Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media

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Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop
Volume VIII • Issue III • April 2021 • Pages 62 • Rs.100/-

Imbibe The True
Spirit of Nepal
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Royal Journey of India                    Archaeological Tour of                   Majestic Kerala                        Enchanting Himalayas                    Tribal Trail                          Buddhist Temple with
18 to 20 Nights                           Rajasthan                                14 to 15 Nights                        with Taj                                15 to 17 Nights                       North East India Tour
                                                                                   Mumbai – Mangalore – Bekal – Wayanad                                           Bhubaneswar - Dangmal - Bhubaneswar
Delhi - Jaipur - Pushkar – Ranthambore    21 to 23 Nights                                                                 13 to 15 Nights                                                               14 to 16 Nights
                                                                                   – Kozhikode(Calicut)                                                           - Baliguda
Sawai Madhopur – Kota                     Delhi – Jaipur – Samode – Nawalgarh –                                           Delhi - Agra - Darjeeling - Gangtok -                                         Delhi - Varanasi -Bodhgaya - Patna
                                                                                   – Cochin – Thekkady – Kumarakom–                                                - Rayagada - Jeypore - Rayagada -
- Bundi - Chittorgarh - Bijaipur -        Bikaner – Gajner – Jaisalmer – Osian                                            Phuntsholing - Thimphu - Punakha -                                            -Kolkata - Bagdogara - Darjeeling
                                                                                   Quilon – Varkala – Kovalam                                                     Gopalpur - Puri – Bhubaneswar
Udaipur - Kumbalgarh - Jodhpur -          – Khimsar – Manvar – Jodhpur – Rohet –                                          Paro - Delhi                                                                  - Pelling (Pemayangtse)- Gangtok -
Jaisalmer - Bikaner - Mandawa – Delhi     Mount Abu – Udaipur – Dungarpur                                                                                                                               Kalimpong -Bagdogra – Delhi
                                          – Deogarh – Ajmer – Pushkar – Pachewar
                                          – Ranthambhore – Agra – Delhi

                                         Contact @ :+91- 9899359708, 9999683737, info@ travokhohlidays.com, travokhohlidays@gmail.com, www.travok.net
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Hingolgadh
                                EXPERIENCE HERITAGE & NATURE AT ITS BEST
                                                                    A Hidden Gem of Gujarat
                                        Just 70 kms away from Rajkot is a unique sanctuary which not only offers the grandeur of
                                            a royal era but also nature's treasures. Explore the magni cent Hingolgadh palace
                                                      surrounded by a scenic sanctuary that is home to the Chinkara,
                                                Wolf, Jackal, Fox, Porcupine, Hyena, Indian Pitta and 230 species of birds.
                                                    So this weekend, have a royal experience and some wild adventure.

   Disclaimer: The details and pictures contained here are for information and could be indicative.
   Some of the activities listed may be unavailable due to seasonal and technical reasons

                                               www.gujarattourism.com I Toll Free number - 1800 203 1111

Hingolgadh AD Size:- 225(w) x 320(h)
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Publisher's note

                   Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop
            Volume VIII • Issue III • April 2021 • Pages 62 • Rs.100/-
our team

           Editor & Publisher : Vedika Sharma

           Director: Babita Sharma

           Reporter : Parul Malhotra

           Consulting Editor(West) : S K Mishra

           IT Head : Tarsh Sharma

           Consultant Art Director : Jitendra Rawat                            Dear Reader,                                 and Kanjiroba in the west and the
                                                                                                                            Tibetan plataeu towards the north.
           Graphic Designer : Sangeeta Arya                                                                                 Lake Phoksundo's shimmering
                                                                                  In T3FS April 2021 edition we             turquoise waters never fails to
                                                                               covered the untouched Nepal. Nepal           fascinate visitors, making it one of the
           Consulting Photographer : Ganesh Kapri
                                                                               is a fascinatingly diverse country that      major attractions of Dolpa.
                                                                               draws tourists for a variety of reasons.        In hospitality, we focused on the
           Manager Administration : Gaurav Kumar                                                                            most secluded beach resorts. When can
                                                                               Some come for the mountains, hoping
                                                                               to climb or trek in the Himalayas,           we travel carefree again? That’s one
           Manager Circulation : Himanshu Mudgal                               while others are drawn to the culture        of the most common thoughts running
                                                                               and the famous city of Kathmandu,            on our minds in recent times. As we
           E-mail : vedika@fabianmedia.net, babita@fabianmedia.net             and still others come in search of           satisfy our cravings for now with
                                                                               spiritual awakening.                         multiple insta #throwbacks, #mood,
           Website : www.fabianmedia.net                                          We focused on Dolpa Nepal.                #want, #wanderlust, here’s an inside
                                                                               Trek through hidden valleys, visit           dope on some of the most secluded
                                                                               ancient Shey Gompa, see the pristine,        beach resorts in the world.
                                                                               turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake.
       Editorial & Marketing :                                                    Trekking in the remote region of             There is an increase in demand for
       babita@fabianmedia.net                                                  Dolpa leads through scenic, hidden           anything to do with ‘private’ – from
                                                                               valleys and ancient shrines like Shey        planes to villas or private islands as
       Published, owned, Printed & Edited by Vedika Sharma                     Gompa. Enjoying fascinating views            affluent travellers are seeking isolation
       888, Pocket – D, Dilshad Garden, Delhi – 110095,                                                                     and seclusion whilst realizing the need
       Contact @ 011-41058470, 9560264449
                                                                               of the pristine waters of Phoksundo
                                                                               Lake, encountering yak caravans that         to escape from the confinement of
       Printed at: G.S. Basava Graphics Art Press, 35 DSIDC, Okhla Indl.       cross the high-Himalayan passes and          their homes after months, or actually
       Area, Phase - I, New Delhi - 110020                                     mountain people who live in some of          a year! These resorts will ensure that
                                                                               the highest settlements on earth like        you are able to enjoy exploring the
       All information used in Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop            the Dho-Tarap valley; Dolpa is out of        destination and savour in the luxury
       (T3FS) is reliable and derived from the sources. With due respect       this world.                                  while maintaining your much-needed
       to the sentiments of the readers, none of the information published                                                  privacy and isolation.
       is aimed at pinching the emotions of the readers. Opinions/
                                                                                  Dolpa's extraordinary natural
       views expressed by third party in abstract or in interviews are         beauty was exquisitely captured in
       not necessarily shared by us. Material appearing in the magazine        the Oscar nominated film “Caravan”.            In Lifestyle, we covered various
       cannot be reproduced in whole or in part(s) without prior               Trekking in this Himalayan region is         new trends.
       permission. The publisher assumes no responsibilty for material         an unforgettable adventure.
       lost or damaged in transit. The publisher reserves the right to            Dolpa is confined by the Dhaulagiri
       refuse , withdraw or otherwise deal with all advertisement without      range in the south and east, Mt. Sisne
       explanation. All advertisement must comply with the Indian
       advertisement code. The publisher will not be liable for any loss
       caused by any delay in publication, error or failure of advertisement
       to appear.                                                                                                                VedikaSharma
                                                                                                                                      vedika@fabianmedia.net

                                                                                                             Runway to get the
                                                                                                             trends of current
                                                                                                             .scenario

                                                                                                                            Get live updates of all
                                                                                                                          travel & lifestyle trends at
                                                                                                                               .your fingertips
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Contents

                                                                   Most secluded
Imbibe The True                                                    beach resorts for
Spirit of Nepal                                                    your next vacation
Nepal is a fascinatingly
                                                                   When can we travel carefree     Island resorts
diverse country that draws
                                                                   again? That’s one of the most   leading recovery in
                                                                   common thoughts running
tourists for a variety of
                                 Get surrounded by                 on our minds in recent times.   global leisure travel
reasons. Some come for the                                         As we satisfy our cravings
mountains, hoping to climb       Nature in the Czech               for now with multiple insta
                                                                                                   Island resorts around the
or trek in the Himalayas,        Republic                                                          world will lead the recovery
                                                                   #throwbacks, #mood, #want,      in leisure travel, according
while others are drawn to the                                      #wanderlust, here’s an inside
culture and the famous city of                                                                     to research carried out ahead
                                                                   dope on some of the most        of Arabian Travel Market
Kathmandu, and still others      The picturesque country           secluded beach resorts in the
come in search of spiritual      of the Czech Republic is                                          (ATM) 2021, which will be
                                                                   world.                          in a hybrid format, with the
awakening.                       beautiful destination known

                                                                   Pg32
                                 for its fairytale like castles,                                   in-person event taking place

Pg12
                                 but it is also a country that                                     on 16-19 May at the Dubai
                                 is home to miles after miles                                      World Trade Centre and the
                                 of natural wonders and                                            virtual event to be held the
                                 scenic marvels.                                                   following week, on 24-26 May.

                                 Pg22                                                              Pg36

6     trendy travel trade with food & shop                                                                           April 2021
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Reveal of Virgin
                          Galactic’s new
                          Spaceship VSS                                                    Celebrate Poila
                          Imagine                                                          Baisakh with
                                                          BMW 6 Series                     new Jewellery
 Restaurant with          Land Rover has announced        Launched in India                Collection
 Portuguese Food          a three-year extension to
                          its global partnership with                                      Avama Jewellers, Creative
                          Virgin Galactic, the world’s    The new BMW 6 Series             Jewellery brands, Shi &
 Grand Lisboa Palace to   first commercial ‘spaceline’.   has been launched in India.
 have Michelin-starred                                                                     Pretios have launched their
                                                          Locally produced at BMW

                          Pg44
 chef at the Portuguese                                                                    exclusive capsule collection
                                                          Group Plant Chennai, the         for the upcoming festival,
 restaurant.                                              car is available in one petrol   Poila Baisakh.
                                                          (newly introduced BMW
                                                          630i M Sport) and two diesel

 Pg38
                                                          variants (BMW 630d M Sport

                                                                                           Pg50
                                                          and BMW 620d Luxury
                                                          Line).

                                                          Pg48

April 2021                                                                trendy travel trade with food & shop            7
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Snippets

     Agoda helps Hotel Partners                                             Global Travel Trends Report
     meet Travelers                                                         American Express has released the American Express Travel:
                                                                            Global Travel Trends Report1, providing unique insight into
    Digital travel platform Agoda has launched Agoda Special                consumer sentiment towards travel nearly a year after the
    Offers (ASO)globally, following soft launches in key Asia               COVID-19 pandemic began. Indians rank “most interested” in
    markets. The Agoda Special Offers product is supported with             future travel with 84% respondents daydreaming about travel at
    dedicated landing pages across 10 marketsand more than 1,700            least once a week. The report was compiled following a survey
    hotels are already on board to help meet consumers’ desire              in seven countries across the globe (United States, Australia,
    for extra perks with their stays. According to a recent Agoda           India, Canada, Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom).
    customer survey, receiving additional perks, such as free room
    upgrades and early check-in, is the second most important               Manoj Adlakha, CEO & SVP, American Express Banking Corp.
    factor in a customers’ travel decision after price. Hotel partners      India said, “Amex Trendex highlights pent up travel demand
    can noweasily offerthese desired benefits on Agoda, as well as          and some behaviours unique to our market. 91% respondents
    leverage its platform’s global reach to amplify these promotions        in India are interested in choosing a trip or experience that
    to a wider range of customers loyal to the Agoda brand.                 supports the local community, showing an understanding of the
     “This past year, we have seen travelers re-explore their own           pandemic’s impact on the travel industry and their intention
    domestic markets, staying hyper local and for the most part             to support recovery. According to the survey, Indians are most
    staying in places and hotels they are familiar with. But recently,      keen to plan future travel and we have been seeing similar
    we have seen growth of travelers that are all about self-care,          trends in Cardmember enquiries to our concierge desks. We
    pampering and indulgence, because quite simply they “are                continue to invest in capabilities and partnerships to deliver
    worth it”. But this traveler is savvy about deals and has high          best-in-class access and experience to our Cardmembers. We
    expectations. They want to find comparisons in one place, and           have just revamped our airport lounge in Delhi and made
    that’s where Agoda Special Offers product comes in,” explained          significant value enhancements on our Platinum Card product
    Enric Casals, Regional Director Southeast Asia and Oceania,             to meet the lifestyle and travel expectations of our customers.
    Agoda. “By providing more benefits that travelers are looking           The survey also throws light on the changing paradigm of
    out for, hotels can expect higher customer satisfaction, more           luxury, especially in the travel and hospitality space. We
    spend at their property with greater utilization of their facilities.   continue to explore avenues to associate with like-minded
    With the launch of Agoda Special Offers, we hope to help                partners to fulfill the needs of our Cardmembers.”
    partners connect to a wider audience, and drive more bookings
    by providing what today’s consumers are looking for.”

    First Ocean Cruise Line to Return                                       Dream Cruises Celebrates its
    to Sailing in the Americas                                              100,000th Passenger
    In a joint virtual press conference with
    the Honorable Dionisio D’Aguilar,                                       Dream Cruises and Marina
    Minister of Tourism & Aviation for                                      Bay Cruise Centre Singapore
    The Commonwealth of The Bahamas,                                        (MBCCS) have welcomed
    Crystal Cruises announced its plans                                     Singapore’s100,000th cruise
    to restart cruising with new close-to-                                  passenger since the commencement
    home Bahamas Escapes beginning                                          of safe pilot cruises in the city.
    July 3, 2021 with a series of 16 seven-                                 Starting with World Dream’s first
    night, round-trip cruises from Nassau on its award-winning              sailing from 6 November 2020 has
    flag ship, Crystal Serenity. In addition to its Nassau itineraries,     been a worry-free journey for guests
    Crystal will also offer 16 seven-night voyages round-trip from          aboard, with their health and safety being the number one
    Bimini beginning on July 4, 2021. With her new Bahamas                  priority for Dream Cruises.
    Escapes cruises, Crystal Serenity becomes the first ship to             As the lucky guest, Mr. Amin Abdul Rahim and his family
    homeport in The Bahamas, as well as the first ocean ship to             were presented with a collection of prizes and goodies
    sail from the Americas since the cruise industry’s voluntary            including an upgrade to The Palace suite accommodations for
    halt in operations almost a year ago. In attendance at press            their upcoming voyage.
    conference announcing the new Bahamas Escapes cruises were               “Having pioneered the safe pilot cruises in Singapore, we
    Jack Anderson, Crystal’s interim president and CEO, Minister            are excited to be part of this important milestone to celebrate
    D’Aguilar and Director General Joy Jibrilu, The Bahamas                 Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore’s 100,000th cruise
    Ministry of Tourism.                                                    passenger since the program startedand who sailed on World
    “Like our guests, we have been eagerly looking forward to the           Dreamon 12 March 2021.We hope to continue to welcome
    day we can welcome them back on board, and we’re thrilled               more Singapore residents aboard World Dream throughout
    that this day will come in The Bahamas,” Anderson said. “The            the year,” said Mr. Michael Goh, President of Dream Cruises.
    new Bahamas Escapes cruises will allow travelers to enjoy               “As a testament to our ongoing commitment to the safety
    luxury cruising now, as well as bring much-needed benefits to           and well-being of our guests and crew, we are also proud to
    the local workforce, airlines, restaurants, retailers and hotels        announce that World Dream recently became the first cruise
    for pre- and post-cruise stays. The launch of these cruises will        ship in the world to receive a 3-year Certification in Infection
    also drive economic growth to The Bahamas, which, like other            Prevention - Maritime (CIP-M) from DNV, complementing
    destinations around the world, has been negatively affected by          the CruiseSafe Certification by the Singapore Tourism Board
    the global pandemic.”                                                   and DNV.”

8       trendy travel trade with food & shop                                                                                        April 2021
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Snippets

   Covid Warriors                                                      Tourism to be treated as a
  FAITH the policy federation of all the national associations
                                                                       Common Agenda
  representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality           Indian tourism and hospitality industry is going through a
  industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB,            bleak phase despite the resilient and brave front by hotel
  IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) & cause partner AIRDA wants all             players. The constant pummelling from the pandemic has
  tourism, travel & hospitality staff to be designated as Covid       led to losses exceeding Rs. 1.25 trillion (40%) in revenue
  warriors and be vaccinated irrespective of their age.               and 50 million jobs across the sector. While travel is still
                                                                      discretionary, for many people it is a necessity. In order to
  Indian tourism is entering the peak holiday season 2021 for         deal with the unprecedented crisis, there is a dire need to
  domestic travel in India which is historically estimated to         develop innovative strategies. On behalf of the industry during
  generate more than 60% domestic tourism business. In a few          the recent BITB conclave attended by 150 delegates and senior
  months we will also be entering the October - March season          leaders from Travel & Tourism industry, the Hotel Association
  which is the peak season for inbound travel accounting for          of India (HAI) called upon industry stakeholders to treat
  conventionally more than an estimated 70% of the tourism            Tourism as a “Common Agenda” and also highlighted the need
  business.                                                           to make tourism viable, sustainable, accessible and affordable
                                                                      for all.
  To get into a state of readiness, FAITH has requested to be         “One of the biggest pillars of Indian tourism is its heritage.
  put in motion the policy that all tourism, travel & hospitality     Today, more than 90% of the country’s heritage is in urgent
  staff in India be dedicated as frontline Covid warriors and         need of revitalization. Its conservation is important for
  be allowed to be vaccinated at all sites of tourism, travel &       identifying, analysing, recording and protecting cultural
  hospitality companies irrespective of their age criteria.           resources. It is also an important tool for defining the
  This will send a strong message of Indian Tourism getting           landmark within the heritage area as well as to generate
  ready to receive visitors in a safe and responsible manner.         economic return and support the tourism industry. It not
  This can also be the cornerstone of Indian Tourism’s tactical       only preserves our historical legacy from further degradation
  communication strategy and will be a big competitive                but also strengthens the essence of the country’s rich past.
  advantage and a key selling point for revival for all segments.     Travel is not just about a destination; the journey is equally
  FAITH has requested this to taken up with the PMO and health        important. Attention to this will enhance tourism business.”,
  ministry and for advice to all state governments accordingly.       Mr KB Kachru, Vice President, Hotel Association of India and
                                                                      Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor-South Asia, Radisson
                                                                      Hotel Group.

  SKAL Networking Event in                                            Wales Beckons steps in India
  Hyderabad                                                           Prateek Hira has been appointed
                                                                      to the board of Directors of
   SKAL International Hyderabad,                                      Fly2Wales Holidays Ltd. U.K.
   the worlds largest tourism and                                     He brings with him 27 years
   hospitality organization conducted                                 of experience and expertise
   its Tourism Networking event in                                    in tourism. Apart from the
   Radisson Hyderabad Hi-Tech Hotel in                                travel companies Prateek is
   Gachibowli. The event started with the                             associated with, he is known
   National anthem and Skal Hymn . it was                             for his close involvement with
   proud moment for Skal International                                tourism education in India as an
   Hyderabad by having the three super                                academician and for being very
   powers in one stage on skal event USA - TURKEY - UNITED            closely involved with tourism
                                                                      planning with the government. His            Prateek Hira
   KINGDOM .
   His Excellency Dr Andrew Fleming was the Chief Guest,              grip on Indian market, tourism researches and his experience
   The British Deputy High Commissioner, British deputy               as a tourism academician will lead Wales Beckons in a new
   high commission, Hyderabad, The Guest of Honour was His            direction, especially in Indian market. “A man of many
   Excellency Adnan Altay Altinors, Consulate General of the          talents, Prateek will be a valued colleague and will play a
   Republic of Turkey in Hyderabad and Special Invitees were Ms       large part in promoting ‘Wales Beckons’ and Wales itself, a
   Annette Dsilva, Commercial Advisor, United States Commercial       country which he has found to be very appealing” says Peter
   Services of United States Consulate General, Hyderabad, Ms         Rees-Jones, Founding Director of Fly2Wales Holidays Ltd.,
   Cholada, Director, Thailand tourism, Dr Chinnam Reddy, Director    ‘Wales Beckons’ (a trading name of Fly2Wales Holidays
   Nithim , Hospitality College, Hyderabad and Earnest Immanuel,      Ltd., U.K), a DMC for Wales in United Kingdom has seen
   Director, International Insitute of Hotel Management.              India as a fertile market for leisure travellers who travel to
   Hon Secretary Sk Monik Dharamshi of Skal International of          England and Scotland in huge numbers but often due to their
   Hyderabad did the welcome speech and Invited all the delegates     ignorance or lack of information omitted Wales from their
   and honoured them, President N S N Mohan gave a speech             itineraries to the United Kingdom.
   regarding tourism and its opportunity for promotion of Telangana   NEI UK has enjoys a very high reputation in Wales and
   and AP as a destination in the global market and insisted on       India when it comes to outbound travel from Wales to India
   teamwork, contribution team building, networking with the skal     and now with Wales Beckons it also forays into inbound
   members doing business with each other and stated this was the     business in Wales.
   Idea of Skal by the founding fathers.

April 2021                                                                          trendy travel trade with food & shop                9
Imbibe The True Spirit of Nepal - Trendy Travel Trade with Food & Shop Volume VIII Issue III April 2021 Pages 62 Rs.100/- Fabian Media
Snippets

IVS Solutions Sets Record with 100%
Overseas Placement
C
         ontinuing its glorious streak by counseling    like Canada and Australia. The success achieved         fit for every individual student depending on the
         more than 10,000 students every year since     by the students counseled by IVS Solutions speaks       criteria and reasons of studying abroad.”
         2012, IVS Solutions, a one-stop online         volumes about the hard work of the firm.
                                                                                                                Ms. Ruchika Sharma, Managing Partner, IVS
platform for education, career, visa and foreign
                                                        Mr. Sachin Sharma, Founder, IVS Solutions said,         Solutions added, “We understand that a lot of
investment, has become the most successful
                                                        “We take pride in providing our students a direction    students are looking for permanent residency of
education counseling and immigration firms in
                                                        for growth in their career. We have students who        other countries and hence at IVS Solutions we
India. IVS Solutions has achieved commendable
                                                        came to us for counseling as a student and today        provide education and immigration services to
success in providing 100% placement assistance to
                                                        they are successful professionals and permanent         our students under one roof. All our services are
its students. Additionally, IVS Solutions has helped
                                                        residents of the most desired foreign countries         completely online and our counselors are available
90% of its students become successful professionals
                                                        across the world. Our students are our top priority     to our students at all times around the world.”
and gain permanent residents status in the countries
                                                        and we search for a university according to the best

Lumi: Spread its Wings
L
       umi, the car rental business of Seera Group,     top car rental brands offering digital-driven           to have a hassle-free, quick, and easy booking
       is expanding its retail service network in       services in the Kingdom. This progression is also       experience. Lumi has strengthened its services
       Saudi Arabia, having won the bid to open         part of Seera’s omnichannel strategy to create a        by creating time saving processes including
counters at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International         seamless experience across different channels for       the digitisation of the entire operations at the
Airport, Ta'if Regional Airport and Al-Baha             the customers. Lumi is also carrying out major          airport counters. The Tamm service has also been
Domestic Airport in Saudi Arabia.These join the         refurbishments at their branches by starting with       integrated to speed up the government registration
current network of 8 airport counters and the total     the Al Olaya branch that is located in the financial    for customers who are looking to rent a vehicle.
network of 26 branches in the region. Accelerating      district of Riyadh. The branch has been redesigned,     Lumi’s digital-first branches will also feature ID
the development of some sophisticated technology        with a new fresh look, a new layout, featuring the      scanners and agents onsite for consultation.
solutions, Lumi is swiftly becoming one of the          latest technology offerings, enabling customers

Visa Application Services Restart
T
        he last quarter has witnessed intermittent      and only in certain cities.Customers are advised        Jalandhar, Chennai, Pune and Kochi. For greater
        activity for the international travel           not to fall prey to touts or fraudsters who offer       convenience, health and travel insurances are also
        community, with borders opening                 false promises of appointments / visas / job /          readily available for purchase for customers visiting
sporadically in step with vaccination drives in         immigration in exchange for payment.                    VFS Global Visa Application Centres.
various regions. Weat VFS Global, the world’s
                                                        Health and safety precautions at the Centres            ‘Visa At Your Doorstep’ service
leading visa services organisation, would like
to keep you apprised of the re-openings of Visa         As an extra layer of caution to ensure the health       As an optional service to customers wanting to
Application Centres in India, and other efforts         and safety of customers and employees alike, VFS        complete their entire visa application submission
currently undertaken according to the regulations       Global has established standardised protective          process from the comfort of their home or office,
set by our client governments. Below is a               measures to be followed across centres, including       VFS Global continues to provide the “Visa At
consolidation of the latest ‘restart’ updates in visa   physical distancing and sanitisation, body              Your Doorstep” servicewhereby a customer can
application operations in India since June 2020.        temperature checks, use of masks and sanitizers,        submit the application, enrol biometrics, and get the
                                                        disinfecting high-contact surfaces, etc. Customers      passport couriered back to their his/her location of
At present, the visa application process (in various
                                                        exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, including high            choice.
categories) for over 40 governments has resumed at
                                                        fever, cough and difficulty in breathing will not be
select Visa Application Centres across India. VFS                                                               Courier service
                                                        permitted to enter the centre.
Visa Application Centres across India remain open
                                                                                                                As a precautionary measure, customers may
as of 07 April 2021, though timings and days of         COVID-19 test booking and health insurance
                                                                                                                also opt for our courier servicesto get their
working may vary, according to pandemic-related         services
                                                                                                                passports delivered to their preferred address, after
regulations.
                                                        Anticipating customer needs further, VFS                adjudication by the concerned diplomatic mission.
Restart of other visa application processes             Global introduced online booking of COVID-              This service may also be made mandatory by
                                                        testing facilities at the beginning of September.       certain countries.
Please note that VFS Global Visa Application
                                                        Being ahead of the curve with their operational
Centres can open only when the concerned                                                                        We are committed to sharing timely information
                                                        excellence, the company has ensured the utmost
Embassy / Consulate provides approval and directs                                                               on re-openings with our customers in all countries,
                                                        comfort to customers by allowing them to avail
it to do so. It does not decide on re-opening of                                                                on our social media channels and the COVID-19
                                                        this facility at their doorstep as well. This service
any Centre on its own. Some countries may have                                                                  Customer Advisories page that is updated in real
                                                        has been rolled out in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru,
limited slots opened for appointments at present                                                                time.
                                                        Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh,

10        trendy travel trade with food & shop                                                                                                         April 2021
Trade Update

Madhya Pradesh: A
Versatile State
Being one of the economically rising states of
incredible India, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board
participated in SATTE 2021 to educate and highlight
growth in the tourism sector held at India Expo Mart,
Greater Noida, Delhi – NCR from 24th to 26thMarch.
• T3FS Desk

T
       he three-day expo witnessed                focus on infrastructure development,
       several exciting partnerships and          restoration of heritage sites, development of
       announcements that promised to             natural reserves and biodiversity, promotion
predict in new trends of the industry. It         of sustainable and responsible tourism as
provided a platform for all stakeholders in       well as rural tourism. The exhibition saw
the tourism and hospitality industries to         top-notch, industry influencers, travel
interact and transact business opportunities.     enthusiasts, corporate, business heads, travel
                                                  operators and media professionals from
Madhya Pradesh Government has identified
                                                  different corners of the country, which came
tourism as one of the leading sectors for
                                                  to visit MP stall, exchanging views and
developments and aims to promote MP as an
                                                  opinions on newly developed facilities &
attractive destination for both domestic and
                                                  services by Madhya Pradesh Tourism.
international travellers. There is a sustained

                          Mr. Yuvraj Padole Deputy Director, Events and Marketing, Madhya Pradesh Tourism
                          Board
                          Madhya Pradesh is among the most exciting tourist destination in the country and has immense potential for the
                          growth of inbound tourism. Madhya Pradesh is a versatile State having variety of tourism products, we have
                          activity filled tourist destinations, wildlife safaris, natural scenic beauty, adventure activities, camping, water
                          sports, Cuisines, Heritage, Tribal culture, Handicrafts, Wellness and Mindful Tourism and many more things
                          to explore and experience. The State has also developed Home Stay, Gram Stay and Farm Stay schemes so that
                          tourists can stay and experience rural culture and traditions of the State. We are creating new opportunities
                          and initiatives to promote the state and its rich cultural, natural and architectural heritage and its traditions and
                          history.

Mexican Film Series
The Embassy of Mexico in India inaugurated “Mexican Film Series”, a screening
of four internationally acclaimed contemporary films from Mexico to mark the
reopening of public events.

T
       he Embassy of Mexico in India in           Award at the Locarno Film Festival in 2019       reflect in their movies and embody the
       collaboration with the India Habitat       and the Selected Talents Award for female        growing Mexican cinema and its sensibility.
       Centre, New Delhi has organised an         characterat the Berlinale in 2020.
                                                                                                   Both the films screened on the weekend
exclusive screening of four award-winning
                                                  Welcoming the guests, Minister Arriega           were well-attended by film lovers.The
Mexican contemporary films especially
                                                  highlighted the significance of the              non-ticketed event continues on March 1,
handpicked to kick-start its first public event
                                                  contemporary Mexican cinema with its high        with Lillian Lieberman’saward-winning
this year.
                                                  quality, successful films which have been        documentary,“Visa al Paraíso”(Visa to the
The “Mexican Film Series” was inaugurated         recognised and applauded globally. Notable       Paradise), which throws light on the life of
by Minister Judith Arriega Munguia, Deputy        amongst these are celebrated Mexican             Gilberto Bosques, Mexico's General Consul
Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Mexico         film makers like Alejandro González              to France between 1939 and 1942; and
in India, on Saturday, February 27, 2021          Iñárritu, María Novaro, Guillermo del            concludes on March 2, with award-winning
at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat            Toro and Alfonso Cuarón, and some lesser-        director Carlos Reygadas’s“Nuestro Tiempo”
Centre, New Delhi. The first film shown           known,however equally important, names           (Our Time), winner of the Critics Prize
wasThe Dove and the Wolf by Carlos Lenin          like Carlos Reygadas and Michel Franco           for Best Foreign Film at the Sydney Film
Treviño, which received the Art Peace             whose innovative and experimental styles         Festival 2019.

April 2021                                                                                  trendy travel trade with food & shop                  11
Global Pulse

Imbibe The True Spirit of

                                                              Nepal
Nepal is a fascinatingly diverse country that draws tourists for a variety
of reasons. Some come for the mountains, hoping to climb or trek in the
Himalayas, while others are drawn to the culture and the famous city of
Kathmandu, and still others come in search of spiritual awakening.
• Vedika Sharma

Here come with us to touch the untouched Dolpa, Nepal.
T
      rek through hidden valleys, visit         Dolpa's extraordinary natural beauty was         Settlements here are generally at amazing
      ancient Shey Gompa, see the pristine,   exquisitely captured in the Oscar nominated      altitudes of 3,660 m to 4,070 m and the
      turquoise waters of Phoksundo Lake.     film “Caravan”. Trekking in this Himalayan       people are devout Buddhists who have been
                                              region is an unforgettable adventure.            trading with Tibet for centuries. There are
  Trekking in the remote region of Dolpa
                                                                                               130 gompas (Buddhist monasteries) in Dolpa
leads through scenic, hidden valleys and       Dolpa is confined by the Dhaulagiri
                                                                                               which speaks volumes for their religious
ancient shrines like Shey Gompa. enjoying     range in the south and east, Mt. Sisne
                                                                                               fervor.
fascinating views of the pristine waters of   and Kanjiroba in the west and the Tibetan
Phoksundo Lake, encountering yak caravans     plataeu towards the north. Lake Phoksundo's       One of the delightful moments during
that cross the high-Himalayan passes and      shimmering turquoise waters never fails to       the trek is the sight of long yak caravans
mountain people who live in some of the       fascinate visitors, making it one of the major   that even today endure immense hardships
highest settlements on earth like the Dho-    attractions of Dolpa.                            negotiating the harsh, icy terrain, crossing
Tarap valley; Dolpa is out of this world.                                                      high mountain passes, carrying goods for

12     trendy travel trade with food & shop                                                                                     April 2021
Global Pulse

barter to the other side of the Himalayas.
                                                Trekking                                           trekkers need to acquire their permits and
                                                                                                   other documentation, either from a trekking
 Closely linked with Tibet, the people
                                                 Nepal is the world's premier destination          agent or from the appropriate offices.
speak Tibetan, look Tibetan and retain
                                                for trekking and is the country where              These documents will be checked along the
their Tibetan heritage and culture which
                                                commercial trekking was pioneered back in          trekking route. For those with little time
are highlighted by religious ceremonies in
                                                the early 1960s.                                   on their hands, there are half-day hikes
their monasteries where Tibetan Buddhism
                                                  Nepal has attracted trekkers from around         from Kathmandu to witness breathtaking
prevails.
                                                the world since the 1960s when Col Jimmy           Himalayan views.
  Little has changed in the way of life for
                                                Robert's organized the first commercial trek.        Trekking in Nepal today is completely
these hardy people who strictly follow the
                                                Trekking has been the leading activity of          different from that of the 1960s. In all
customs and beliefs of their forefathers who
                                                tourists in Nepal and thousands take to the        the main trekking areas, the National
came over from Tibet centuries ago. This
                                                Himalayas, some doing a few days of hiking         Parks and Conservation Areas lodges
trek is an opportunity to meet these simple
                                                while others take on a month long trek             have been established where trekkers can
folk who live under extreme conditions just
                                                through valleys and high mountain passes.          find accommodation, food and meet other
making ends meet.
                                                Two of the most popular trekking regions           trekkers and locals along the way. A majority
  Opened up for tourism only in 1989, these     are the Everest and Annapurna where many           of the trails are well maintained and in many
high mountain valleys remained unexplored       different trails can be followed while the         cases are sign-posted.
and largely unseen by outsiders. Isolated by    other popular treks are in the Langtang and
                                                                                                     The lodges are well appointed and have
the difficult topography, the people in this    Kanchenjunga regions. The most challenging
                                                                                                   facilities for charging batteries and the
region have preserved their culture and live    is the Great Himalayan Trails, an extensive
                                                                                                   larger villages often have email facilities.
a life untouched by the trappings of modern     trail system that covers Nepal from Humla
                                                                                                   The length, the difficulty and timing of
society. Dolpa is one of the Restricted Areas   and Darchula in the west to Kanchenjunga
                                                                                                   the treks vary greatly and to add to that
of Nepal so trekkers require a Trekking         in the east. The diversity of trekking trails in
                                                                                                   once outside of the main trekking areas,
Permit from the Department of Immigration       Nepal cannot be found in any other part of
                                                                                                   transport becomes more problematic and
in addition to the TIMS card to trek in this    the world. In fact, the lowest point in Nepal
                                                                                                   often involves at least two journeys made
region. Trekkers must be extremely fit to       is 59 m above sea-level in the Tarai region
                                                                                                   on domestic scheduled flights. Many treks
endure the long and strenuous stretches en      while the highest point is Everest, 8,848 m
                                                                                                   in Nepal begin with a domestic flight to
route.                                          above sea-level, the two points being only
                                                                                                   the starting point and many are in remote
                                                200 kilometres apart as the crow flies.
                                                                                                   areas with no road access. Several days
What all you can do in                            A majority of visitors to Nepal come             of trekking is required to reach the higher
Dolpa?                                          in via the Tribuvan International Airport
                                                in Kathmandu. It is in Kathmandu that
                                                                                                   mountain areas from the local centers of
                                                                                                   population and administration.

April 2021                                                                                  trendy travel trade with food & shop                  13
Global Pulse

  Nepal has six distinct and diverse            a mountaineer's
vegetation zones ranging from Tropical          paradise. The
below a 1,000 m through Sub-tropical 100m       ultimate glory of
- 200m, Lower Temperate 1,700 m - 2,700         mountaineering
m, Upper Temperate 2,400 m - 3,000 m,           is reaching the
Sub-alpine 3,000 m - 4,000 m and Alpine         summit of Mt.
4,000 m to the snowline, above the snowline     Everest, but there
it is a Himalaya tundra like wilderness. The    are other technical
higher altitudes are home to the elusive        challenges like
Snow leopard, Himalayan Thar, Musk deer         Lhose beside it or
and other rare species.                         you can take on
                                                any of the other
 Although the popular treks in
                                                326 climbing peaks
Kanchenjunga, Everest, Manaslu, Annapurna
                                                that are waiting for
are able to provide lodge accommodation,                                                       1960s Nepal's trekking and mountaineering
                                                you!
the less frequented treks in those areas and                                                   industry was well establishhed with private
also in other areas west of Annapurna will        The Nepal Himalaya is the most               companies providing all logistics including
generally require camping style trek support.   formidable mountain range in the world         porters and guides for a full expedition that
                                                with nearly a third of the country lying       would spend months in the mountains. Today
  Trekkers can find a trail any time of year.
                                                above the elevation of 3,500 m. Eight of       there are many companies that will take care
The southern areas of Nepal receive higher
                                                the world's highest peaks lie within Nepal's   of every aspect of mountain climbing and all
levels of precipitation. However, some
                                                territory: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse,      the mountaineer has to do is arrive in good
routes along the Great Himalaya Trails lie in
                                                Makalu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu           shape physically and mentally, prepared to
the rain shadow, a dry area on the leeward
                                                and Annapurna,which are all over 8,000         take on the challenge and not worry about
side of a mountain namely Mustang to the
                                                m above sea level. The first to be climbed     equipment and supplies. Most of the Everest
north of Annapurna and Manaslu, Dolpa to
                                                among them was Annapurna in 1950 by a          expeditions are handled by well-known and
the north of Dhaulagiri and the far west of
                                                French Expedition with Maurice Herzog as       trusted private companies.
Nepal to the north of Saipal Himal. Post
                                                leader while Everest was first summitted by
monsoon the weather tends to be clearer.                                                         The reputation of the Sherpas is built on
                                                Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953
Winter is good but colder with shorter days                                                    mountaineering with many of these mountain
                                                with a Bristish Expedition led by John Hunt.
and spring can be affected by seasonal rain                                                    people achieving glorified status with their
and snow storms. Summer is short and is          Besides these eight giant peaks, there are    multiplt climbs of Everest and other 8000m
quickly followed by the monsoons. Monsoon       326 other mountains within Nepal which are     peaks. Most expeditions wouldn't go up
treks are usually in the dry Manang and         open for mountaineering expeditions and        without the loyal, hardy and extremely
Mustang areas.                                  out of them, 103 have never been climbed       reliable sherpas. They risk theiir lives for
                                                before. Nepal offers mountaineers more         their clients and are often called upon to
  However, the rains don't pour 24 hours a
                                                opportunities than any other country in the    rescue a climber in trouble. Although today
day and they bring spectacular flowers to
                                                world, and throws endless challenges at        there are many other ethnic groups involved
life. It is also the perfect time to consider
                                                them including the less glorified trekking     in the service, they are generally referred to
one of the regions in the rain shadow which
                                                peaks which still require climbing gear and    as Sherpas.
typically feature a more barren Tibetan type
                                                climbing skills if you want to climb them.
scenery as opposed to the greenness on other                                                    Despite all the attention being grabbed
side.                                            Nepal's climbing history goes back a long     by mountains like Everest and Annapurna,
                                                way starting with the early explorers from     the latter more for trekking than climbing,
  It is important for tourists to know that
                                                British India who were lured by lofty peaks    there are other peaks being climbed on a
the main income generating activity of the
                                                and the challenges of climbing virgin peaks    regular basis but don't make headline news.
people from the hill regions is tourism,
                                                where no human had set foot before. By the     Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Manaslu are also
and they typically earn wages working as
trekking porters or guides. Hiring
a porter does not mean that you are
weak, it means you value the Nepali
culture, you are providing an extended
Nepali family with an income and
at the same time you are making
a friend and trekking with a local
person who is well versed in the local
cultures, festivals, and all the other
issues that can turn a good trek into an
outstanding experience of a life time.
 It is possible to trek alone or without
a Nepali guide, but you would not
know what to do in a major storm, zero
visibility and plunging temperatures
at possibly 5,000 m? Make sure you
have all the permits required, and be
environmentally and culturally aware.

Mountaineering
 With eight of the world's highest
mountains in the country, Nepal is

14      trendy travel trade with food & shop                                                                                    April 2021
Global Pulse

climbed often besides trekking peaks like       of permits to enter specific regions. All       ethnic groups and is virtually a melting
Mera, Island and Yala peaks which are quite     expeditions are required to pay refundable      pot of many (more then 90) languages and
popular. Ther are also climbers looking to      garbage deposits while expeditions to peaks     ethnicity.
climb virgin peaks as Nepal from time to        above 6,500 m will also be required to
                                                                                                  It's fascinating to learn how people have
time, opens up new, unheard of peaks for        employ a Liaison Officer. The best time for
                                                                                                adapted to their environment in amazing
climbing and who wouldn't want to be the        mountaineering expeditions is pre- monsoon
                                                                                                ways. Becuase of the innaccessibilty of
first to climb!                                 when the weather is better, especially
                                                                                                the mountains some people's lives have
                                                at altitude, although the visibility might
  Nepal has designated the Annapurna,                                                           changed very little in the last century.
                                                be restricted with the pending monsoon
Manaslu and Kanchenjunga regions as                                                             You can still encounter caravans of mules
                                                conditions. Autumn is good for the slightly
Conservation Areas while Sagarmatha                                                             transporting esential goods to and from
                                                lower peaks, while winter is cold with short
(Everest), Langtang and Shey-Phoksundo                                                          distant settlements in the Himalayas. Oxes
                                                days and early spring might be subjected to
(Dolpa) are national parks while other                                                          plough the land, black smiths make tools
                                                seasonal snow storms. However, in these
mountain areas might not fall into these                                                        and bullock carts still transport grain and
                                                times of global warming and climate change,
categories but are designated as ‘Restricted                                                    straw from the fields in the plains. Firewood
                                                the seasons are no longer as predictable as
Areas’ as they are close to Nepal’s northern                                                    is still a major soure of energy for cooking
                                                they used to be.
border. While the infrastructure of, and                                                        in villages whch are like an open air history
accessibility to Sagarmatha, Annapurna,           Today in Nepal it is possible to book         museum.
Manaslu and Langtang are well developed         onto either a commercial expedition to
                                                                                                  City life may look modern with all the
and easily accessible enabling mountaineers     attempt any of the larger mountains or
                                                                                                trappings of modernity, but traditions and
and expeditions to make quick progress          to attempt a trekking peak with one of
                                                                                                cultures remain the same as they were
to their base camps the remaining areas,        the many Nepali trekking agents. If an
                                                                                                centuries ago. Much of the festivals are
including the restricted areas are still very   independent expedition wishes to attempt
                                                                                                celebrated exactly as they were centuries
remote, where rescue or help from external      any of the ‘legally’ open peaks then they
                                                                                                ago with some locals representing forgotten
sources will be difficult or unlikely and       should read the appropriate policies and
                                                                                                kings who once ruled over their ancestors.
access to these areas is complex and at         procedures legally required under the current
                                                                                                Ancient rituals are adhered to in their
times difficult. Expeditions into those areas   Nepal Tourism Act (Provisions relating to
                                                                                                original form as people are deeply religious
require a completely different approach,        Mountaineering).
                                                                                                and visit the temples daily.
level of commitment and organizational
ability to succeed on their chosen summit.      Meet the People                                  A Nepali family once introduced to you is
                                                                                                most likely to invite you in for a meal. Even
 The mountains of Nepal are grouped into         Meet the friendliest people you've ever        the poorest people will share their meal with
different categories depending on their         met. Feel their optimism and embrace their      guests. Perhaps, this is the major reason,
height and under whose authority they lie.      genuine warmth.                                 why a tourist cannot remain a tourist for
The Ministry of Tourism is responsible for
                                                  Put your hands together and say Namaste       very long in Nepal. Once a tourist begins
the expedition peaks above 6,500 m, while
                                                and smile as they return your gesture with      to know the place and its people, he is no
the Nepal Mountaineering Association is
                                                genuine smiles of acceptance. 'You are          longer a stranger - he is a valued guest.
responsible for mountains that are known
as Trekking Peaks. These peaks range in         welcome, you are our guests' say the friendly    The best means of meeting the people of
altitude from 5,800 m to 6,584 m, and call      smiles. Nepali people are some of the           Nepal are during a trek or just strolling
for climbing skills and climbing gear and       friendliest people in the world whiich is one   down the streets of the cities or during one
should not be taken lightly despite the         of the reasons visitors keep coming back.       of several day tours offered by local tourism
misleading title. Expeditions to peaks below     Nepal is an incredibly diverse country and     operators.
5800metres do not require climbing permits      home to multiple religions, race, tribes,        Tourists visit Nepal repeatedly and that
although they will require other forms          and cultures. The country has over 100          says it all about the attachment they feel..

April 2021                                                                              trendy travel trade with food & shop                   15
Outbound Connect

Connect with
Maldives,
Your Safe
Haven
After the closure of the
borders and travel restrictions were imposed, Visit Maldives continued to
maintain destination presence across the Indian market as part of the global
crisis marketing strategy.
• T3FS Desk

T
       he very first offline events in India   in which the company remarked upon the        were sponsored by Baglioni Resort Maldives
       were kicked off on Monday, 22nd         success of the strategy during the pandemic   and Adaaran Club Rannalhi.
       March 2021 with a high level press      and future marketing plans.
                                                                                             Statistics published by the Ministry of
conference followed by a Roadshow in Delhi
                                               The Press Conference was shortly followed     Tourism reveals that India is currently
hosted by VisitMaldives. Maldives will also
                                               by the Maldives Roadshow ‘Connect with        the top source market for tourism in the
be showcased at the South Asia's Travel &
                                               Maldives, Your Safe Haven’ targeting top      Maldives. The latest statistics published by
Tourism Exchange (SATTE) in Delhi from
                                               travel trade of India. The roadshow created   the Ministry of Tourism indicates that as of
24-26th March. The Maldivian delegation
                                               the opportunity for the 11 companies          17th March 2021 Maldives welcomed a total
for the events in India will be led by Hon.
                                               from the Maldives tourism industry who        of 243,979 travelers with an arrival figure of
Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism;
                                               participated at the event to connect with     57,965 travelers from India. Visit Maldives
Mr. Thoyyib Mohamed, Managing Director
                                               over 100 key travel trade partners from the   plans to continue this momentum of growth
of Visit Maldives and Dr. Hussain Niyaz,
                                               Indian market to generate new business        by conducting several marketing activities in
High Commissioner of Maldives to India.
                                               leads and engage in one-on-one networking     India.
The Press Conference titled ‘Maldives:         opportunities.
Media Meet” was addressed by high level        From the overall
speakers from Maldives, Hon. Dr. Abdulla       destination
Mausoom, Minister of Tourism; Mr. Thoyyib      perspective, a
Mohamed, Managing Director of Visit            presentation was
Maldives and Dr. Hussain Niyaz, High           given highlighting
Commissioner of Maldives to India. Latest      destination
updates from the Maldives and the tourism      information, key
industry were shared at the press conference   updates and travel
attended by key travel trade and mainstream    information.
media of India and Delhi region.
                                               The main
Key topics of interest were addressed from     marketing message
the angles of tourism and foreign policy       communicated to
and marketing. These included the success      the travel trade
story of the Maldives tourism during the       was that Maldives
pandemic, India becoming the top source        is one of the safest
market to Maldives and the marketing           destinations to travel
plan for India as well as the travel bubble    during this time
between India and Maldives. Furthermore,       due to the unique
updates on the vaccination programme           geographic isolation
and important information and updates for      of the islands, the
travellers were shared.                        one island one resort
                                               together with the
Prior to the press conference and roadshow,
                                               stringent health and
the Managing Director of Visit Maldives and
                                               safety protocols in
the Visit Maldives team attended meetings
                                               place. The event
with Outbound Tour Operators Association
                                               held at the Shangri-
of India (OTOAI), GoAir Airlines and Yatra
                                               La Hotel in Delhi
to discuss collaborative efforts to promote
                                               concluded with
Maldives in the Indian market. In addition,
                                               dinner and a raffle
a meeting was conducted with Thomas Cook
                                               draw. Raffle prizes

16      trendy travel trade with food & shop                                                                                  April 2021
Indian Journey

Set Your Travel Goals
Give wings to your travel goals by experiencing these 5 train journeys in
India
• T3FS Desk

T
        ravelling is fun. You get to explore
        new cities, meet people and try out
        different food cuisines. That’s ‘Jannat’
for a travel nerd. But thanks to COVID-19,
the tourism industry has taken a hit. UNWTO
states that export revenues from international
tourism have registered a loss of US$ 935
billion. This amount is only going to mount
up, as several countries have still closed
their doors to foreigners. Amid the strict
international travel restrictions in place, what
can an Indian do to satisfy his travel needs?
Well, the safest bet is to travel within the
country.
While many might consider heading to
the beaches or opting for a road trip to the
mountains, how about experiencing a train
ride? You get to relax, enjoy the view and
spend quality time with your friends and
family while on the move. Below we have
                                                   comfortable seats, great hospitality
listed five train journeys that are worth your
                                                   and delicious food, the journey
time and money.
                                                   with Mandovi Express promises to
                                                   deliver an enjoyable experience to the
                                                   passengers.
Kalka Shimla Toy Train
 There are two reasons why people travel to
Shimla- to capture the mesmerizing view of         Indian Maharaja Deccan
the mountains and enjoy the toy train ride.        Odyssey
Built-in 1903, the train is known for its
engineering masterpiece, which covers 102           If you want to feel like a true king,
tunnels, 919 stunning curves and 864 bridges.      then Deccan Odyssey is your way
The journey starts from Kalka, taking you          towards it. The train is built to mimic
through amazing views of the waterfalls, lush      the traditions of various royal eras                          Dinesh Kumar Kotha
forests and rugged mountains. Till the time        of Maharashtra. It operates between Delhi                      Co-founder & CEO
                                                   and Mumbai with 21 coaches. The entire                             Confirmtkt
it reaches Shimla, you will be awestruck by
the beauty of the city, which retains the title    train is stocked with facilities like internet
‘Queen of hills’. This ride is so special that     connectivity and air-conditioning to give
it is listed as a UNESCO site. Generally, five     utmost comfort to the passengers. Other          The Toy Train
trains cover the distance between Kalka and        provisions like a well-stocked bar, multi-
                                                   cuisine menu, conference cart and spa give an     Hopping on the Darjeeling toy train is an
Shimla- Shivalik Deluxe, Himalayan Queen,                                                           opportunity that one would rarely want to
Rail Motor, Shimla Kalka passenger and             unforgettable experience once you onboard
                                                   Deccan Odyssey by paying a minimum fare of       miss. It’s accorded by UNESCO and for the
Shimla Express, with the fare starting from                                                         right reason, of course. The train functions
Rs.70.                                             Rs.5,12,400.
                                                                                                    between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling with
                                                                                                    the help of a small steam engine. As most
                                                                                                    of the train components are close to 100
Mandovi Express                                    Golden Chariot                                   years old, it runs at a slow pace, allowing
Started in 1999, the Mandovi Express has            When people want to travel in style, they       passengers to absorb the surrounding beauty
been in service for over 21 years. It has          hop on the Golden Chariot. The train covers      of the hills. The toy train takes you through
been named after the Mandovi River, which          the territories of Kerala, Karnataka and         the villages and local shops with children
is known as the lifeline of Goa. The train         Tamil Nadu along with Pondicherry and Goa.       waving at you, a moment a photographer will
operates between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj       Once inside, the passengers are greeted with     cherish forever. By paying a minimum of
Terminus and Madgaon Junction, which is            alluring hospitality and bombarded with a        Rs.1420, you can get the ride of your life and
the primary railway station in Goa. The train      360-degree view of the age-old tradition.        enjoy the view of Batasia Loop, covered in the
covers 581 kms with an average journey             The decor of the train creates an elegant        lap of hills.
time of 11hr 50min and is known for its            atmosphere, which makes landscapes pass by
                                                                                                    While it’s hard to predict the end of
tasty food that includes a mixture of regional     even more magical. With a starting price of
                                                                                                    COVID-19, the above five train journeys can
cuisines like Gujarati dabelis, methi vadas,       Rs.53355, passengers get the best of suites,
                                                                                                    act as your travel saviour until this nightmare
soups, idli-vadas and more. With the help of       dining experience, spa and more at their
                                                                                                    is over.
                                                   service.

April 2021                                                                                  trendy travel trade with food & shop                 17
Global Pulse

Azerbaijanis: Arrival of spring
The coming of spring is felt worldwide,
but in Azerbaijan people cherish it with
extra care and symbolism. Here, it is
celebrated with the Novruz holiday,
which is inscribed on UNESCO’s
Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• T3FS Desk

T                                                    No festivity without
       he holiday itself takes place on the
       vernal equinox, March 20-21, however          delicious food
       preparations begin a month in advance.
Below are some of the fascinating traditions         Traditional festive foods
and rituals Azerbaijanis do to celebrate             are cooked at Novruz.
Novruz:                                              Plov, or pilaf, is the main
                                                     festive dish along with
Experience the elements                              pastries and sweets. A
Azerbaijan is one of a few countries where           beautifully decorated
you can see all of nature’s four elements so         tray, or khoncha, with
perfectly symbolised: by the Caspian Sea,            samani (green sprouting
the burning mountain of Yanardag, the rocks          wheat) placed in the
of Gobustan and Baku, which is rightly               centre, is filled with
nicknamed “the city of winds”. Every year            nuts, candles, treats and
on each of the last four Tuesdays (known             sweets, each of which
as Charshanba) before Novruz, one of these           has a symbolic meaning.
elements is celebrated. It’s believed that on        These sweets have an
the first still waters start to move, while on the   ancient significance: the
second bonfires are kindled, and on the third a      round, yellowish goghal
warm breeze brings life to water and fire. The       represents the sun, while
last Tuesday, known as Akhir Charshanba, is          the crescent-shaped
when trees shoot new leaves and spring finally       shekerburasymbolises
begins.                                              the moon, and pahklava
                                                     signifies both the sky and
Symbols of new life                                  the stars, the seven layers
                                                     of diamond-shaped
Samani, green sprouts of wheat seeds, is an
                                                     dough reflecting the
important symbol of the Novruz celebration.
                                                     layers of the sky and the
It is an essential decoration at the holiday
                                                     hazelnuts in the centre
meal representing the revival of nature. People
                                                     representing stars.
also believe that growing samani will bring
abundance, wellbeing and prosperity to their         Rituals for young
family in the coming year. Every family grows        people
their own, but small shops, bazaars, and even
modern supermarkets sell samani in the lead-up       Novruz is especially
to Novruz.                                           exciting for young
                                                     people as it features a
Exploring ties to fire                               wide range of games,
National holidays usually grow out of a              performances and
people’s spiritual world and beliefs. and            rituals. One of them is                             May peace be upon you
Novruz is often linked to Zoroastrianism for         the “ear divination” game, which has a deep
                                                                                                         Novruz is not just a time for celebration,
its multiple links to fire. On the four Tuesdays     educational, moral and psychological meaning.
                                                                                                         food and fun. It’s a time for love, peaceand
leading up to the holiday, as well as during         People, particularly young girls, take a cup
                                                                                                         equality. Those who have fallen out during
the holiday itself, one of the main rituals is       of water, a mirror and a key, make a wish and
                                                                                                         the year are supposed to forgive one another
jumping over a bonfire, with each house or           approach their neighbours’ doors to discover
                                                                                                         and renew their relationship, while relatives
neighbourhood making their own. Young and            if their wish will come true in the next year
                                                                                                         and neighbours visit each other and exchange
old alike jump over them to rid their troubles       or not. They put their ear to the door, secretly
                                                                                                         gifts. It brings together different sections of the
and purify their souls going into the new year.      listen in to conversations inside the house, and
                                                                                                         population, strengthens mutual understanding
Interestingly, ancient phrases like “I swear by      interpret the first word they hear in relation to
                                                                                                         and social cohesion. One of the golden rules of
fire,” “I swear by the sun,” “I swear by the         their wish. Therefore, it is customary to talk
                                                                                                         Novruz is that people should never curse, lie,
light” and “May your hearth never go out” are        positively and express good wishes during the
                                                                                                         swear or gossip – they shouldn’t do anything
still used by Azerbaijanis today.                    holiday.
                                                                                                         bad.

18       trendy travel trade with food & shop                                                                                                 April 2021
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