India extends Visa on Arrival facility to four ASEAN countries

In an initiative to boost tourist traffic from Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) nations, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently announced Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility for nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The facility can be availed starting January 1, 2011.

According to a report in Economic Times, while addressing the 8th India-ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam Singh said, “We invite many more tourists from the ASEAN countries to visit India to see the splendour of its rich cultural heritage. As a concrete measure, I am happy to announce that we will extend our Visa-on-Arrival facility to the nationals of Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos with effect from January 1, 2011.”

Stressing that ASEAN was the core around which the process of economic integration of the Asia-Pacific region should be built, the Prime Minister said that India hoped to sustain nine-ten per cent growth rate in the coming years, thus offering a whole lot of trade and investment opportunities.

UNWTO Welcomes World’s One-Billionth Tourist

A British tourist visiting Madrid, Spain on 13 December has been revealed as the symbolic face of the one billion international tourists travelling in 2012.

The tourist was welcomed by the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain, José Manuel Soria, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella, at an event in Madrid’s Museo del Prado, held to celebrate a record one billion international tourists in 2012.

“Today, we welcome the symbolic arrival of the one-billionth tourist,” said Mr Rifai. “The one-billionth tourist, Mrs. Dale Sheppard-Floyd from the United Kingdom, is visiting Spain for three days. During that time she will experience a new culture, meet new people, support the local economy and help to sustain the jobs of waiters, tour guides and many more working in tourism, as well as of all those whose jobs are indirectly linked to tourism such as taxi drivers, food producers or shop attendees. If we multiply this impact by one billion, we begin to understand the enormous significance of reaching this milestone.”

The celebration was held in Madrid’s Museo del Prado, the city’s most visited tourism attraction, in the presence of UNWTO representatives and Spanish tourism and private sector officials, as well as many of the museum’s daily visitors from around the world. As it is impossible to know exactly where the one-billionth tourist arrived, many countries celebrated the occasion by also welcoming tourists arriving on 13 December.

The Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Spain, José Manuel Soria, thanked UNWTO for choosing Spain to celebrate the official celebrations of the international campaign and stressed that “Spain is one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, where the sector represents 11% of the country’s economy.” The Minister further highlighted the importance of tourism in economic development and job creation.

Minister José Manuel Soria noted that Spain was expected to reach a record 58 million international tourist arrivals in 2012, alongside an increase in tourist receipts. The Minister recalled Spain’s intention to increase and retain its large number of tourists who visit the country to experience its diverse tourism attractions.

“Madrid City Council is happy to be hosting this symbolic act, since it strengthens the reputation of the city as one of the world’s great tourism destinations. Tourism is one of the principal drivers of Madrid’s economy. Indeed, in its current strategic plan, the Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau aims to transform tourism into a pillar of wealth and employment creation for the city,” said the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella.

The event was held as part of the UNWTO campaign, One Billion Tourists: One Billion Opportunities, calling on tourists to make a difference when traveling abroad and recalling the positive impact that even the smallest actions can have if multiplied by one billion.

Outside the Prado, as well as in Madrid’s famous Plaza Mayor, tourists visiting the city became Faces of the One Billion by adding their photos to a giant mural, reminding tourists that they are part of the one billion and that all their actions count.

Air India offers promotional fares for international flights

Air India Ltd has launched special all-inclusive promotional return fares for its international destinations. “The scheme is valid for out-bound travel with immediate effect to the Far East and Near East. On sectors to the US, the UK, Europe and UAE the validity of travel will be from January 21, 2013. The sale is open for seven days,” Air India said in a statement.

The return fares, inclusive of all taxes, under this scheme are incredibly low ranging from Rs 15,999 to the UAE to just over Rs.50,000 for the US, the statement said. “For travel originating at Delhi, the fares would be higher by Rs 2,000 to all the destinations. The fares have been launched for travel on more than 15 city pairs worldwide,” it said.

Some of the fares under the scheme are: America (New York, Newark and Chicago) Rs 51,999, UK Rs 40,999, Europe (Frankfurt and Paris) Rs 35,999 and UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah) Rs 15,999.

IHG Signs New Holiday Inn Hotel in Korea

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a new Holiday Inn hotel in Korea.

 Scheduled to open in mid-2014, the Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo will mark the entrance of the Holiday Inn brand into Incheon Songdo – South Korea’s first free economic zone – and its third Holiday Inn property in South Korea following Holiday Inn Seongbuk and Holiday Inn Gwangju.

The 202-room property is nestled within Songdo Central Park, a green oasis in the midst of the country’s first international hub city. It is situated above the Central Park subway station and other attractions within the vicinity include Muui Island, Ulwang-ri, as well as famous Korean drama sets. It will be within close proximity to the Incheon International Airport, and a 40-minute drive from the Seoul Metropolitan areas. The area will also be further enhanced with medical centres, malls and entertainment facilities, which are all in the pipeline.

Spanning 16,000 square metres, the 12-storey property will offer a variety of rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge bar, a multi-purpose ballroom, as well as meeting and function facilities alongside business and fitness centres.

There are currently 112 Holiday Inn hotels and resorts spread across the Asia Pacific region with another 70 to come over the next three years.

ASSOCHAM asks for bailout of Kingfisher Airlines

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) yesterday suggested a bailout for the grounded Kingfisher Airlines following the government's decision to rescue the ailing national carrier Air India, saying there is no difference in the financial woes of both the airlines. The suggestion comes within days of reports that LIC and the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) snapped up the entire Rs 7,400-crore bond issue of the debt-ridden Air India, as per a PTI report.

“If Air India deserves to be given a bailout package, there is no reason why Kingfisher should be treated differently by banks and government organisations," D S Rawat, General Secretary, ASSOCHAM said in a statement.

Rawat's statement also comes days ahead of the November 30, 2012 deadline set by the bankers to the Kingfisher promoters to pump in fresh capital to the tune of USD one billion and table a comprehensive revival plan.

Sitting on a debt pile of over Rs 15,000 crore, including Rs 7,000 crore bank loans and payments due to various vendors and tax authorities, Kingfisher has not been operating since October 1 this year following a strike by its pilots and engineers over the non-payment of salaries.

Following the shutdown, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had suspended its flying licence on October 19, 2012. “The circumstances under which both Air India and Kingfisher went down under are almost similar, largely emerging from demand slowdown, high cost of aviation fuel and other rising overhead costs," Rawat said.

However, some industry experts attribute the mounting losses and huge debt of the Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher to a flawed business model. As far as Air India is concerned, some parliamentary panels have attributed it's financial woes to factors such as giving away its profitable routes to private carriers and a flawed aircraft acquisition policy for the carrier.

Of the Rs 7,400 crore issues, LIC has agreed to subscribe to Rs 3,000-crore worth of non-convertible bonds while the rest Rs 4,400 crore worth bonds will be subscribed to by the EPFO. On its part, the government has announced Rs 30,000 crore bailout plan to revive Air India in April this year.

Air India offers stopover packages at Delhi airport

State-owned Air India is wooing passengers with several attractive offers, including a trip to Taj Mahal from its T3 terminal at New Delhi airport. The airline is offering stopover packages at competitive prices, including a visit to the Taj Mahal. Besides drawing more passengers, the latest effort also aims at promoting its T3 hub in the capital, which is being used by about 3,000 Air India's transit passengers daily. “The stopover package will enable passengers transfer-connecting on Air India flights over Delhi to experience the city, with a range of accommodation on offer to fit all budgets,” Air India said in a statement. Air India has established Delhi as its hub and it has designed its flight schedule in a manner that facilitates easy transfer connections at the T3, particularly from domestic to international flights and vice versa. The packages offer the facility of web-based hotel booking, airport/hotel transfers and sightseeing options in and around Delhi, Air India said. A range of hotels, from budget to five-star category, located in and around the airport having made available under various packages, including the hotel located inside T3 itself, it added. Besides, the stopover packages also offer 'day rates', which allows 'wash-and-change' facilities to the passenger at select hotels. In addition, it also offers overnight stay rates inclusive of airport pick-up, breakfast and taxes with option to upgrade room, extended stay, day-use rates for 'wash-and-change' facility (four/six hrs as per hotel rules), departure transfers, sightseeing as well as a day trip to the Taj Mahal, the airline said.

Ecotourism: Spreading its roots in India

Ecotourism in India is fast gaining prominence and more attention. All stakeholders of tourism industry are looking to cash in on the opportunities in this niche segment. The Centre and states are also gradually realising the immense potential of ecotourism, as India has all the ingredients required to be a world class eco-tourist destination write Arti Saggi and Lakshmi Vishwanathan

The thought process of today’s tourist has changed as he is aware of the hazards of harming the ecological balance. The ‘Green Laws’ of conservation has made people aware across the globe of how man and environment can live symbiotically for time to come and how ecotourism is the only way to maximise the economic, environmental and social benefits of tourism. Everyone is a stakeholder in the process and we clearly need to avoid our past shortcomings and negative impact that they have had.

In India ecotourism is gaining momentum. The government at the centre is already addressing this issue and is also promoting this concept in the country. Though the concept is new to the Indian travel trade it is catching on fast. In fact, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) India Chapter’s Environment and Ecotourism Committee is currently working on procuring an approval from the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), to mention the organisations which have won national and international awards for good environmental practices or ecotourism on their website, along with links. The primary objective of this move is to encourage eco-friendly practices in the industry. Currently, there are many certified hotels and travel companies in India that practice eco-friendly measures. If this approval comes through, these organisations have a chance of being promoted as recognised eco-friendly promoters on the MoT website, thereby garnering not just Indian, but international exposure.

Commenting on the move, Mandip Singh Soin, Chairman, PATA India Chapter, Environment and Ecotourism committee said, “We have worked closely with MoT, on popularising ecotourism in the country and the Ministry has always supported the cause. If approved, this initiative will help the organisations garner higher visibility, thereby resulting in better business.”

The PATA India Chapter’s environment and ecotourism committee’s long term plans also include facilitating certification of ecotourism operators, lodges, hotels and organisations. Commenting from MoT’s point of view, Sanjay Kothari, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, maintained, “The Ministry has always been actively promoting ecotourism in the country. As far as mentioning the names and links of reputed eco-friendly organisations on the website are concerned, we are yet to take a call on that front.” The India Chapter is hopeful that on grant of this recognition, more travel and hospitality partners would adopt eco-friendly measures

In addition, the centre earlier this year has decided to revise the existing ‘National Ecotourism Policy’. According to a highly placed source in MoT, “We will be soon formulating a new National Ecotourism Policy. Currently, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is working out the new guidelines. Once approved within their Ministry, the new guidelines will be incorporated in the current policy along with a review of the existing guidelines.”

The need to review the National Ecotourism Policy was spelt out by Ambika Soni, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture at a conference where she remarked that the existing National Ecotourism Policy needs to be revived in the light of the ongoing international debate on climate change.

“Often I come across complaints that our bio-diversity is being eroded further on account of adventure, wildlife and ecotourism. There is a genuine concern that adventure tourists are not only polluting the place, but have little regard for conserving the existing natural resources. Last year, when I took up the matter of reviving licenses of adventure tour operators with the Uttarakhand Government, these were the main issues that were highlighted by the Ministry of Environment of Uttarakhand,” said Soni.

Ministry of Environment and Forests is coming up with new forest based eco-tourism guidelines for revising the existing National Ecotourism policy. Currently, the recommendations made by the Tiger Task Force and other divisions within the Ministry of Environment and Forests are awaiting approval from the Ministry. Once approved, they will be sent to the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).

Rajesh Gopal, Inspector General of Forests and Member Secretary of National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forests, said, “We are working on the guidelines to redefine the National Ecotourism Policy. There will be forest based ecotourism guidelines and recommendations on ecotourism in rural areas, which will help the local and ethnic belts to derive benefits from tourism. Currently, we have just put forth the recommendations. Once approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the guidelines will be presented to the MoT. But, currently, everything is at an initial stage.” He further added, “By making new guidelines, unexplored areas can be brought under the tourism map of the country. If ecotourism practices are followed in restricted areas, then their potential can be harnessed for boosting tourism.”

Various states in the country, including the emerging ones in the toruism arena have made ecotourism as one of their main focus areas. There have been several initiatives ranging from creation of destinations cricuits, policies and Joint Ventures to promote and market this niche segment.

 

India will require 200 airports for general aviation by 2020: AAI

Looking at the burgeoning demand for air travel in India, V P Agarwal, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), said, “India would require 200 airports by 2020 for general aviation purpose.” He was speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation) India Aviation Summit 2012. Elaborating on the subject, he said, “The growth in general aviation would benefit the aviation industry in Tier-II and Tier-III cities as a significant part of general aviation travel is focused on infrequently connected airports. By 2020, the Indian general aviation fleet is expected to reach 2000 from 680 today; growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13 per cent. The direct and indirect economic contribution of general aviation could be close to USD four billion per annum by 2020.”

Further he revealed that modernisation of 60 non-metro airports has been decided by AAI, out of which development of 35 airports have been undertaken. The modernisation work for 27 airports has been completed, whereas, work for airports like Khajuraho, Ranchi, Bhubaneshwar and Jaisalmer is expected to be completed by end of this year. Besides this, Raipur airport in Chhattisgarh is expected to be inaugurated by Pranab Mukherjee, President of India on November 7, 2012. Furthermore, planning is underway to start work for Goa, Vadodra, Imphal and Port Blair airports.

He stated that AAI has undertaken development of a greenfield airport at Pakyong in Sikkim with a target date of completion by June, 2013. Besides this, greenfield airports planned at Kohima in Nagaland and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh are also in process.

“India is one of the fastest growing economies globally with an average GDP growth of over 8.9 per cent in last five years. Aviation is an important part of national infrastructure and is one of the prime movers for economic growth and employment generation. Air transport has grown at twice the rate of GDP. For past several years the growth has been impressive with international passengers growing at CAGR of over 14 per cent and domestic at almost 22 per cent,” he added.

At present India has 454 operational and non-operational airports / airstrips, wherein, AAI operates 125 airports, which includes 14 international airports, 80 domestic airports, 12 custom airports and 19 other civil enclaves.

Dr K Chiranjeevi sworn in as Tourism Minister

Dr K Chiranjeevi was yesterday sworn in as the Minister of State with Independent Charge (I/C) for Tourism, Government of India. He replaces Subodh Kant Sahai, who recently tendered his resignation as Minister for Tourism, Government of India. Dr Chiranjeevi said that he will “shoulder the responsibility” to the best of his ability to justify the confidence reposed on him by the Prime Minister and the ruling party. The Minister was speaking to the media soon after the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan here.

Addressing a crowded press conference in Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in Delhi, Chiranjeevi said that India is a country of “incredible heritage” and “rich culture” and has the potential to attract far more foreign tourists. A cine-star-turned politician, Dr K Chiranjeevi is a member of the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh since April, 2012.

AirAsia Launches KL - Lombok Flights

AirAsia has launched flights between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Lombok, Indonesia.

 The new Kuala Lumpur – Lombok route is available 3 times weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

 The route is the fifteenth Indonesian route that AirAsia operates from Kuala Lumpur, with a total of 17 from hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kota Kinabalu.

To celebrate the launch AirAsia is offering promotional all-in-fares from as low as RM149, with the booking period from now until 21 October 2012, for travel between 3 January and 31 March 2013. Terms and conditions apply.

The celebrations did not end in Kuala Lumpur. Flight AK 1408 received a grand welcome at Lombok International Airport upon touching down at 11.45am on the same day.

 “It’s an honour for us to welcome AirAsia to Lombok. The airline’s new direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Lombok will definitely contribute to the number of business and leisure travellers arriving into Lombok. This ‘bridge’ will greatly contribute towards strengthening Malaysian - Indonesian ties and help enhance the economy both ways, through more business and tourism activities,” said West Nusa Tenggara’s Vice Governor Ir. Badrul Munir. “We are proud to open more doors for visitors to experience the beauty and wonders of Lombok, a place which presents stunning sceneries, calming waters and adventurous outdoors, bound to satisfy the diverse preferences. The people of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara also benefit from this new connectivity, as they can now enjoy direct access to various places in Malaysia and the rest of the world via Kuala Lumpur as the gateway.”

Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals in August 2012

Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong in August 2012 rose 20.5% year-on-year to 4,898,843. [See: Hong Kong Visitor Arrivals in August 2011]

 In the first eight months of the year, visitor arrivals rose to 31,591,383, 16.0% more than in the corresponding period in last year.

In August 2012, Hong Kong received about 2.48 million overnight arrivals, which represented approximately 51% of all visitor arrivals to the city and more than a 10% increase over the same month in 2011.

 Same-day visitor arrivals exceeded 2.42 million (49.4% of total arrivals), up 32.2% compared with the previous August.

Cumulatively, overnight arrivals and same-day arrivals between January and August stood respectively at 15.68 million and 15.91 million, or 49.6% and 50.4% of overall arrivals.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board has also just published the “Total Tourism Expenditure Associated to Inbound Tourism” (TEAIT) for the first half of 2012, which was HK$138.37 billion, a year-on-year increase of 17.7%.

 The per capita spending of visitors also went up – with that of overnight visitors up 7.8% to HK$7,736 and that of same-day visitors up 3.8% to HK$2,075.

AirAsia to Become First Airbus A320 Sharklets Operator

AirAsia will become the first operator of the A320 with ‘Sharklets’ when it takes delivery of the first A320 equipped with these fuel-saving wing-tip devices at the end of this year.

The aircraft exhibited on static and flying display at the ILA Berlin Air Show is the flight test aircraft for CFM engines and will also be delivered to AirAsia in 2013.

"The A320 has played a key role in our success, enabling us to offer our passengers the lowest fares possible and completely redefine short haul travel in Asia.” said Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO. “Now we are looking forward to become the first airline in the world to start operating this most fuel-efficient aircraft.”

Sharklets will be fitted on previously ordered, newly-built A320s for AirAsia, scheduled for delivery from the end of 2012.

They are expected to result in close to 4% fuel savings on longer sectors, corresponding to an annual CO2 reduction of around 1,000 tonnes per aircraft.

Altogether, AirAsia has ordered a total of 375 single aisle aircraft, comprising 200 A320neo and 175 A320ceo, of which 103 have been delivered to date.

10 cool destinations to beat the summer heat

The monsoon may have cooled the southern states but northern India is still reeling under the heat wave. Most conversations still start with weather reports. The hot topic: Where are you headed while there’s still a bit of summer to weather? The mountains, where else? From the cool springtime of the Himalayas to the moist, temperate Western Ghats, here is our list of the coolest destinations.

 10. MUNNAR
Located at the confluence of the three rivers on the Western Ghats in Kerala is Munnar. Wrapped in a fabric of tea plantations, Munnar is a biodiversity hot spot surrounded by wildlife sanctuaries, although its habitat is now fragmented. If you are a wildlife enthusiast or a birder or just a pantheist, Munnar is the place for you.

 9. COORG

They don’t call it the Scotland of the East for nothing. The fabric of green is only interrupted by waterfalls, rivers and streams. The mist comes calling – be it at Talacauvery where the River Cauvery has its origins or at Raja’s Seat in Madikeri, which offers some spectacular views. The Western Ghats are covered with forests, while coffee and spice plantations fill their slopes. If you haven’t been to Coorg, then you surely have no idea what bliss is.

8. KODAIKANAL
Call it the Gift of the Forests or the Princess of the Hill Stations, Kodaikanal is nestled high up in the Western Ghats. Dense shola forests, grasslands, tall eucalyptus groves – Kodaikanal is drenched in fog and mist most of the time. Caves, hidden waterfalls, lakes tucked away inside lush forests – Kodaikanal is indeed nature’s own destination.

7. SIKKIM
Imagine sitting outside your little homestay , sipping chai and losing yourself in a misty sky and then all of a sudden, the mist parts ways just to give you that little glimpse , for a few seconds of the mighty Kanchenjunga. That is Sikkim for you. You will be walking up a knoll and suddenly you see an old monastery. I prefer Pelling to Gangtok as it is quieter and offers better views of the mountain. And while you are there, visit Yuksom, the old capital of the state. Tsango Lake and Nathu La can be visited from Gangtok but if you want to visit Gurudogmor Lake, give yourself a few more days to travel up north.

6. MASHOBRA
Barely a few kilometres away from Shimla, Mashobra is an escape from the touristy capital. Wake up to a Himalayan sunrise, do a bit of birding, admire the contours of the mountains, drive up to Chail to see the palace or just lose yourself in the verdant forests around – Mashobra is an ideal getaway to beat the heat.

5. NAINITAL
It may be crowded and filled with loud tourists but my vote goes for Nainital. The Himalayas circle you and, on a clear day, you can see the peaks of Nanda Devi and Trishul if you take the cable car up to the Snow View. The colonial atmosphere takes you to the days of the Raj, but Nainital also has its bit of mythical influences. Be it the grace of the Goddess Naini Devi who gives the town its name or the eye-shaped lake, Nainital is both mystical and magical.

4. DIRANG
An obscure little hill station, Dirang is located in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India. Quiet and sleepy, the town is my favourite stopover en route to Tawang. Walk around and you will find houses huddled along the banks of a small stream. You could drive up to see ancient monasteries or visit the ruins of the 17th century fort.

3. LADAKH
I cannot think of any place on earth that can be more breathtaking, challenging and fascinating than Ladakh. There is beauty in its barrenness. The colours are stark. The Indus River beckons you, curving along the path, taking you to lands forgotten. Clothed in snow, the mountains encircle you as you climb the steps to monasteries perched precariously on cliffs. Watch the lakes change colour every minute as you drive through the land of high passes, and feel humbled in the barren landscape. My favourite is Pangong Tso, although Tso Moriri comes a close second. If you are up to it, cycle or hike up to Khardung La or lose yourself in the colours of the Nubra Valley.

2.OOTY

Ooty also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in India. Nilgiris means "Blue Mountains". It is a land of picturesque picnic spots. Used to be popular summer and weekend getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days. It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level. An added attraction for the tourists to Udagamandalam is the mountain train journey on a ratchet and pinion track which commences from Kallar, near Mettupalayam and wends its way through many hair-raising curves and fearful tunnels and chugs along beside deep ravines full of verdant vegetation, gurgling streams and tea gardens. 

 1.MANALI

Just 40 kms away from Kullu to the north, Manali is situated near the end of the valley on the National Highway leading to Leh. The landscape here is breath taking. One sees well-defined snow capped peaks, the Beas river with its clear water meanders through the town. On the other side are deodar and pine trees, tiny fields and fruit orchards. It is an excellent place for a holiday, a favorite resort for trekkers to Lahaul, Spiti, Bara Bhangal (Kangra), and Zanskar ranges. From temples to antiquity, to picturesque sight-seeing spots and adventure activities, Manali is a popular resort for all seasons and for all travellers.

Dubai reveals plans for amazing underwater hotel

Dubai shipbuilder Drydocks World has inked a deal with Swiss-based BIG InvestConsult, on behalf of partner Deep Ocean Technology (DOT) to create Water Discus Hotel - a leisure facility with a structure that is partly above water and the rest underneath.

Water Discus Underwater Hotel will comprise two discs - an underwater and above-water one. This combination will allow guests to admire the depths of the ocean while making the most of the warm climate.

 

The two parts of the structure are connected by three solid legs and a vertical shaft containing a lift and stairway. The size of each disc has been adjusted to local conditions.

The Water Discus complex was designed to ensure safety at all times, even in the most adverse weather conditions. The structure sits up on three sturdy legs fixed to the seabed, and the upper disc is suspended above the water surface. These two technical solutions will ensure that Water Discus remains safe even in the event of a fairly high tsunami, which can normally flood the nearest coastal areas

 

The complex is surrounded by a beautifully vibrant coral reef. This unique location will allow visitors to enjoy the tropical weather and the colourful underwater world. The disc, located up to 10 metres beneath the surface of the sea, is composed of 21 hotel rooms adjacent to the underwater dive centre and a bar. Each room is integrated with the underwater world as closely as possible, offering a surprisingly direct, yet safe contact with the local flora and fauna.

The disc and its adjacent satellites located 5 - 7 metres above the water surface comprise a restaurant, a spa and a special recreation area.

A multifunctional lobby built inside an enormous swimming pool shows the centre of the disc. The area around the underwater part of the complex and diving activities may be watched as they happen on the screens hanging on the lobby walls. This part of the complex is connected to the satellites with glass-walled tunnels cutting through a training pool for divers.

Dubai shipbuilder Drydocks World has inked a deal with Swiss-based BIG InvestConsult, on behalf of partner Deep Ocean Technology DOT) for creation of the hotel.

Rosewood to Open its First Hotel in China in 2013

The very first Rosewood hotel in China is scheduled to open next year.

The 279-room Rosewood Beijing, designed by Melbourne-based Bar Studio, will be located in the central business Chaoyang District, opposite the iconic CCTV Tower.

The hotel will offer a lot of landscaped outdoor spaces, with terraces, gardens and balconies integrated into the design of many of the restaurants, spa, recreational facilities, meeting and function areas. Bangkok-based P Landscape, acclaimed for its resort landscaping, is in charge of this aspect of the hotel.

With their residential-style layouts and floorplans, guestrooms are designed to evoke sensations of luxury apartment living and, at 538 square feet (50 square meters), they will be amongst the largest in the city. The wide proportion of the rooms will allow maximum window aspect, enhanced by window seats. Natural finishes and textural overlays, spacious bathrooms and walk-in closets, and non-traditional, residential components and accessories with subtle Oriental overtones, will complete the sophisticated, homelike surroundings. 

Seven restaurants and lounges will serve international cuisines. The Chinese restaurant will feature a casual and contemporary lower floor restaurant as well as nine private dining suites on the floor above. The spacious dining suites - up to 1,200 square feet (110 square meters) in size – will be designed for exclusivity and luxury, including dining area, separate lounge, cloak room, and outdoor terrace.

The Rosewood Sense spa brand, featuring treatments reflecting the location’s cultural and natural environment, will make its first appearance in Asia and be accompanied by another Rosewood first: five spa suites designed for overnight stays.

Complementary recreational facilities will include an indoor swimming pool, gym and yoga studio.

An exclusive access lounge will be a spacious venue with an open kitchen, free-standing bar, Internet corner, boardroom and outdoor terrace.

Meeting and function space will total almost 33,000 square feet (3,048 square meters.) This will include a pillar-less ballroom of 8,252 square feet (767 square meters) featuring an adjacent outdoor garden for weddings and other special occasions.

The Pavilion – residential-style meeting and function space – will be a first for the group and debut a signature of all future Asia Rosewood properties. Occupying the Rosewood Beijing annex, The Pavilion will include two combinable areas for memorable events, with dining spaces, bar, lounges and show kitchens, all finished and accessorized as in an elegant private home.

Mr. Marc Brugger has been appointed managing director of Rosewood Beijing.

The Rosewood Beijing is the precursor to fast-paced Asia growth targeted to add 10 properties in operation or in the pipeline in the region to Rosewood’s portfolio within five years.

After plane loses wheel, woman pilot makes emergency landing in Guwahati

Fifty-three people aboard a Guwahati-bound aircraft had a miraculous escape on Sunday when the woman pilot averted a tragedy by her deft handling of an emergency landing.The aircraft had lost one of its nose wheels during takeoff from the Kumbhirgram airport in Silchar.

The ATR aircraft had 48 passengers. Its five-member crew comprised threewomen, including the pilot.

Captain Urmila Yadav circled Air India flight AI-9760 over the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International (LGBI) airport for about one hour and asked the crew to shift some goods from the cockpit to the rear to reduce the load to facilitate safe landing.

The passengers thanked the pilot for saving them.

Gogoi's pat for pilot

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi congratulated Captain Urmila and co-pilot Yashu for saving the passengers' lives. “Hats off to you and your co-pilot for your daring and courageous act which saved the precious lives of passengers,” he told her over the phone, an official release said.

Narrating his experience, noted Assamese linguist and a senior official of the Assam Agricultural University Sumanta Chaliha told The Hindu the passengers got wind of the emergency situation when the crew gave flight safety demonstration for the second time after flying for about 30 minutes.

He said:

“When we asked the crew if anything had gone wrong, we were told that there was a minor technical snag and it was being taken care of. However, after some time they made a formal announcement of an emergency landing. We came to know that the aircraft lost one of its nose wheels. A lady passenger seated in front of me fainted and several passengers started crying. I kept calm and composed, leaving everything to God.

“We came to know that aircraft flew extra time to burn fuel midair and as soon as the aircraft landed the engine was switched off and it came to halt quickly. While getting down I noticed that one of the nose wheels was missing.”

It was the Air Traffic Control (ATC) of the Indian Air Force at Kumbhirgram which noticed that something had fallen off the aircraft after it took off. They then alerted the LGBI ATC.

“We knew that the aircraft was coming with a wheel of nose assembly missing. The pilot was informed and asked if she would land and fly off. When she said she would land, she was asked to do a mandatory low pass so that the ground staff could inspect the nose assembly. We requested her to hold over Guwahati for sometime till we cleared the runway. A Kolkata-bound Spicejet flight was allowed to take off and an in-coming Air India flight from Delhi allowed to land. After the runway was cleared, the aircraft was allowed to land. The pilot really did a skilful landing and did very good handling of the entire situation. If the aircraft had made a normal landing without knowing that one of its nose wheels is missing then anything could have happened,” said an ATC official.

The scheduled departure of the flight from Silchar was 7.20 a.m. but was delayed due to inclement weather and the flight took off at 9 a.m.

Kotagiri – Where the Blue Mountains turn green

About Kotagiri Tourism   Kotagiri, located at an elevation of 1793 metres above sea level in the state of Tamil Nadu, is an old hill station well known for its green spaces and a number of trekking opportunities. History of Kotagiri The name Kotagiri literally means ‘the home of the Kota’ and refers to the Kota tribe who lived here in the past.  Today, the Kota tribe has been reduced to a few thousand and is on the brink of extinction. There is no written record of the ancient history of Kotagiri. All that is present is the history of Kotagiri from the British era to the present. This hill station was the preferred location for the British who looked to escape the heat and the humidity of the plains. In fact, Kotagiri was the summer home of the British in Southern India. Kotagiri is not as well known as some of the other hill stations in South India like Ooty, but it is still a significant one. This small hill station in the Nilgiri Hills was the first one to be discovered by the British. However, when an alternate path was built to Ooty, other than the Horse Trail which passed through Kotagiri, the popularity of Kotagiri started waning until it fell into obscurity. However, of late, tourism has picked up due to various awareness drives undertaken by the government. Kotagiri was originally a coffee plantation. The first coffee plantation was planted in 1843 here which was followed by many more plantations. However, following the first tea plantation in the late 19th century by the daughter of MD Cockburn, tea slowly started taking over coffee until it completely spanned the city. Today, the tea plantations in Kotagiri cover a total area of 30,000 acres. Things to do in Kotagiri The trekking trails in this region go through picturesque tea-estates and lush greenery, meadows and rivers. The most popular trail of the region is the Kotagiri-Kodanad Trail. Kotagiri has many places of tourist interest apart from its trekking and mountaineering opportunities. Some of the tourist attractions here are the Kodanad View Point, Catherine Falls and Longwood Shola. Food & Shopping in Kotagiri Famous for its tea gardens, tourists visiting Kotagiri must try some freshly brewed tea here. It is available in a range of flavours right from ginger to chocolate. Food in Kotagiri is limited to regular snacks and Indian food, which is served at the restaurants in the town. Travelling to Kotagiri Tourists can reach Kotagiri by air as the nearest airport to the destination is in Coimbatore at a distance of about 105 km. Kotagiri is well connected to major cities in Tamil Nadu by road with regular bus plying from Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Trichy, Thirupur and Erode. The nearest railhead to Kotagiri is Coonoor at 21 km.

Thailand and India to Play Single-Match Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifier

Thailand held on in a tight wire match against Malaysia in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations (HSBC A5N) Division II final in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, winning 22-19.

China was relegated to Division III for 2013 after a 52-3 loss to Iran in the Division II 3rd/4th place play-off.

Despite having a man advantage for most of the second half after a Malaysian red card, the Thais were unable to close out the game against a gritty Malaysian team that pushed the visitors to the limit until the final whistle.

 Saturday’s HSBC A5N Division II final was a tight encounter throughout with neither team able to enjoy a comfortable lead. Malaysia was the first team on the scoreboard today with a penalty in the 5th minute from fullback Zulkifli Azmi.

Thailand replied in the 11th minute with a penalty from star fullback Walongkorn Khamkoet to level the scores. Four minutes later Khamkoet put Thailand further out at 6-3. Shortly thereafter, Malaysian winger Dinesvaran Krisnan was sin-binned, giving Khamkoet the opportunity to slot his third penalty as Thailand took a 9-3 lead.

The kicking battle continued as Zulkifli converted his second penalty attempt to edge Malaysia close at 9-6. A Thai sin-bin soon leveled the numbers on both sides, but it was Thailand that scored next through Khamkoet’s fourth and final penalty of the half, taking the score to 12-6 at the break.

Unfortunately for Malaysia, flanker Kini Rasolosolo had a moment of insanity as he lost his cool and punched his opponent, earning a red card and leaving his side to play a man down for the entire second half. The sending off may well have lost Malaysia the match as the hosts at full strength would likely have been too much for the visitors to handle.

Even with the numbers disadvantage, Malaysia came back from halftime firing on all cylinders. The hosts got a break shortly after the start of the second half as Thai hooker Jayasevi was sin-binned, leveling the sides for ten minutes. Malaysian flyhalf Timoci Nocakula immediately punished the Thais for the sin-bin as he scored from a tap and run penalty to pull his team into the lead 13-12 after Zulkifli’s conversion.

Malaysia coach Boon Hoon Chee’s strategic adjustments at halftime seemed to be paying dividends as Malaysia focussed on maximizing their size advantage by keeping the ball in close to their forward pack, frustrating the Thais who were intent on stretching the undermanned Malay defence.

Malaysia’s forward pressure soon told as Thailand conceded a sitter penalty on their 22, which Zulkifli slotted to push Malaysia out at 16-12 after 48 minutes. But Malaysia then conceded a penalty that was nailed by Khamkoet from 35 metres to bring them nearly level at 16-15, with 20 minutes remaining.

The final quarter of the HSBC A5N Division II final was a tense and exciting affair. At one point, Thai indiscipline saw a difficult penalty kick advanced ten metres into kickable territory after the Thais were penalized for backchat. Zulkifli converted the shorter kick as Malaysia took a 19-15 lead.

With ten minutes remaining, all Malaysia had to do was to control the ball and maintain calm under pressure but the Thais had other plans. A well-weighted kick ahead from a Thai offensive move put Malaysia’s cover defence under real pressure. A hasty clearance kick was beautifully charged down by Thai winger Wongsalankarn, who followed through on his solo effort to touch down before the ball crossed the dead ball line for Thailand’s first try of the match. Khamkoet slotted the conversion to put Thailand ahead 22-19 with less than ten minutes remaining.

The Malaysians lifted themselves again, working the ball into Thai territory and forcing what seemed like a sitter penalty just outside the 22-metre line. But Zulkifli’s boot deserted him at the worst possible moment and he shanked a kick that would have drawn his team level and forced extra-time.

The desperate Malaysians again put forward a heroic effort, eventually winning a scrum on Thailand’s five-metre line. The Malaysians rolled off the back using their bigger backline to try for a pushover try from close range, but the ball was held up. Another penalty conceded by Thailand on the last play of the match saw Malaysia go for the tap and run but they knocked on over the line. The resulting scrum saw Malaysia concede a penalty, which the Thais kicked into touch to close out a thrilling encounter.

 “We were concerned because we were playing Malaysia at home and they always have strong support. They are bigger than us and we knew that we would have to play smarter today, especially after playing another big team in Iran in the semi final,” said Thai captain, Tanyavit Kuasint. “Khamkoet came up huge again and the whole team was very cool under pressure. At halftime with the man advantage we knew we would have to stay calm and just take what was in front of us. Malaysia is a great team and they have many skillful players but in the end we came here to win a chance to qualify for the Rugby World Cup and I knew that even though we were giving up a lot of size that our heart is bigger than the other teams and that if we play as a team we can beat anyone.”

As this week’s HSBC A5N Division II and III are doubling as Asian qualifiers for Rugby World Cup 2015, Thailand will now progress to a one-off match against Division III champions India later this summer in Thailand. The winner will be promoted to Division I next season and continue their march along the road to Rugby World Cup 2015. Next year’s Asian qualifiers for RWC 2015 will be the Division I and Top 5 competitions of the HSBC A5N.

Looking ahead to the Division I / Rugby World Cup 2015 play-off, Kuasint said, “If we can make it to Division I it will be the first time for us since 2009 and it will be a great experience for Thailand, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We will host the play-off and I think our support will be a key to helping us win and continue our Rugby World Cup qualification.”

In the 3rd/4th place play-off a disappointed Iran team made up for an earlier loss this week against Thailand with a convincing 52-3 win over China. The result was never in doubt as Iran took China’s first scrum against the head in the opening moments and continued to exert their dominance throughout the match.

Iran’s first try came in the 12th minute after a long period of sustained pressure as prop Anoghin Rozbeh drove the ball from the back of the maul over the line. The try was converted by flyhalf Amin Hosseinzadeh to set Iran off to the races.

Iran’s second try came through the loosehead prop Hassan Nowzad in the 28th minute with a second conversion from Hosseinzadeh. Iran truly began hitting their straps then, taking the ball straight from the re-start through the middle of China’s defence for a third try in the first half, this one finished off nicely by centre Naser Eslamimanesh.

Moments later, the Iran front row completed a hat trick of sorts as hooker Asmer Rasoul scored, giving each of the front row a try in the first half – a great effort from the heroes of the coalface. A third conversion from Hosseinzadeh saw the score reach 28-0 at halftime.

Iran ran in four more tries after the break while China could only muster a single penalty from scrumhalf Zhan Xi Chun to bring the final score to 52-3 Iran. It is the second year that Iran have managed to remain in Division II rugby, while China will be relegated back to Division III (which they won last year in Jakarta) for next season.

Indian Army Woman Scales Everest

Discovery Channel will air a programme on the Indian Army's women scaling Mount Everest.

This is the first time an army women's contingent has scaled the Everest summit from the South Ridge route. The route was used by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

The Indian Army has appreciated the efforts of Discovery Channel to undertake the coverage of such an expedition for the first time. "Such coverage ... will provide a platform for future joint ventures with the Discovery Channel on issues related to sports and adventure in the Indian Army," Lt. Gen. S.P. Tanwar, director general of military training, said in a statement.

The collaboration with the Indian army was also a first for Discovery.

The production team of the channel went with the expedition to capture the grueling attempt on the summit by a group of seven Indian Army women officers.

The first army women's team to scale Everest in 2005 had approached from the North route via Tibet.

"Discovery Channel is delighted to cover this unique and distinguished expedition by Indian Army's women officers. We are committed to present stories of success and achievement from India to audiences around the world," said Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager - South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.

The army team was led by Col. Ajay Kothiyal and included seven Indian Army women officers: Capt. Deepika Rathore (Rajasthan), Capt. Namrata Rathore (Uttarakhand), Capt. Prachi R. Gole (Maharastra), Maj. N. Linyu (Nagaland), Maj. Neha Bhatnagar (Rajasthan), Capt. Poonam Sangwan (Haryana) and Capt. Smitha (Karnataka).

The programme is expected to be aired later this year.

Ritz-Carlton Montreal to Reopen on 28 May 2012

On Monday, 28 May 2012, the Ritz-Carlton, Montreal will reopen after an extensive $200 million restoration.

 Under the direction of Quebec architectural firm Provencher Roy + Associés, the building’s facade was preserved and restored, public spaces were renovated and upgraded, and the guestrooms were redesigned.

 The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal now has 98 rooms and 31 suites. The 4,700-square-foot Royal Suite is the largest hotel suite in Montreal.

 Montreal’s mayor, Gérald Tremblay, said, “The Ritz-Carlton is reclaiming its rightful place here in Montreal and among the guests who stay there. Since it opened in 1912, the hotel has been one of the most elegant addresses in our city and the jewel of the storied Golden Square Mile, close to high-end boutiques, galleries and museums. Our city has changed a great deal—for the better. The reopening of The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal makes a notable contribution to what makes our city different.”

The building’s façade was preserved and restored, as were the Lobby, the Palm Court, the Oval Room and the hotel’s famed garden. Many decorative details from 1912, such as marble fireplaces in some of the suites, reflect this masterful blend of old and new.

The guestrooms also feature high-tech amenities, such as thermostats that intuitively remember a guest’s temperature preferences upon check-in, and motion sensors that activate lights when guests enter a dark room.

The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal offers guests a wealth of amenities at their fingertips. The 10,000 square feet of meeting space are flexible and offer event planners the possibility of accommodating up to 300 people. Guests can dine at acclaimed chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant, Maison Boulud, in the 130-seat dining room, the 46-seat year-round greenhouse, or on the new terrace on Sherbrooke Street. They can enjoy afternoon tea in the hotel’s gardens, work out at the gym or take a dip in the new indoor salt-water pool.

“We are extremely proud to reopen this emblem of the very best Montreal has to offer," said Andrew Torriani, president and general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal. “The hotel today is a showcase of modern luxury, but it has not lost the discreet charm of the past or the patina of history.”