India: An Emerging Pilgrimage Destination!!!

Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from Thailand and worldwide are flocking to the holy sites in northern India and Nepal in what is becoming one of the travel industry's biggest growth sectors: religious tourism.

The numbers are growing in line with significant improvements being made in infrastructure as well as the quality of supporting travel and transport arrangements. Roads, airports and railway services are being upgraded. Dozens of hotels have emerged. One of them in Bodhgaya is appropriately named "Thai International".


The circuit incorporates various holy sites in Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Rajgir, Varanasi, Nalanda, Lumbini, Kushinagar and Sravasti, all associated with places where the Buddha was born, preached, attained enlightenment and died.


Known as "Following the Footsteps of the Buddha", the sites attract several hundred people a day. Most appear to be Sri Lankans who also come in the low-season summer months to enjoy lower hotel rates and airfares.


In the winter, from October-March, the regular traffic includes Thais and visitors from industrialised countries, both regulars and new Buddhist devotees. Last week, my group alone included people from Mexico, Mauritius, Italy, Hong Kong, the UK, Canada and India.
Separately, two other large all-Thai groups were also travelling on the Mahaparinirvan Express, a special rail journey organised by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation, a division within the massive Indian railway system that caters to foreign visitors.


The rolling stock is leased from the railway enterprise and the price of US$150 to $160 per person per night is affordable to a middle-class market, preventing it from becoming too elitist.


Leading one of the groups was Narierut Pantong, managing director of Nisco Travel, which specialises in Buddhist tours. She says that everything is getting better by the year: the roads, quality of hotels, food and the tour arrangements.


"When I started these tours several years ago, the toilets on the train were always in a mess, and the hotel food was terrible. Now the Indian Railways people have evaluated the feedback and taken positive steps," she says.


Nalanda, site of what is claimed to be the world's oldest university, has been cleaned up extensively, with security guards posted to stop graffiti scrawling, one of the biggest problems at the sites.


Thais are coming in droves, to the extent where the young urchins in one village near a holy spot can even now count in Thai. The entire area is dotted with numerous Thai temples and monasteries that are well-maintained, thanks to the huge funds coming in via donations as well as purchases of souvenirs, amulets and Buddha images.


At one stop just before crossing the border to Nepal, a temple that functions as a rest and refreshment stop is manned entirely by Thai monks.


In Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh, where the Buddha spent 25 monsoon seasons, a huge Buddha image and a 110-metre stupa now under construction are under the aegis of the World Peacefulness Foundation, whose chairman and patron is Maha Upasika Sitthipol Bankot.
The entire area of several thousand square metres began with the planting of 9,999 banyan trees, creating a natural forest and a fresh-water reservoir. A huge meditation centre houses six large halls of 3,000 capacity each.


The area boasts several more temples and monasteries of various Buddhist denominations from Sri Lanka, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Tibet. Some are supported by governments but many are self-funded via donations.


But there is a considerable way to go. Some hardship is a necessary part of being on a pilgrimage. The Buddha sought to keep the focus on human suffering, and there is plenty of that in India, both in the villages as well as all along the roads and pathways.


Signage and waste disposal facilities are still poor. Civic sense remains a challenge. Garbage is strewn in many places, with plastic bottles even floating in the ponds at some sites. Beggars and vendors wait outside the holy spots, ready to swarm over pilgrims.
Carrying capacity will soon become an issue. The temple at Bodhgaya, the site of Buddha's enlightenment, can barely cope with the numbers and will soon face more pressure as the hundreds of daily visitors soon become thousands.


Indeed, Bodhgaya should see much improvement following a change of government in Bihar, long impoverished by the corrupt former administration.


Navigating this itinerary requires a good tour-management system so that devotees can remain focused on their primary purpose for being there.


Other states are also looking at starting similar rail journeys. Our tour included the head of Punjab Tourism, which sees high potential for a rail trip through Sikh holy spots, starting with Amritsar, home of the famous Golden Temple.



Crosswoods holidays 2011

KARNATAKA : State making a mark on tourism map

BANGALORE: Karnataka is making steady inroads into the minds of the global travel fraternity, according to a recent study on the Indian tourism industry. The state has seen stark increase in awareness and rankings among the target audience. While the India State Ranking Survey 2011 witnessed Karnataka’s largest rank increase, an HVS study to measure marketing effectiveness on internet puts Karnataka Tourism’s website in the 6th position in India.

According to India State Ranking Survey 2011, Karnataka is now ranked 4th, from the 12th place it secured in 2009, as a tourist destination in India. The state’s fabulous growth as a brand and destination is being attributed to greater exposure in established and growing tourism markets across the world. In addition, it is inferred that the HVS Study which proved the tremendous online presence of the brand has also been responsible for its success.

This study on effectiveness of marketing placed Karnataka in the 6th position, a drastic change of position compared to last year’s 13th position.

“What makes this achievement even sweeter is the fact that we managed to achieve this amount of effective publicity with merely two short bursts of mass media communication”, said Viswanatha Reddy, IAS, Director, Department of Tourism, Karnataka.

As a direct result of these bursts of communication, compared to just about 20000 site visits between April and August 2010, the period of September to March saw more than 5.5 lakh visitors to the Karnataka Tourism website.

By creating awareness about the cultural heritage, natural resources and tradition of Karnataka, the state aims to open a whole new horizon for the international travelling community to reach out to, he added.

Crosswoods holidays 2011

Tourism is the new TREND!!!!

Travel and tourism has now become an affordable luxury. The reasons for such a buoyant rise are many, from disposable income of the middle class to healthy senior citizens opting to travel and also a high adrenaline travelers. It can be safely said that finally the industry has come of an age. As domestic airline companies are charting newer destinations globally . Companies with innovative ideas along with harnessing on the power of the Internet and hotels extending services to every segment of travelers. has set this industry on a roll

"We are seeing an unprecedented rise in the number of travelers. As an airline, we are keen on building this wave further , with 75 international and domestic destinations and more expected in the future ; we are looking forward to provide the required air infrastructure," explains Gilbert George, Senior General Manager, India Sales, Jet Airways.

There is a significant rise in the online travel market leading to several openings and creating huge opportunities for different companies. "There is a growing breed of travelers who prefer to avail online facilities at the 'click of a mouse' , including airline, train, car bookings and hotel bookings, " says Deep Kalra, founder and CEO, makemytrip .com

The tourism industry in India looks optimistic and there is a huge scope for innovation. "In the cyberspace 'innovation' , will be the mantra for a long-term survival for various players," avers Abhay Rangnekar, CEO, Quest2Travel. Internet tends to make things transparent. "Eventually the process will become more competitive unless you evolve. Though from all prospects it seems to be good for the end user," adds Rangnekar.

Similarly, in the hotel industry, a traveler is spoiled for choices as far as the quality of services and amenities are concerned. In fact, hotels are now trying to test the waters in tier II cities as well. "The hotel industry is bound to grow four times in the next 10 years at the compounded growth of 10 per cent. By 2025 growth is expected to be $4 trillion; recreation would be 3-3 .5 per cent of the GDP at $120-140 billion, which is about fourfive times the current size," says Patu Keswani,CEO, Lemon Tree The growth of the middle class, the mid-market and budget hotels would grow.

Additionally, the hotel industry is promoting green initiative with new formats . Major brands and hotel chains are increasingly keen on being associated with eco-friendly practices. "The travel industry provides job opportunities for the locals as well. Our historical and spiritual past are the strongest drivers in the travel industry," says Jose Dominic , MD, CGH Earth.

The Government of India has realized the true potential of the tourism industry and it is promoting to a great extent. "The government run campaign such as 'Incredible India' and the various individual campaigns run by the state governments have created greater awareness about the tourist destinations in India ," adds George. Government is playing key role in endorsing the travel industry. "The Indian Government has setup such an ambitious target of achieving one per cent of the global tourism pie in the next three years, which means to double the industry share from 6 million to 12 million. I believe it is an achievable target, if all the stakeholders, government bodies work together and ensure it to happen ," explains Arjun Sharma , MD, Le Passage to India & TUI India. In the past the travel industry was badly hit because of various factors like economic slowdown, terrorism and pandemics, but now it is a thing of the past. "The tourism industry is finally picking up after the recession and this season seems to be good. The market is certainly bound to boom," says K G Mohanlal, MD, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) On a final note the travel and tourism industry is expected to improve further as the current economic growth is around 7-7 .5 per cent and things do look promising from India's perspective.

The event was managed and executed by WOW Entertainment & Media Pvt. Ltd. 


source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10470347.cms
Crosswoods holidays 2011

28 countries, 400 buyers to participate in Goa travel mart- IANS

Panaji : Travel and tourism industry stakeholders from 28 countries will participate in the second edition of the Goa International Travel Mart (GITM), which kicks off here Friday.
Announcing the inauguration, Goa's tourism director Swapnil Naik said nearly 400 invitees will mingle and talk trade with travel and tourism industry stakeholders in Goa in the B2B event.
"We have confirmed participation from nearly 400 buyers from countries like Singapore, South Africa, the UK, Italy, the US and Thailand, among other countries," Naik said.
He added that for the second edition of the event, GITM had tied up with the organizers of the world's most prestigious travel mart, ITB Berlin.
"We are extremely thrilled to have ITB Berlin on board with us, with others like 'Le Passage to India', 'Kuoni India' and the 'Tourism Authority of Thailand'," Naik said.
The GITM, organised with the objective of advancing tourism related business in the state, is jointly promoted by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the state department of tourism, India Tourism, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).
The GITM, this year around, will also feature knowledge sessions conducted by industry stalwarts on 'Responsible Tourism', 'Marketing and Innovation in Tourism', 'Branding and Reinventing a Destination', 'Spa and Wellness Tourism', 'Adventure Tourism' and the 'Role of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in tourism and destination development'.
According to Manguirish Pai Raikar, President, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the theme of the GITM this year, "Uncover the Hidden Treasures of Goa", would help the state tap the unexplored potential of Goa, which is seen essentially as a beach tourism destination.
"The Chamber is committed to sustainable development of the state. Entrepreneurship development, in particular, is our priority. GITM offers the perfect platform for local entrepreneurs in travel and allied trade industries to network with global firms and forge positive business alliances," he said.


Crosswoods holidays 2011

F1 fever hits NCR, preparations in full swing-CNN IBN

Noida: Barely two weeks to go for the Formula One Race to kickstart in India, the hotels around the race track are all fully booked.

From customised services for all the F1 teams to specially designed menus, the tourism industry hopes that this will certainly boost India's image globally.


The National Capital Region is gearing up for sporting action of a different kind exactly a year after the Commonwealth Games.


While the CWG did not really translate into full bookings at the hotels and guesthouses, the NCR has seen a slew of new hotels opening up in the last few months, all completely booked for the F1 weekend.


"We saw bookings year back. All our slots are completely filled," said Radisson GM Suraj Kumar Jha.


With the likes of Schumacher and Bernie Eccleston staying at their resort, the Jaypee Group is adding the finishing touches to its luxury suites and going all out to cash in on the F1 fever, with even the menu and gardens paying tribute to the racing action.


"We have ensured customised services, special pillows of 15 different types, different kinds of mattresses, vitamin supplements on menu, massages etc," said Grant Raymond Jefferies, VP, Jaypee Greens Golf Resort.


However, on the ground, travel agents admit that unlike cricket, the F1 is an event restricted to the upper crust and not the masses.


"Bookings come in directly from the organisers of F1. The organising committee does this as routine. They have die hard fans, people who go for every race. It gives those people an opportunity to see the country and place. They are fanatics. Those committed fans are pre booked across the globe," said Raji Rai of Travel Agents Association of India.


The CWG was meant to boost tourism for India, but with that event failing to meet expectations, all eyes are now on the F1 to rake in the figures and improve India's standing as a global tourist destination. 

Crosswoods holidays 2011

2011 Kashmir's best tourism season in 25 years - CNN IBN

Srinagar: After three summers of strife, tourists this summer flocked to the boathouses, shikaras and hotels in Kashmir. A recent survey shows 2011 has been the best for its tourism industry in the past 25 years.

Official figures now show that airfare to and from Srinagar has gone up. In July, a Delhi-Srinagar air ticket was sold for Rs 23,000 as against a low of Rs 1500.


Flights to Srinagar doubled in the last few months - from 11 to 23 a day including early morning and late night flights.


The number of rooms available has now doubled from 18000 to 36000. And a new five star hotel and an 18-hole golf course in Pahalgam have been added for high-end tourists.


The hotels and houseboats with fancy names amidst the Dal lake are almost packed to the brim. There are long traffic snarls on the boulevard every evening and eateries in Srinagar are busy with tourists. Every one from shikarawallas to hotel and travel operators are smiling at the tourist arrivals that are set to break a record.


Buoyed by the tourist influx, the tourism department is demanding direct air connectivity from Southern India and South-East Asia - specially for the winter months when skiing and snow games get underway.


Tourism Department Director Farooq Ahmad Shah said, "There should be more flights from Bangalore to Srinagar or from rest parts of country. Our domestic market is quite huge. Crores of people in our country go for outing. Kashmir is always their dream destination. Better connectivity will ensure good season."


Amidst the cheer, there's the sobering reality. To re-emerge as a top tourist destination, Kashmir clearly needs more than one good season. 



Crosswoods holidays 2011

Medical Tourism Hires heavily in India!!!

New Delhi:

India's emergence as a major medical tourism hub is driving large scale hiring activities in this space and the number of job additions has nearly tripled in past one year, say experts.

In the first half of the current fiscal, various medical tourism related segments have seen addition of more than 1,000 jobs, which is nearly thrice the figure for the same period last year. A similar trend could also result in more than 2,000 being further hired in the second part of the year ending March, 2012.

The improving quality of healthcare facilities in the country is expected to help Indian medical tourism industry to attain a size of USD 2.4 billion by 2012.


"Since mid of last year we had seen sudden increase in hiring activity in the medical tourism segment. After that we had never seen any declining trend till now," MyHiringClub CEO Rajesh Kumar said.


"The medical services include doctors, hospitals, various other specialists, laboratories, medical stores and blood banks. The persons to be utilised in medical tourism fields are range from MBBS, MBA, pharmacist, medical transcript experts, medical lawyers, cyber lawyers, IT persons, etc," Tina Sharan, MD at Trip4U Team, a one-stop travel solution, said.

"We are doing robust hiring this year compared to the last few years for various medical persons and engage various service providers in this field for last one year," Sharan added.

According to a report by MyHiringClub, hiring in the tourism space stood at 1,049 in the first two quarters of current fiscal 2011-12 compared to 348 in the in the year-ago period indicating no signs of losing steam even as the global economy wobbles.


In addition, 305 and 478 people were being recruited in the third and fourth quarter of 2010-11, respectively.

"Day by day medical tourism market is growing rapidly and we are also increasing our number of staff as per requirement to give quality of services and care to our patients. This year our hiring activity is upward compare to last year," Chairman and CMD at Medanta-The Medicity, Naresh Trehan said.

Experts believe that one of the primary reasons for the growth in medical tourism is that availability of low-cost medical facilities.


"The reason is that there is significant movement in quality of care and treatment in the last 10 year in India. Quality, care and cost are major reason to attraction of medical tourism in India.

India has always been a destination for South Asians. The quality of treatment is almost better or equal to the US or Europe," Trehan added.


"Most estimates claim treatment costs in India start at around a tenth of the price of comparable treatment in America or Britain.


"The most popular treatments sought in India by medical tourists are alternative medicine, bone-marrow transplant, cardiac bypass, eye surgery and hip replacement. That's the reason for boom in this industry segment," Kumar said,

The maximum number of patients come from South Asia, the Middle-East, Africa and CIS countries. Besides, patients from America and Europe are also coming but at lesser pace.


The medical tourism has a great future in the country as the Indian government is also taking various steps to address infrastructure issues that hinder the growth in this space.


Looking ahead, Kailash Saini, Director of Success Mantra Management said, "Sectors like medical tourism is hiring professionals pretty well. We expect to see opening of more positions in the coming quarters".

Crosswoods holidays 2011