Tourism

India ranked 4th among all overseas markets for the USA excluding Canada and Mexico, with 1.26 Million total arrivals in 2022. The latest figures released in February 23 revealed over 2 Lac Indians traveled to the US, showing continuous growth in visitor arrivals. India is an important market for Brand USA and America and JACKIE ENNIS, VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL MARKETS, BRAND USA talks with VISHAL KASHYAP, MANAGING EDITOR, and AVIATION WORLD MAGAZINE on all the key topics including enhanced flight connectivity and more. Excerpts… How has been year 2022 in terms of tourist arrival? We are in a post pandemic recovery yet. One of our key challenges is air connectivity between the United States and all over major target markets. From an Indian point of view ,we are actually very pleased with the air connectivity. We have such great non -stop direct routes and connectivity and some new flights on Air India. We are only hopeful that will increase even in 2023-24 with the purchase of the new planes. We also have India to the US connectivity through Europe and through the Middle East and through the pacific. Could you share number in terms of Indian arrivals into the US? In 2022, India was ranked 4 in international overseas arrival into the United States excluding Canada and Mexico. That’s hugely significant as we had 1.26 million Indian visitors in 2022 which includes all category types of arrivals from India. This is only 15 % down in numbers in comparison to Pre-Pandemic arrival from India in 2019. Indian students in 2022 are the No. 1 source of visitors to the US from India which is really significant. Any specific segment of travellers from India to be focused upon? We value all of the segments from India and in our mind as I said students are important obviously for educational establishments because they generate the family and friends visiting. Its usually the leisure travellers (VFR) and also increase in the business traveler. Those are all really important segments. In 2022 (Jan-Dec) we had 71 % of our people came for leisure, 19 % was students and we had 10 % for the business. The other thing was that 1.25 Million which was very marginally down with the highest peak which we had touch in 2019 was 1.47 million visitors. That to in 2021 first quarter we don’t had any commercial flight which started in March 2021 onwards. Despite that we had V-shaped recovery with the Indian arrivals. What is the response of recently added Mumbai-SFO flights and from the Bangalore-SFO Flights? The response to these flights has been really positive. There is a high demand and certainly of the 46 flights that Air India has into the United States, 16 of them are those to SFO. So that speaks to the popularity I think probably from the leisure, from business and from an educational point of view. Any more connectivity between the two countries can we see ahead? Definitely, I think United Airlines is hoping to do new direct flight but the issues is the ongoing Ukraine war and the flight overfly Russian airspace. We anticipate though hopefully soon the conflict is resolved and that flight will be able to increase the both in frequency but also new routes. So, there was one route going to start from Bangalore to Seattle with United Airlines and Delhi to Seattle by American Airlines but due to ongoing war plan is on hold. What is your emphasis for marketing Brand USA in India? Our biggest emphasis for India is that we want to generate business across the country. Brand USA represents all area and regions of the United States. Our intention is to promote the diversity of all of the small cities and towns and coral areas as well. We do that in number of ways by educating and informing our travel agencies and tour operators which we have seen a hike in growth in luxury products with unique experiences. So, our education process is really focused around those very unique opportunities and experiences by having various adventure and tourism activities. This time, we have brought our 25 partners in the sales mission and for many of them this is the first time they are coming to India because they recognize the potential of the market. Any specific plans for promotion of Brand USA in India? We definitely want to work with some of the new technology platforms and their target market will be the United States. Understanding that post pandemic in a very different travel manner scheme , understanding that there is a huge difference between the way Indians use to perhaps travel to the US now and that’s been transformational. We have seen the growth in FIT traveler and there is kind of more sensitive around the fact that they want to have their own unique experience and travel independently. To be able to engage that audience I think we have to start inspiring on a consumer level in a very different way but then also have the ability to have our travel trade and travel agents be able to sell and promote those types of destinations. So their product knowledge is really important to us and our emphasis will be on giving confidence to sell those individual products in a way that they can make money and create different type of experience with the Indian traveler. Any progress on the US Visa timeline? It’s getting better and the good thing is that there has been massive acknowledgement of this issue. The Ministry of External Affairs which manages Visa has said that India is the country which has massive visa issues apart from Mexico which is border country. They have more consular staff than have ever had issuing visas in India. They have brought in more staff from the US and other consular offices to focus on India as the demand for Visa from India is very high. The wait time for

Exclusive Interview  Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) is not just a place – it’s a journey! With its unique combination of mountains, coastal beaches, desert, pearls and many more RAK is one of the perfect destinations for both leisure and adventure. At the Arab Aviation Summit 2023, Mr. Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) interacts with Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World and discussed on key points towards Introduction to RAK, its future plans and aviation strategies. Excerpts… For RAK, 2022 has been a significant year with 1.13 million tourist footfall. What are the projections for 2023? 2022 has indeed been a momentous year for Ras Al Khaimah. Achieving our highest ever annual visitor numbers with 1.13M overnight arrivals in 2022 is an important step in driving the Emirate’s continued growth as a destination of the future, in addition to being recognised in Time magazine as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2022 and CNN Travel’s best destinations to visit in 2023. This strong performance is thanks to a proactive, future-forward and agile investment and development strategy, and guides our ultimate goal of welcoming 3 million visitors annually by 2030. Which country caters to a large number of tourists to RAK? Our key source markets include Kazakhstan, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, India and Czech Republic – representing a 40% year-on-year increase in all international visitors last year. RAK Int. Airport mainly operates LCCs. With Qatar starting flights from Nov 23 onwards, do you look forward to attracting more FSCs? We are always pleased to see new flight routes and connections being added to our local airport. While it is true that Ras Al Khaimah International Airport currently operates mainly low-cost carriers, we are always looking to attract a broader range of airlines, including full-service carriers. The announcement of Qatar Airways starting flights to Ras Al Khaimah from November 2023 onwards is exciting news for us as it not only opens up a new route but also gives us the opportunity to attract more full-service carriers to our airport. We believe that this new connection with Qatar Airways will provide a valuable link, connecting our city with more international destinations, and potentially attracting more travellers. We are confident that our efforts in promoting Ras Al Khaimah as an attractive destination combined with the increased connectivity from our airport will lead to more full-service carriers considering operating to and from our airport. What is the overall growth plan for increase in number of hotel rooms, tourist destinations, malls, shopping destination etc. As one of the fasting growing destinations in the region, we are actively accelerating our tourism and hospitality offerings. Our hospitality inventory– reaching 8,000 keys in 2022 –is set to further expand with an additional 6,533 keys from 19 upcoming properties, including leading brands like Marriott, Anantara, Nobu and Sofitel. These mark an 82% increase versus current inventory – one of the highest development rates in the UAE. A major addition will be the multi-billion-dollar integrated resort development in partnership with Wynn Resorts, Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding. As the largest-of-its-kind direct foreign tourism investment project in Ras Al Khaimah,the property is set to attract a new segment of traveller to the Emirate, with 1,000+ rooms, shopping, meeting and convention facilities, spa, more than 10 restaurants and lounges, extensive entertainment choices, and a gaming area. India is one of your key markets. What are the plans in terms of any road shows or events lined for year ahead? India is a very important market for us. We have previously concentrated our efforts in major cities, but to tap into India’s immense potential, it is essential for us to expand our reach. This year we are targeting 28 cities with good flight connectivity, a receptive travel audience and engaged trade partners. One of our primary goals is to engage with travel agents and tour operators in India, to ensure that they are well-informed about the tourism offerings of Ras Al Khaimah. To that end, we have roadshows planned in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Kolkata to name a few. By being present in more cities, we aim to enhance our outreach and drive growth in the Indian market. What steps are being taken by RAKTDA to obtain “Sustainable Tourism Destination” certificate? Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do in Ras Al Khaimah. Placing all aspects of sustainability at the centre of our development and investment strategies, we have committed AED 500 million for the development of over 20 purpose-driven tourism projects that will enhance our natural environment in partnership. We are also investing in Cultural Conservation, with four tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites; and diversifying our portfolio with sustainable accommodation on Jebel Jais to provide a mountain retreat experience with guided treks, mindful pursuits and creative experiences. Our measured approach also includes working with Earth Check to co-create genuine sustainable practices. We recently registered 30 hotels and attractions for the process and – owing to the success of showcasing our commitment towards a sustainability pathway – received the Bronze certification. Our “Green Hotels Rating” initiative works in parallel to encourage 100% integrated sustainability across our hotel partners, and our Tourism Business Accreditation Programme provides a management framework to help individual businesses grow their sustainability efforts as a means of benchmarking their performance. We anticipate over 20 businesses will receive tourism certifications in the first year. And finally, our Destination Certification Programme provides a firm basis for action on sustainable management.

23rd March 2023, New Delhi: Ministry of Tourism organised a roundtable interaction with heads of mission as a run up to first Global Tourism Investor’s Summit.As an initiative under India’s G20 Presidency, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India shall be organizing the country’s first Global Tourism Investors’ Summit (GTIS) in New Delhi from 17-19 May 2023. The Roundtable Interaction with Heads of Missions was chaired by Shri G.Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER. While addressing the Heads of the Missions at Vigyan Bhawan today, Shri Reddy remarked that guided by the Vision of Prime Minister, tourism development and promotion is being undertaken in Mission Mode by the Government. He also stated that the current investment landscape of the country makes it an appropriate destination for investment in various sub sectors of the Indian tourism industry such as Hospitality & Lodging, Wellness tourism, Adventure tourism, Eco-Tourism, Rural Tourism and others. The Minister thanked all the participating Missions for attending the Roundtable Interaction and invited them to actively participate in the forthcoming Investors Summit and be a part of India`s growth and development in the tourism sector. Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism mentioned that in order to showcase investible opportunities to investors, till now 25 states have shared 350 plus investable projects with a total investment potential of around Rs. 64,000 Cr. (USD 7.7 billion) with the Ministry of Tourism. He stated that GTIS will also have several knowledge sessions focused on topics such as sustainability, digitalization, technology, insights, state-specific issues, and other sub-sectors of tourism. These sessions will facilitate business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) engagements. Mr. K B Kachru, Member, CII National Committee on Tourism and Hospitality stated that GTIS is the right platform for all the tourism & hospitality industries operating outside India to come, witness the huge Indian market, and leverage the available investment opportunities. A total of 42 Foreign Missions participated in today`s Interaction. The G-20 Presidency will give India’s tourism sector an unparalleled opportunity to highlight India’s tourism offerings and share India’s tourism success stories on a global stage. India’s tourism market is set for a growth trajectory due to improved infrastructure, global connectivity, higher disposable incomes and the development of niche tourism products opening opportunities for foreign investors. Tourism sector has emerged as one of the fastest growing economic sectors and has a significant impact on trade, job creation, investment, infrastructure development and social inclusion. The objective of GTIS 2023, being organized in partnership with Invest India as the Investment Promotion and Facilitation partner and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the Industry Partner, is to provide a common platform for interactions between global and domestic players and explore the investment opportunities in the Indian travel and hospitality sector. India has a diverse portfolio of niche tourism products which includes cruises, adventure, medical, wellness, sports such as Golf and Polo, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions), ecotourism, film, rural and spiritual tourism and the Investor Summit will provide a two-way platform for showcasing of the unique offerings of India while the potential investors from foreign countries can identify the state-specific investment possibilities in the segment unique to that State. A web-site www.gtistourism.in has also been developed which will help in taking forward the public-private engagements beyond the event as well. All the G20 countries are expected to participate at the mega event. 100% FDI in the tourism and Hospitality sector is allowed under automatic route. In the last 8 years from 2014-2022, India has received FDI inflows worth USD 9.2 billion in the hotel and tourism sector whereas India had received FDI inflows worth USD 7.2 billion from 2000-2014. States are also actively working on policies and providing incentives and concessions to attract private investments for Homestays, MICE infrastructure, Wellness tourism, Eco tourism etc. In line with the push towards streamlining of approvals, the Ministry of Tourism is integrating with National Single Window System (NSWS) platform and reduce the number of approvals required to setup a new project in Tourism & Hospitality sector. 7 States are actively working with NSWS to provide a unified interface to identify and apply for approvals required for setting up a hotel.

Mumbai, March 21, 2023: Global warming and its resultant impact on the environment and mankind have forced countries globally to take concrete measures to curb the damage and preserve for the future – and India is at the forefront of this movement. SEBI has mandated the top 1,000 listed companies in India by market capitalization to make filings as per the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) from FY23. Coming against this backdrop, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company and its Group Company SOTC Travel, announced their partnership with global technology consulting and digital solutions company LTIMindtree, to launch “Green Carpet” – a global platform to monitor and manage business travel emissions. Green Carpet is built on the combined prowess of Thomas Cook & SOTC’s deep expertise in the travel industry, LTIMindtree’s ESG consulting and digital solutions capabilities and also leverages the global expertise of Fairfax Digital Services (a Fairfax company). A SaaS-based platform, “Green Carpet” is designed to address specific concerns faced by organizations, helping them capture, monitor, analyze and reduce their carbon emissions from business travel. It offers real-time insights related to Scope 3 emissions and helps organizations to significantly reduce their ESG reporting costs. “Green Carpet” enables: 1. Simplified data capture & analysis of travel emissions with real time dashboards 2. Adherence to BRSR and aligned to global audit requirements 3. Swift and easy integration with current business travel platforms of corporates 4. Advanced AI & ML to provide analytics & recommendations 5. Decision making to drive enterprise net zero goals Madhavan Menon, Chairman & Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Under its G20 Presidency, India has set ambitious ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) goals, & India Inc. has been called on to implement SEBI’s BRSR mandate starting FY23. The need for a trustworthy partner to provide accuracy and speed in reporting is hence an imperative. At Thomas Cook & SOTC, our leadership in the travel sector formed the basis of our partnership with LTIMindtree – a leading technology solutions provider. “Green Carpet” therefore, not only embodies this potent partnership of leaders, but also leverages the global expertise of Fairfax Digital Services to collectively empower enterprises with the ability to seamlessly monitor and manage business travel emissions and drive their net zero goals.” Sudhir Chaturvedi, President and Executive Board Member, LTIMindtree said, “ESG has become a board-level priority for nearly all organizations, especially in cognizance of India’s ambitious goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. To achieve this goal, organizations are investing in initiatives and infrastructure that will enable them to track, reduce and report carbon footprint seamlessly. The Green Carpet, powered by LTIMindtree’s ESG digital platform and advanced analytics techniques and Thomas Cook & SOTC’s travel expertise, will help climate-conscious clients to comply with regulatory expectations. It will accelerate their net-zero journey through data-driven engineering solutions, cloud computing data analytics, and enable business decisions towards sustainable future.” Sanjay Tugnait, CEO of Fairfax Digital Services said: “Green Carpet is a scalable and powerful tool that will enable the enterprise customers accelerate their journey to Net Zero. This is an exemplary partnership between Thomas Cook, SOTC & LTIMindtree powered by the Global Knowhow of Fairfax Digital to create ESG solutions. To capture, measure, benchmark and report is not only a requirement by SEBI for scope 3 emissions but also a social obligation for us to do our bit and save the planet. In this the year of India’s G20 Presidency, as a member of the G20 Startup 20 Task Force on Sustainability, under the leadership of Dr Chintan Vaishnav, I am delighted we have built this digital solution that India can showcase amongst the G20 nations.”

March 10, 2023: The Department of Tourism (DOT), Government of Goa, recently participated in the Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB) Berlin 2023, the world’s largest travel trade show held in Berlin, Germany, from 7th to 9th March. The Department had a clear objective at the trade fair to showcase the diversity of tourism options beyond the beaches and promote the state’s unique culture, heritage, and natural beauty.The Goa Pavilion at ITB Berlin 2023 received a notable visit and was inaugurated by Shri Arvind Singh, Secretary of Tourism, Government of India, and the Ambassador of India to Germany, His Excellency Shri Harish Parvathaneni. Under the theme of ‘Mastering Transformation,’ the Goa Pavilion showcased its exuberant culture and promoted its responsible tourism ethos to the global travel industry. The pavilion served as an excellent platform for promoting Goa’s tourism offerings. At ITB Berlin 2023, representatives from Goa Tourism engaged in a series of productive B2B meetings with travel agents and tour operators from Germany. The delegation also spoke with members of the press to promote Goa’s wide range of tourism offerings and upcoming events. Among the topics discussed was the recent addition of the new airport at Mopa, which is expected to enhance connectivity to the region. Additionally, the delegation highlighted the importance of the upcoming G20 meetings and the Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier. Throughout the event, the travel trade showed particular interest in visa facilities, safety, accessibility, and new tourism offerings. In response, the delegation made a strong effort to promote Goa beyond its beaches, focusing on hinterland and eco tourism, waterfalls, etc. Goa Tourism put a significant effort into showcasing its diverse offerings beyond the beaches, including hinterland and eco-tourism, waterfalls, bird watching, monsoons, culture, and cuisine. The ITB Berlin 2023 was an excellent opportunity for Goa Tourism to strengthen existing relationships and establish new ones within the travel industry.

3rd March 2023, Mumbai: One Rep Global, India based sales and marketing representation company for ultra-luxury hotels and tourism boards, announces its appointment as the India sales and PR representative for ‘The Farm at San Benito’a exclusive wellness resort in the Philippines. The appointment comes as The Farm at San Benito seeks to expand its reach in India and promote health tourism in the Philippines on a global scale. The Farm at San Benito is no stranger to accolades, having received over 90 prestigious international awards, including the title of “Best Medical Wellness Resort in the World” by SENSES Germany. This eco-luxury, holistic, medical wellness resort situated in the heart of the lush green Lipa City, Batangas, boasts a magnificent view of the Malarayat mountains, pure fresh air, and an abundant microbiome ecology. The Farm at San Benito offers natural and holistic medically supervised health programs that address prevalent lifestyle illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, chronic pain, anxiety, stress, and depression. Its commitment to promoting modern technology, world-class facilities, and highly-skilled medical doctors and licensed health professionals aligns with the resort’s focus on wellness and healing. It’s no surprise that The Farm at San Benito has dedicated itself to transforming the lives of guests who seek transformative healing experiences. Preet Inder Singh, General Manager, The Farm at San Benito said, “Philippines is the ultimate destination for anyone seeking wellness and healing. The Farm at San Benito is dedicated to promoting the Philippines’ global health tourism while showcasing the highest international standards in healthcare, modern technology, world-class facilities, communication competencies, and exceptional care from highly-skilled medical doctors and licensed health professionals. The Filipino people’s warm hospitality, nurturing nature, compassion and cheerfulness are world-renowned and greatly contribute to faster healing and recovery, even jumpstarting the journey to optimum well-being. In selecting One Rep Global, The Farm at San Benito intends to attract health enthusiasts, wellness seekers, conscious consumers, and mindful travelers from India to experience a life-transformative healing holidays at The Farm at San Benito”. “Partnering with The Farm at San Benito, a proud member of Healing Hotels of the World is an exciting opportunity for One Rep Global to bring transformative healing experiences to India,” said Hemant Mediratta, CEO of One Rep Global. He further added, “The global wellness tourism industry is currently valued at over $436 billion, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and India is a key player in this trend of outbound wellness travel. What sets The Farm at San Benito apart is their commitment to natural and holistic medical programs, world-class facilities, and highly-skilled medical staff, which have earned them over 90 prestigious international awards. Combined with the Filipinos’ exceptional service and genuine care, The Farm at San Benito provides an unparalleled destination for transformative wellness experiences. We look forward to expanding their reach through our partnership and promoting wellness tourism in India.”

Colombo,22nd February 2023: SriLankan Airlines made an upbeat comeback to South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) for the first time since 2019 to reconnect with the trade and jump-start Indian outbound travel to Sri Lanka. SriLankan through their stall at the expo from 9 – 11 February 2023, successfully galvanized the support of visiting travel agents, tour operators and other industry allies for the airline as well as national efforts to restore tourism in Sri Lanka. Indian travellers flocked to Sri Lanka before the borders closed in 2019, encouraged by the short travel time and unmistakable similarities of culture. SriLankan Airlines was often the preferred conduit of travel between the two countries owing to its broad Indian network and unparalleled flight frequencies and connections to the East and beyond. The airline is well-placed to welcome Indian customers onboard and to the shores of Sri Lanka once again,and this was the core message driven home to agents at SATTE 2023. In supporting its commercial goals, SriLankan seized the platform offered by the SATTE expo to give a boost to SriLankan Holidays’ package, ‘Dil full of Sri Lanka,’that was introduced in India recently. The three-day package provides an unbeatable value proposition combining the airline’s warm and convenient service with four-star properties of partner hotel chains. SriLankan remains strongly committed to its Indian customers and currently operates 80 weekly flights between Colombo and nine Indian cities.