Director of the state’s tourism board said.
airBaltic adds summer routes
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InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed its third Holiday Inn hotel in Madrid, the Holiday Inn Madrid Calle Alcala. Opening in April 2013, the new property is a conversion from the previous Velada Hotel and will operate under a franchise agreement with Rentas Hoteleras Socimi. It will feature 261 rooms, along with 17 meeting rooms and a restaurant and bar area. IHG now has 34 hotels open in Spain, with another three in the pipeline.
IHG signs new Holiday Inn in Madrid
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21 December 2012
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APPOINTMENTS
JAMES RHEE has been announced as AirAsia’s new Chief Executive Officer for North Asia, covering Japan, Korea, China and the Philippines. Rhee was most recently Managing Director of an investment company in Taiwan and has previously worked with computer firm Dell.
SPARK
Can virtual go to far?
JEFF SMISEK has become the new Chairman of United Continental Holdings. Smisek is the current President & CEO of the US airline and replaces Glenn Tilton, who was Chairman since October 2010. He will oversee the next stage of integration between United and Continental.
MYLA CACARES has becomes the new Director of Sales & Marketing at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park. Ms Cacares worked in the Philippines before moving to Thailand in 1994 and has since worked for Accor, Pan Pacific and Minor Hotel Group.
RICKY CHEUNG has been named as the Assistant Director of Global Sales of Jin Jiang’s Hong Kong regional sales office, reporting to Suzanna Wong. Cheung joins Jin Jiang from the V Serviced Apartments in Hong Kong, where he was Corporate Senior Sales Manager.
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BRYAN GABRIEL has been named General Manager of the Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island, which is currently being developed in Wanchai. Gabriel has spent the last 20 years working on a number of hotel projects in Asia and Australia, including a spell with IHG.
SEBASTIEN MENESGUEN has been appointed General Manager of Tauzia Hotel Management’s upcoming Bali property, the Eden Hotel Kuta. Since 2008, Menesguen has served as GM of another Tauzia hotel in Bali, the Harris Hotel & Residences Riverview Kuta.
SUZANNA WONG has been appointed Deputy General Manager of Jin Jiang Hotels’ new Hong Kong regional sales office, which opens in January 2013. She has worked for the Chinese hotel group for 21 years and will now be responsible for Hong Kong and Taiwan sales.
BERNARDO DE LA GARZA has been named as the new Food & Beverage Manager at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park. Having started his career with Hyatt in Texas, De La Garza has since worked in Qatar and Vietnam before moving to Bangkok.
here are different types of tourists out there all looking to get something different out of a trip. Yet there is the danger that the only growing sector of tourists out there is those who do not travel at all. With more information available at our fingertips more than ever, as well as limited time and money for holidays, the ‘sofa tourist’ now has more of the world to explore than ever and does not even need to leave their home. In previous Spark articles we have shared how mapping tools and apps can help travellers to visualise a journey. These are great tools to help people get around cities or simply identify a building. Now Google is taking this a step further with showing attractions and historic buildings virtually. It is a technique that could be beneficial for travel agents or students to learn about places without needing to visit them, but does it spell trouble for tourism? This tool first came to attention from a release from the UK’s Salisbury Cathedral, which now has a virtual tour through Google and on its website. “We’re always looking for ways to reach out and engage with the many people who care about and take an interest in this special place, and the digital world offers ever more opportunity,” explained David Coulthard, Director of Marketing & Communications at the Cathedral. “This 360-degree interactive virtual tour provides us with a powerful new way to open up the Cathedral to those who are planning to come here, or indeed those who might not be able to be here in person. Now everyone with an internet connection has the opportunity to walk around, explore and interact with the Cathedral wherever they are.” The cathedral plans to go a step further and have an online walkthrough recorded with its images to be updated regularly. Rather than shy away from the technology the cathedral has embraced it, although there is the case that some, and it should always, be better to see it in real life. Others may argue the move is simply merging maps and images already found on the internet into a clever visual. But I, for one, hope I do not hear “oh I saw that on the internet” more often.
DONNA TOON has been named as the new Food & Beverage Director at the Paresa Phuket. A New Zealand national, Ms Toon has had spells at several luxury resort companies including Hayman Island in Australia and Per Aquum Resorts in the Maldives.
MARIANO LIM PEFANCO JR has been announced as the new Spa Manager at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. A Filipino national, Lim Pefanco graduated from the Thai spa training school, the Chiva-Som Academy. He also holds a BSC degree in physical therapy.
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Editor: Krupa Vora *
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Travel Daily India is a publication of Travel Daily Asia Limited (Singapore). All content is fully protected by copyright law. Written permission from the Editor-in-Chief Mark Elliott ([email protected]) is required to reproduce any material. While every care has been taken in the preparation of Travel Daily Asia no liability can be accepted for errors or omissions. Content is published in good faith. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by Krupa Vora.
