While preparations for the Commonwealth Games is causing severe embarrassment to the country, Brand India as a tourist destination is scaling new heights.
Globetrotters and tourists from around the world are warming up to the country's people and hospitality by voting India as the seventh-best destination in the world in the recent Conde Nast Readers' Travel Awards 2010, a head of countries like Thailand, Greece, Brazil and France. Last year, India stood at the 13th position.
According to the results, Turkey was adjudged the favourite holiday destination as people gave it top marks "for range of accommodation and that increasingly important component of any holiday: value for money", says the Conde Nast Traveller website.
Egypt, in second position, scored highest on culture, while Australia in third position was voted for having the best climate. Italy at fourth position and Spain in sixth position were voted for having great food and restaurant offerings, while New Zealand at number five scored highest on environmental friendliness.
India scored highest for the warmth of its people and hospitality with a score of 94.44 on 100. "In the first seven months of this year, inbound arrivals have gone up by about 10%. Besides, India attracts the long haul travelers who spend on an average of 15 days," said Karan Anand, head (relationship and supplier management), Cox & Kings. "New products like the Maharajas Express — the luxury train that is considered among the top ten trains in the world introduced early this year has added a new dimension to the tourism scene."
Three Indian luxury hotels were voted as the best 'Overseas Business Hotel' in the same awards. Taj West End, Bangalore, was rated the second-best overseas business hotel with an overall score of 93.22. The Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore, at fifth position had an overall score of 88.94 and was rated highest on having the best conference facilities. The Oberoi, New Delhi, stood tenth with an overall score of 84.81.
Read more: India voted 7th best holiday destination - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-voted-7th-best-holiday-destination/articleshow/6515772.cms#ixzz0z7Ne8S9J
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September 10, 2010
Mysore Palace will finally see sound and light show
The sound and light programme of the Mysore Palace, that has seen many a controversy, is back in the news again, this time for the right reasons.
"All steps have been taken to launch the much-expected programme for public viewing before the Dasara," said deputy commissioner and executive officer of the Mysore Palace Board Harsh Gupta.
Mooted in 2003, when S M Krishna was the chief minister, the son-et-lumiere was supposed to have commenced in 2004 but was put off for several reasons. The show was first demonstrated before the officials of the Tourism Department and a group of journalists in July 2007. However, the script took a controversial turn.
It was expected to be relaunched during the 2008 Dasara with a revised script. But, it was deferred once again, with criticisms blocking the show. Subsequently, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and other dignitaries had viewed it and opined that its script needed to be edited, with certain additions and deletions. Now, it is in the news again with the controversy said to have been resolved finally.
The deputy commissioner has also announced a slew of measures to tighten security around the palace which attracts a record number of visitors annually as many as 2.77 million in 2009-10 and increasing daily, and to provide facilities for these increasing numbers.
The Palace Board has decided to replace the 635 high power consuming different wattage lamps in the Palace with eco-friendly and power-saving LED lamps at an estimated cost of Rs 77 lakh. According to them, this will conserve 20,000 units of power a month and save Rs 1.5 lakh on the power bill, besides reducing maintenance cost. The work will be completed in about a month.
Steps have been taken to set up a three-dimensional multimedia museum at the palace for a 30-minute presentation on its history and tourist spots in and around Mysore for tourists.
Tenders will be invited soon to erect automatic gates for avoiding any delay for visitors while entering the Palace. As part of the steps to provide infrastructure for visitors, toilets are being upgraded to international standards at a cost of Rs 30 lakh and would be put into service soon.
The tender for erecting electric fencing around the Palace fort has been completed. The work has been entrusted to the Electronic Corporation of India, Hyderabad, a Government of India agency, Gupta said.
http://sify.com/finance/palace-will-finally-see-sound-and-light-show-news-news-kjjbESgfbdc.html
"All steps have been taken to launch the much-expected programme for public viewing before the Dasara," said deputy commissioner and executive officer of the Mysore Palace Board Harsh Gupta.
Mooted in 2003, when S M Krishna was the chief minister, the son-et-lumiere was supposed to have commenced in 2004 but was put off for several reasons. The show was first demonstrated before the officials of the Tourism Department and a group of journalists in July 2007. However, the script took a controversial turn.
It was expected to be relaunched during the 2008 Dasara with a revised script. But, it was deferred once again, with criticisms blocking the show. Subsequently, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and other dignitaries had viewed it and opined that its script needed to be edited, with certain additions and deletions. Now, it is in the news again with the controversy said to have been resolved finally.
The deputy commissioner has also announced a slew of measures to tighten security around the palace which attracts a record number of visitors annually as many as 2.77 million in 2009-10 and increasing daily, and to provide facilities for these increasing numbers.
The Palace Board has decided to replace the 635 high power consuming different wattage lamps in the Palace with eco-friendly and power-saving LED lamps at an estimated cost of Rs 77 lakh. According to them, this will conserve 20,000 units of power a month and save Rs 1.5 lakh on the power bill, besides reducing maintenance cost. The work will be completed in about a month.
Steps have been taken to set up a three-dimensional multimedia museum at the palace for a 30-minute presentation on its history and tourist spots in and around Mysore for tourists.
Tenders will be invited soon to erect automatic gates for avoiding any delay for visitors while entering the Palace. As part of the steps to provide infrastructure for visitors, toilets are being upgraded to international standards at a cost of Rs 30 lakh and would be put into service soon.
The tender for erecting electric fencing around the Palace fort has been completed. The work has been entrusted to the Electronic Corporation of India, Hyderabad, a Government of India agency, Gupta said.
http://sify.com/finance/palace-will-finally-see-sound-and-light-show-news-news-kjjbESgfbdc.html
Foreign Tourist Arrivals grow 9% in India
New Delhi, Sept 8 (IBNS) Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from tourism on the basis of data received from major airports.
FTAs in India during the Month of August 2010 were 3.82 lakh as compared to FTAs of 3.50 lakh during the month of August 2009 and 3.83 lakh in August 2008.
There has been a growth of 9.0 % in August 2010 over August 2009 as compared to a growth of (-) 8.6 % registered in August 2009 over August 2008.
Growth rate in August 2010 (9.0%) is more than double of that observed during July 2010 (4.1%).
FTAs during the period January-August 2010 were 34.67 lakh with a growth rate of 9.7 %, as compared to the FTAs of 31.60 lakh and a negative growth rate of 7.7 % during January-August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
FEE from tourism during the month of August 2010 were Rs. 4620 crore as compared to Rs. 4115 crore in August 2009 and Rs. 3626 crore in August 2008.
The growth rate in FEE in Rs. terms in August 2010 over August 2009 was 12.3 % as compared to growth rate of 13.5 % in August 2009 over August 2008.
FEE during the period January-August 2010 were Rs. 41437 crore with a growth rate of 22.6 %, as compared to FEE of Rs. 33791 crore with a growth of 1.4 % during January -August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
FEE in US$ terms during the month of August 2010 were US$ 992 million as compared to FEE of US$ 851 million during the month of August 2009 and US$ 845 million in August 2008.
The growth rate in FEE in US$ terms in August 2010 over August 2009 was 16.6 %.
FEE during the period January-August 2010 were US$ 8997 million with a growth rate of 30.7 % as compared to FEE of US$ 6886 million with a negative growth of 15.3 % during January – August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
http://www.my-india.net/archives/5309
FTAs in India during the Month of August 2010 were 3.82 lakh as compared to FTAs of 3.50 lakh during the month of August 2009 and 3.83 lakh in August 2008.
There has been a growth of 9.0 % in August 2010 over August 2009 as compared to a growth of (-) 8.6 % registered in August 2009 over August 2008.
Growth rate in August 2010 (9.0%) is more than double of that observed during July 2010 (4.1%).
FTAs during the period January-August 2010 were 34.67 lakh with a growth rate of 9.7 %, as compared to the FTAs of 31.60 lakh and a negative growth rate of 7.7 % during January-August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
FEE from tourism during the month of August 2010 were Rs. 4620 crore as compared to Rs. 4115 crore in August 2009 and Rs. 3626 crore in August 2008.
The growth rate in FEE in Rs. terms in August 2010 over August 2009 was 12.3 % as compared to growth rate of 13.5 % in August 2009 over August 2008.
FEE during the period January-August 2010 were Rs. 41437 crore with a growth rate of 22.6 %, as compared to FEE of Rs. 33791 crore with a growth of 1.4 % during January -August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
FEE in US$ terms during the month of August 2010 were US$ 992 million as compared to FEE of US$ 851 million during the month of August 2009 and US$ 845 million in August 2008.
The growth rate in FEE in US$ terms in August 2010 over August 2009 was 16.6 %.
FEE during the period January-August 2010 were US$ 8997 million with a growth rate of 30.7 % as compared to FEE of US$ 6886 million with a negative growth of 15.3 % during January – August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
http://www.my-india.net/archives/5309
Tourism website and helpline for CWG launched
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Thursday launched a tourism website and a helpline for round the clock information for tourists arriving in the capital for the Commonwealth Games.
The helpline and the website is a boost to tourism in the national capital, said Delhi Tourism Corporation's managing director Reena Ray.
'Using this helpline and website the tourists from India and abroad can know more about the capital and what it offers, like the variety of cuisines, shopping malls, historical monuments to offer and they can spend more time in Delhi,' Ray added.
The new designed website provides information about transport availability from various parts of the city, online booking for rooms and a huge range of entertainment options.
Ray said the delegates coming to the national capital for Oct 3-14 Games will also be provided a tourist plan.
Launching the tourism helpline, 1280, Dikshit called the number and asked the first query in Hindi on how to reach Qutub Minar. After getting the answer, she asked the operator to repeat the same in English.
http://sify.com/finance/tourism-website-and-helpline-for-cwg-launched-news-default-kjjxucjjebe.html
The helpline and the website is a boost to tourism in the national capital, said Delhi Tourism Corporation's managing director Reena Ray.
'Using this helpline and website the tourists from India and abroad can know more about the capital and what it offers, like the variety of cuisines, shopping malls, historical monuments to offer and they can spend more time in Delhi,' Ray added.
The new designed website provides information about transport availability from various parts of the city, online booking for rooms and a huge range of entertainment options.
Ray said the delegates coming to the national capital for Oct 3-14 Games will also be provided a tourist plan.
Launching the tourism helpline, 1280, Dikshit called the number and asked the first query in Hindi on how to reach Qutub Minar. After getting the answer, she asked the operator to repeat the same in English.
http://sify.com/finance/tourism-website-and-helpline-for-cwg-launched-news-default-kjjxucjjebe.html