Domestic air traffic registers a sharp increase
Domestic air travel picked up sharply recently as improved economic environment encouraged both business and leisure travel, but air fares are yet to recover, suggesting that financial performance of airlines may not look as good. According to data released by the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), airlines flew 39.57 lakh passengers during this time, up nearly 30% compared to the corresponding month last year. Domestic airlines such as Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet clocked over 70% flight occupancy.
Amadeus India managing director Ankur Bhatia, who tracks the aviation sector closely, however, said airlines were still behind the break-even level.
“Fares have still not firmed up. In the first 15 days of December, there has been 40% jump in net travel transactions but yield has not improved at the same pace,” he said.
Airlines have increased capacity since June this year to meet the gradually improving demand. The country’s largest private carrier by market value, Jet Airways, witnessed a 33% surge in passenger numbers in November. The share price of airline companies is up nearly 50% since October-end compared to a 10% rise in the benchmark indices.
However, part of the improvement in the traffic could be due to the base effect, as air travel had plummeted after the financial crisis broke out.
Domestic airlines carried 39.96 million passengers during January-December this year, up 5.45% compared to the corresponding period in 2008. The domestic airline industry lost close to Rs. 10,000 crore in 2008-09 as demand weakened due to the global financial meltdown. Spiralling fuel price and excess capacity added to the woes of carriers.
Airline companies subsequently reduced capacity in a desperate bid to contain losses. The cut in fleet size has resulted in optimum utilisation of capacity. Airlines will continue to add low-cost seats. The trend of airlines shifting capacities to the low-cost model, as witnessed in the current year, is likely to continue in the next year. Around 80 percent of the capacity converted or added in the latter part of 2009 had been in the low-cost segment and a majority came from conversions of fully fledged services.
Airlines in India had cut 58 percent of their capacity in the first six months of the year, but they also added 40 per cent in the second half. The
capacity additions took place only after passenger numbers started to rise in June. “Around 80 per cent of the capacity added or converted this year has been in the low-cost segment. A majority of it came from Jet Airways and Kingfisher converting (existing full-fledged) capacities into low-cost seats.
Sikkim's rich Buddhist culture attracts tourists
Sikkim which is situated amidst Himalayan Hills, is a paradise for tourists. Now the state Government has stepped up its efforts to promote many Buddhist sites and festivals as tourist's destinations.
Kagyad chaam is one of the four forms of masked dances in the state, performed by Lamas of Buddhistmonastery on the every 28th and 29th day of Tibetan calendar. The dances symbolize exorcizing of evil spirits of previous year and welcoming the good spirits at the dawn of New Year.
During the dance costumed Lamas with gaily-painted masks holding the ceremonial swords jump and swing to the rhythm of resounding drums. The vibrant dance not just enthralls locals, but foreign tourists as well. Kagyad dance enacts various themes from the Buddhist mythology and culminates with the burning of effigies made of flour, wood and paper.
A congregation of local Buddhist followers and tourists gather once a year to 
witness this extraordinary dance. The Buddhist festivals which reflect centuries-old tradition of Buddhism in State, also contribute to the growth of tourism industry. According to Sikkim Travel Agent Association's General Secretary Lukendra Rasily, 'Tourists finds it very much interesting, very different and when they come to Sikkim they go back with lot of memories which are not available easily anywhere in the world.'
36 beaches to be developed in Andaman Nicobar
To promote eco-friendly tourism, the Andaman and Nicobar government has decided to develop 36 beach sites on the islands.
'Action has been taken to develop three sites in outer Islands - Hut Bay, Neil Island and Lalji Bay under PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode,' Lt. Gen. (retired) Bhopinder Singh, the lieutenant governor of the union territory, said in an official statement. He also announced setting up of the country's first ever marina in A and N islands.
"The islands administration has started some unique projects like introduction of seaplane service launched for the first time in India. The administration will set up canopy walkways, luxury cottages and procure luxury boats to attract high-end tourists. Plans are afoot to start more light and sound shows and setting up de-compressions chambers for scuba drivers in the islands in the near future", he said. Singh informed that ITDC (India Tourism Development Corporation) has submitted a detailed project report to connect Port Blair-Havelock-Baratang islands, work on which will start next year. Singh said a comprehensive touris
m policy has been formulated with detailed deliberations from local tourism industries, entrepreneurs, academicians and other stake holders.
'Annual tourist arrivals increased to 130,000 in September 2009 as compared to 33,716 tourist arrivals recorded in 1990,' he added and exhorted people to visit the islands. The Andamans are a group of 572 islands, inhabited and uninhabited, in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. 'The tour operator is marketing; the Government of India is also marketing through their Incredible India slogan,' he added.
Upgraded world class airport in Goa by 2011
Allaying apprehension over stalling of the modernisation-cum-expansion of the airport in South Goa's Dabolim, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that the upgraded Navy-run airport at a cost of Rs. 500 crore would be ready within two years now that the retendering process for the work has begun.
Interacting with media persons at the airport on his arrival to participate in a private wedding reception, the Minister said, "the authorities had sorted out the hurdles between the Navy and the Goa government regarding handing over a land by the former to facilitate the expansion cum modernisation of the project".
"The issue related to construction of a parallel taxi way in the airport also delayed the project", he said, adding the retendering process would be over by the end of next month.
The project was expected to meet the galloping requirement of the ever increasing tourist influx at the airport.
The opposition (BJP) expressed its grave concern over stalling of the tender for the much hyped project and the foundation for which was laid by the very Union Minister, casting aspersions on the intentions of the Centre and the stategovernments ruled by the Congress.
With the existing airport not able to meet the future projections of the air traffic, the state government had embarked on acquiring land for setting up a greenfield state-of-the-airport at Mopa in North Goa amid stiff opposition from South Goa lobby.
Infiltration not to effect border tourism promotion in J&K
The border tourism promotion is not going to be 'affected' by the recent 'infiltration attempts' made from across the fence as the Jammu and Kashmir government has released the first installment for wooing tourism along Indo-Pak international border (IB).
Though numbers of infiltration attempts were made by the militants from various points along international border in Jammu region for the past few months but the situation is not going to disrupt the plan of promoting 'border tourism', a senior administrative officer said. ''There is going to be no change in the proposal despite the 'tense' situation along the international border as the first installment of Rs. 1.69 lakh has been sanctioned by the government to initially start with the work at Baba Chambliyal shrine, close to zero line on Indo-Pak border in Ramgarh Sector,'' Sourav Bhagat, Deputy Commissioner Samba, said.
Mr. Bhagat said that the present situation along the borders, would not be bringing promotion of 'border tourism' to a standstill as the three year project, which had to be completed at the cost of Rs. 3.5 crore, sanctioned by the state government, has already started. ''A 'shamlaat' land of 35 kanals near the site of Baba Chambliyal shrine has be
en transferred to the J and K Department of Tourism for constructing a Yatri Niwas with all basic facilities for the devotees,'' the DDC informed.
He further said that besides shrines close to the zero line, other places of religious importance and picnic spots along the borders would also get special attention to attract more tourists. ''Not only the shrine of 'Baba Chambliyal' but all religious places and picnic spots along the stretch of International Border from Akhnoor to Kathua will get a facelift,'' Mr. Bhagat added.
All roads leading to the remote and border villages have been connected with the national or state highway.
Pearls group opens star resort in South Goa
The Rs. 6000 crore worth Pearls group of companies has an ambitious plan to open a chain of star resorts motels in India and abroad to promote tourism in a big way besides launching its television channels in Gujarati and different south Indian languages.
Disclosing this to media persons, on the eve of launching a Rs. 30 crore 4-star state-of-the-art resort christened 'Pearls Oceanique Resort' in South Goa's popular Colva beach, the group's Executive Director Jyoti Narain said that it had plans to open resorts in Punjab and Chandigarh besides Dubai and New Zealand to take advantage of its own properties.
It had also plans to open motels in the famous Hindu pilgrim centres like Gangotri and Rishikesh next year to promote tourism. The Group had already opened three tourist resorts in Himachal Pradesh, Mussorie and Australia.
The Pearls group, incorporated three decades ago, had its presence in diverse sectors like the real estate, infrastructure, insurance, education, tourism, fast moving consumer goods, beverages and media, with the real estate business alone accounting for a net worth of Rs. 5000 crores.
Mr. Narain said the Colva resort would be an ideal destination for rest, relaxation, dream weddings and honeymoons. It had already planned a tie up with charter tourist operators for tapping the foreign market in a big way from next month. The second phase of the expansion of the Pearl Oceanique Resort included opening of a discotheque and a spa besides a swimming pool with other entertainment avenues, leave alone catering to the needs of the corporate functions, business meetings and conferences, with customised travel and tourism solutions.
Exuding hope thatthe tourism industry was poised to pick up by surmounting the current recession soon, Mr. Narain said that the 50-room Colva resort offers a U-shaped, class room style seating for 60 or theatre style seating for 170 people with complete audio-visual facilities for holding conferences.
Web check-in highest in Mumbai
The fourth annual SITA/Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey (PSS) found that the preference for online booking was higher (77.9 percent) among Mumbai passengers than at any of the six international gateways included in this year's survey. The actual usage rate was 65.9 percent among those interviewed which is above the global average of 63.7 percent and an increase from 61.7 percent recorded at Mumbai during last year's survey.
The city also stands out because of the popularity of web check-in which was used by 25.6 percent of passengers, a rate which was only exceeded by Atlanta, the world's busiest airp
ort where the rate was 32.2 percent. Overall, preference towards self-service check-in continues to grow at Mumbai up from 60 percent last year to 68.9 percent this year compared to a global average of 62.9 percent across the six airports surveyed.
The PSS Survey is an in-depth look at the attitudes and habits of a representative sample of the 232 million passengers who use these six leading international airports: Mumbai International, Sao Paulo Guarulhos- Brazil, Hartsfield-Jackson- Atlanta, Charles de Gaulle- Paris, Moscow Domodedovo and OR Tambo Airport- Johannesburg. The data is extracted from interviews, with 2,193 passengers, conducted at the departure gates earlier this year.
The number one reason cited by Mumbai passengers for not using self-service check-in was that they had bags to check-in (45.2%) as many of them did not see the value of self-service check-in options if they had to go an agent desk to drop off bags. Some also believe that it is not possible or too complicated to use self-service check-in options when there are bags to be checked in.
The survey also found that passengers are spending more through airline websites on ancillary services such as hotels and car hire and their numbers are expected to double. In Mumbai, over 40 percent of passengers use airline websitesfrequently or intermittently to book hotel rooms or car rental which is well above the 20 percent average.
The numbers of Mumbai passengers carrying a smart phone has almost doubled to 11.3 percent from 6.5 percent in 2008, in line with the global trend. But interestingly, passengers in Mumbai are more inclined to use their mobile phone throughout the travel experience. In Mumbai, 78 percent said that they would use a mobile phone to check-in in the future as against a global average of 45 percent.
Dwell time at the airport is the step of the journey that passengers interviewed in Mumbai Airport would like to change the most with 59 percent asking for improved internet access capabilities, over 30 percent asking for digital assistance to find their way and for shopping. Passengers, flying on more than 100 different airlines and representing over 80 different nationalities, were interviewed during April/June 2009 in this independent survey.
Water walking attracts tourists in Guwahati
A recently constructed unique 'walk on water' event attracting locals as well as tourists. Walking on water is done inside a giant transparent ball filled with oxygen and aptly it is named 'water walking'.
The concept of water sphere is of an inflatable tank wherein the rider can enter and can walk, dance, float and even burst into a song in water, of course all with no fear of drowning since safety of the visiting 'water-walkers' and 'mermaids' is the hallmark of this rare recreation. According to the promoters of this event, each water sphere comes with full instructions and a safety guide that explains the detail about using the water sphere and it can be set up in any source of water such as a river, lake and even a swimming pool.
"This ball floats in water and is filled with oxygen. Since it is round and spherical in shape, whenever anyone enters inside the sphere, it moves. When people go inside it, they can easily walk, roll in it, jump in it, float or relax in it. They can do whatever they want to do", said Manojit Bhardwaj, one of the promoters of the 'Water Walking' sport. He also claimed that this recreational tourism has been introduced in India for the first time. The water sphere is a giant transparent reserve of breathable air wherein the rider can float, relax, watch fish swimming below the sphere and can simply enjoy every moment in it.
This water sphere ride on an average lasts about 7 minutes per single trip. The ball is made up of a durable material called TPU (thermoplastic elastic rubber) and can be used anywhere where there is water and can bear weight up to 150 kilograms.
Railways to run 2,872 special trains for summer rush
"The Indian Railways will run 2,872 special trains across the country during summer to clear the extra rush of passengers duringthe holiday season", Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee announced. "These special trains will have 4,326 coach
es to ensure even the wait-listed passengers are able to travel. As hundreds of college students from North India and Bengal study in far-away places like Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, we want them to reach their homes quicker," Banerjee said at a railway function.
The railways will also provide an additional 1,562 berths for ensuring reservation from stations en-route.
As part of its massive expansion, Banerjee said that her ministry would take up new infrastructure projects such as automobile hubs and logistics parks to leverage the 113,000 acres of vacant railway lands across the country.
"We plan to develop 10 automobile hubs across the country. One such park has already been developed at Shalimar in Howrah division. Of the remaining nine automobile hubs, one each will be set up in Bengaluru and Mangalore in Karnataka," Banerjee said before flagging off three new trains in the South Western Railway zone.
Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa, who was present on the occasion, said that his government would increase the budgetary allocation for the state's share in the railway projects to Rs. 600 crore in the next fiscal (2010-11) from Rs. 243 crore in this fiscal (2009-10). "We will submit a feasibility report on the public private partnership projects to the railway ministry by next month," Yeddyurappa added.
MV Aquamarine to ensure High Seas luxury cruising for tourists in India
Indian tourists will soon be able to enjoy the joys of international class cruising on the Indian Ocean onboard MV Aquamarine, the first international cruise ship to homeport in the country. The luxury liner was officially launched at a ceremony to celebrate its inaugural sailing by Union Minister for Tourism, Kumari Selja, in Kochi.
MV Aquamarine is the first cruise liner to offer cruises targeted at the Indian tourism market.
Speaking at this occasion, Minister for Tourism, Kumari Selja said that there was tremen
dous scope for cruise tourism in the country, given India's strong domestic tourism sector and growing middle class and of course, the country's 7,517 kilometres long coastline. Also present on this occasion was Director of Kerala Tourism, M. Sivasankar, who said that exotic voyages from Kochi, is a unique product for the Indian market, which is craving for new and exciting experiences. Sivasankar added that the new development would further boost Kochi's position as a cruise hub and destination in the area.
MV Aquamarine has a capacity to carry 1,200 passengers and will offer itineraries on the Kochi-Maldives-Kochi and the Kochi-Colombo-Kochi routes, in addition to a one-night high sea-sailing itinerary. Oneil Khosa, Managing Director of Louis Cruises India, while speaking at the ceremony underlined the fact that the 2-night and 3-days itineraries to Maldives and Sri Lanka are considered to be ideal, as Indian are not inclined towards long sailing. Packages start from Rs. 5,000 per person per day for a three-night tour package.
MV Aquamarine has home ported in Kochi from 2nd December 2009 and is operating cruise itineraries 3 times a week from Kochi. Around 60,000 Indian tourists are expected to cruise on MV Aquamarine this season. The vessel made her debut voyage from Kochi to the Maldives. Kerala Tourism has tied up with the company to market and promote cruise tourism from Kochi.
Besides 525 spacious state rooms and suites, awhich are above sea level, passengers will also get to enjoy her world class facilities including several restaurants, a swimming pool, fitness center, massage/sauna facilities, a casino and duty free shopping. The vessel has also been modified to include a cricket pitch, giving Indian travellers a new experience of playing cricket on the high seas. Food and entertainment on board will also take in Indian taste and has been modified to include both Indian and European themes. The 7 deck ship spans 531 ft. in length, 83 ft. in breadth and has 4 elevators. With a gross tonnage of 25,611, it will cruise the Indian Ocean at 17 knots.
MV Aquamarine is owned by Louis Cruises India, a subsidiary of Louis Cruises -the 5th largest cruise operator in the world.
