FEATURE INDIA
From the Front Line MICHAEL CREIGHTON
India Product Manager Travel 2 “India is perfect for
anyone looking for real culture. Thanks to the vast array of accommodation on offer it attracts travellers on all budgets. Our iconic Golden Triangle tour sells fantastically well because it offers great value and a real insight into India – perfect for the first-time traveller.”
SUSIE ATKINSON Manager, Haslemere Travel, Surrey “India is so diverse and
What’s New Insight Vacations has
reintroduced the country after an absence of two years with a standalone brochure featuring 12 itineraries. Wendy Wu’s
group and private tours visit Delhi, UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
BY KATHRYN LISTON “A rice houseboat cruise through the Kerala Backwaters was a highlight of my trip and the best way for your clients to gain an insight into daily life in southern India. While I was living in comfort on the water, enjoying freshly-prepared curries, fried bananas and coconut pancakes, I watched the locals going about their daily business knee-deep in it, washing their bodies, clothes, pots and pans, fishing for supper and supervising children splashing around in it. Most escorted tours of Kerala include at least one night in a houseboat, which I found was sufficient to soak up the wonderful scenery and tranquil atmosphere. Suggest clients book a cruise if their holiday tour doesn’t include it. The standard of boat varies enormously from the palatial to the basic, so check this out when booking. Mine was scrupulously clean, the ensuite bedroom was air-conditioned and the three staff were courteous and friendly. Although we were two women, we felt very safe. Most boats had only two people on them so it is a good commission earner too.”
36 April 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Rajasthan and Kerala. On the eco-side, Pyramid Tours is working with local communities and providing financial assistance to youngsters training to become caddies at the Nagarahole Golf Course in Karnataka. Two Vivanta by Taj hotels have opened: the Begumpet in the business district of Hyderabad and the Bekal in northern Kerala.
Tourism Talk RAJ KUMAR SUNANI, Assistant Director, India Tourism Office in London “We received around 800,000 UK visitors in 2011, which was an increase on 2010. “Tour operators are positive about
India. Our poster campaign which highlighted the country as a year-round destination worked well and we will be launching a similar drive just before the London Olympics this summer. “We are trying to motivate tour operators and travel agents to sell India with marketing support and educationals to lesser-known places such as Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Bangalore and Darjeeling. “BMI introduced three flights a week
to Amritsar from Heathrow in October and there are a lot of new hotels coming up in India.”
there is so much to do. I recently joined an amazing Oberoi Hotels trip to Shimla, where we have sent a few clients since. We are trying to use small hotels but it depends how adventurous clients are – their budgets range from £2,000 to £20,000. Clients returning from Kerala absolutely loved it; others spent six weeks in Darjeeling.”
BALAJI KANDASAMY India Product Cox & Kings “Rajasthan and Kerala are
key destinations for first-timers, while repeaters look to go off the tourist trail and walk in the Himalaya foothills or visit Sikkim. Clients also want local authentic experiences such staying in a resort with elephants or fishing in the Kerala waters.”
Room Report Guests arriving at the new Banyan Tree Kerala in Kochi will cruise into the lobby through the backwaters when the all-pool villa resort opens this winter. Two luxury hotels are opening in Chennai this spring: the 600-room ITC Grand Chola and Leela Palace Chennai, the city’s first beachfront luxury hotel with 329 rooms. ITC recently opened Rajputana in Jaipur. Sofitel Luxury Hotels has opened its first India property, in Mumbai’.
Where To Book It ON THE GO – 020 7371 1113
www.onthegotours.com The operator has introduced tours to local festivals including a five-day Hemis Festival in June from £379pp. A seven- day Darjeeling High Tea tour, which visits tea estates and hill stations, costs £799pp, excluding international flights. Tintin enthusiasts may prefer the 15-day Very Indian Adventure taking in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Shimla.
TRAVEL 2 – 0800 0224 182
www.travel2.com The new five-day Shimla Discovery tour, costing from £319pp, excluding flights, can be added onto the operator’s six-day Golden Triangle tour, which costs from £1039pp with Emirates’ international flights. Also new is a 10-day Rajasthan and Taj Mahal tour, from £1349.
TRANSINDUS – 020 8566 3739
www.transindus.com The 16-day escorted Royal Raiputana tour of Rajasthan visits Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Udaipur and includes a rickshaw ride through Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, an elephant ride, jeep safari to the tribal villages of Rohet, a sunset camel ride, and two nights at the luxury Devigarh resort. Prices start from £2,895pp including flights.
Who Flies There BRITISH AIRWAYS - 0870 850 9850
www.britishairways.com AIR INDIA - 020 8745 1020
www.airindia.in JET AIRWAYS - 0808-101-1199
www.jetairways.com BMI: - 0844 8484 888
www.flybmi.com VIRGIN ATLANTIC - 0844 209 7310
www.virgin-atlantic.com MONARCH: - 08719 40 50 40
www.monarch.co.uk •
Top left: Two contrasting faces of Kerala; Above, top: Jaisalmer Amar Sagar with, below, Benares
TAJ HOTELS
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