Rajasthan sets eyes on more tourists from Gujarat, Organises tourism festival across cities in Gujarat

Mumbai/ Rajkot: In a bid to woo more tourists from Gujarat, the Rajasthan Tourism Department is organising three day tourism festival in Rajkot, with more such events planned in other cities like Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara."Gujaratis are very fond of to travel and very large numbers of Gujarati tourists come to Rajasthan. However, we still see huge untapped potential in the state and hence, to attract more people from here, Rajasthan tourism department has planned to organise 'Rajasthan Calling' festival in Gujarat," said Anand Tripathi, deputy director, Rajasthan Tourism.

Organised under Rajasthan Tourism domestic tourism promotion campaign 'Rajasthan Calling', the festival will also cover other parts of the country and will travel to 22 major cities including Kochi, Ludhiana, Dehradun, Surat, Coimbatore, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

The festival aims to give a feel of Rajasthan and facilitate a better understanding about the state and provide complete information and showcase Rajasthan's traditional culture and exquisite range of Rajasthani handicraft products and Rajasthani delicacies in the city, Amongst the major highlight of the festival are live dances and a food court.

"There are stalls put up during the festival where one can choose from handicrafts, woolen shawls from Bikaner, embroidery from Barmer, brass work and blue pottery from Jaipur, terracota from Udaipur and tie and dye from Jaipur, Pali and Jodhpur," said Tripathi.

According to Narayan Sharma, tourist officer, Rajasthan Tourism Department, more than 20.5 million domestic tourists had visited Rajasthan during 2010 and till August 2011 the state saw an influx of over 10.6 million tourists."Among the tourists that frequent Rajasthan, Gujarat tops the list followed by West Bengal and Maharashtra," said Sharma.

When asked about a potential brand ambassador for Rajasthan Tourism, Tripathi said, "Rajasthan is itself a brand and it does not need any brand ambassador for promotions. The tourism department is also marketing the state through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs."

(sourced Business Standard)

Britain faces a month of weather chaos as snow wrecks travel plans

Monday 06 February 2012
Britain is facing a month of snow, ice and freezing temperatures after the first Big Freeze of the winter led to cancelled flights at Heathrow and treacherous conditions on the roads.

• Heathrow cancelled half of flights after it stopped snowing
• Coldest temperature overnight in Yorkshire at -8.6C (16.5F)
• Big Freeze could last until end of the month, says Met Office
• Police close 25 miles of A1 northbound in North Yorkshire

Forecasters have warned the biting temperatures, snow showers and overnight frosts could last until the end of February as the country returned to work amid expected school closures.

Parts of the UK woke up to lying snow of up to five inches (14cm) this morning while the coldest temperature of -8.6C (16.5F) was recorded overnight in Church Fenton in North Yorkshire.Heathrow Airport faced questions last night as to why half of all flights were cancelled hours after it stopped snowing.

BAA, the Spanish-owned airport operator, incurred the wrath of passengers after 600 flights were grounded at Heathrow despite just three inches of snowfall, disrupting the plans of as many as 18,000 travellers.
This morning, the airport was operating its normal flight schedule but warned of a backlog of cancellations.

The Met Office said the rest of the week would be cold for most parts of the country. "Most of England and Wales will be staying relatively settled but cold. The biggest risk is hard overnight frost and freezing fog," said Steven Keates, Met Office forecaster. "It looks as if this cold snap will last two or three weeks and this weather system looks as though it will erode from the west in the second half of February."

The disruption was in stark contrast to airports across Europe where, despite record low temperatures, flights took off as normal. In Germany, no airport had to shut even though Munich saw temperatures plunge to -27C. In Stockholm only six of 350 flights were cancelled. Copenhagen had four inches of snow but no disruption.

In contrast, by Saturday afternoon BAA had already cancelled a third of flights nine hours before any snow had fallen in a pre-emptive plan to avoid the chaos of previous winters.Yet even as the snow began to melt from 6am on Sunday and passengers reported clear runways, more than half of flights remained grounded.

It comes less than 14 months after the airport was crippled for five days because there were not enough snow clearance vehicles to keep runways open. Despite an inquiry and promises by BAA that it had increased its snowplough fleet by 68 to 185 at a cost of £32.4 million, the airport was only able to handle just one in two flights.

“It’s unbelievable. The runways seemed clear and they have cancelled the flights,” said Philippa Britton, of Kendal, Cumbria.Those flying in from Moscow voiced their disbelief that they were stranded, despite flying out from Russia in -20C snow storms. Miriam Walters, 62, a teacher, said: “The runways at Moscow were covered with snow and still we managed to leave.”

Although the bad weather caught airport operators unaware in 2010, The Met Office had predicted the weekend snowfall days in advance. Gatwick, Stansted and London Luton had no disruption as did Manchester, Prestwick and Edinburgh. The number of planes stuck on the tarmac at Heathrow meant incoming flights were forced to divert elsewhere.

Hundreds of passengers were last night stranded in Ireland as six flights were sent to Shannon Airport. British Airways was badly affected, with two thirds of its flights between 9.15am and 2.15pm cancelled. Stranded passengers said the airport refused to put them up in hotels, forcing them to sleep on yoga mats in terminals.

Elin Mabbutt, a mother of three from Aberystwyth, was due to fly to Mumbai on Saturday but her flight was cancelled. “It is frustrating especially as there is no sign of snow on the ground,” said Mrs Mabbutt, 33.
Lengthy delays meant many crew had exceeded their working hours and could not fly. In December 2010 4,000 flights were cancelled over a week as cold weather and snow hit Britain. The economy lost an estimated £1.2 billion a day, and BAA some £20 million.

A report by Prof David Begg, an independent adviser, criticised the lack of preparedness and equipment. Transport experts said Heathrow struggles because the airport is stretched to the limit.“Heathrow operates at full capacity all of the time so anytime there are adverse conditions, such as snow, some leeway has to be given, such as closing runways and parking stations,” said Mike Carrivick, the chief executive of the Board of Airlines, which promotes the business interests of airlines. He said a review would now be carried out to establish whether changes to procedures, introduced after the weather problems in 2010, had worked and if “things went right and what went wrong”.

A spokesman for London First, a business group that represents 200 major companies, said employers would be concerned how the airport would cope on Monday. "We think the important thing is how quickly things get back to normal," he said.

"Employers will be thinking 'yes it snowed over the weekend and we got through it' but they will ask how are is the airport going to cope today and will staff be able to travel and get into work." A spokesman for ABTA, the travel association, said: “The disruption once again raises the issue of capacity constraints at the busiest airports and highlights the need for a robust long term strategy for UK aviation.” A spokesman for the British Bankers Association, who was stranded in Edinburgh, said any disruptions were of concern.

“It makes it more difficult for people to do business in the UK,” she said. “Clearly safety comes first but our concern is always with the transport systems and (such) disruptions have on business life.” Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, has called for a new airport in the Thames, dubbed Boris Island. Plans for a third runway at Heathrow have been shelved.

BAA defended the way it had handled the weekend’s snow. Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, said they had taken “the right approach”. She said: “The most important thing is making sure that we put safety first. BAA said on Sunday night that the airport was expected to be running at full capacity on Monday.

To read more about this article visit Telegraph.co.uk

Rent-a-fort in India's Rajasthan

20Jan,2012
By Rupam Jain Nair

JAIPUR, January 20, 2012 - One of India's prime tourist attractions, the princely forts and palaces of Rajasthan state, are hoping for a new lease on life -- literally.More than two million domestic and foreign tourists visit Rajasthan every year for a glimpse of the state's royal past and to experience the architectural legacy of kingdoms that lost their identity when India became a republic.
Topping the must-see list in the desert state are sites like the majestic Mehrangarh Fort, which dominates the skyline over the city of Jodhpur, and Jaipur's 16th century Amber Palace.But thousands more historic forts, palaces and private mansions, or "havelis", lie unvisited and uncared for -- victims of decades of neglect.

Shortly after Indian independence in 1947, many passed from private to public hands, either sold or ceded to the state government by their erstwhile princely owners who were unable to afford their upkeep. Now the state authorities -- who also struggled to fund their renovation and maintenance -- are offering them up for rent.Target tenants are domestic and foreign hospitality groups with the financial muscle to turn the properties into heritage hotels for well-heeled travellers.

"We are ready to lease the heritage properties. Those interested can sign a long-term rent agreement with us and they are free to convert them into hotels or any other interesting business venture," said state tourism secretary Usha Sharma. "Our idea is to save the heritage forts and palaces and also promote tourism," Sharma said.

It's an ambitious plan and, some say, a deeply flawed one, given the state of some of the properties on the rental list.Ruined ramparts, once used to keep out Mughal invaders, now provide a prime spot for locals to hang out their washing lines, while many properties have been stripped of their carved sandstone slabs, which end up in local markets.

The concept of "heritage hotels" in India originated in Rajasthan as owners unable to afford the upkeep of their ancestral homes converted them into hotels, sometimes with private partners or with the help of the government.Rajasthan currently accounts for 128 of the 178 heritage hotels spread across the country.

"Heritage hotels are always seen as something romantic. People from all over the world love to experience the glory of the bygone era," said Gaj Singh, secretary of the Heritage Hotel Association.

"The idea to lease these places is very interesting. They are untapped assets, and have the potential for massive growth," said Singh, who owns six heritage properties in Rajasthan.But the government's initiative has been clouded by a combination of poor infrastructure and excessive bureaucracy that has put off a number of potential takers for the leaseholds.

"These properties are extremely maintenance-heavy and are mired in complications at various levels," admitted Ashutosh Pednekar, the administrator of Alwar district, which has the largest concentration of forts in the country."A lot more needs to be done by the government to put them to good use. Private investors cannot do it alone," he said.

One group that has made a go of it is the Neemrana Hotels heritage chain, which runs more than 20 properties across India and decided to take on the 19th-century Tijara Fort (200 kilometres) 130 miles from Jaipur."We appreciated the government's plan, managed to acquire the lease of Tijara Fort and started our work," said Aman Nath, co-chairman of the Neemrana group.

Despite signing a 60-year lease agreement in 2005, it took the group several years to get final possession of the property.The original agreement was that the government would be responsible for providing basic infrastructure like roads, electricity and water.

"But everything is off-loaded on us," Nath said."We paid for the electricity and got the cables laid. We bought the land, drilled the water, did the piping and built the access road."We are doing all the work and the government is still on our back saying: why is it not happening on time?" he added. Rajasthan's tourism secretary, Usha Sharma, insisted that the government was firmly committed to the leasing programme.

"I don't think there is any problem. We are doing the best we can," she told AFP.Meanwhile, most of the properties listed for lease remain derelict and ignored."Some forts have simply vanished -- their stones taken by villagers to build their own home," said Alwar administrator Pednekar. "Only the names are left now," he added.

(sourced MySinchew.com)

Business Opportunity in Hospitality, Udaipur's HRH Group of Hotels eyes global brands for management of hotels. For more details read Article

How to Save Money when Renting a Car

Rental Car Savings Tips
By Donna L Montaldo

Donna L Montaldo

Renting a car can be confusing and expensive if you don't understand industry terms and how fees are calculated. If you have a poor driving record, renting a car may be next to impossible. Here are some points to consider and questions to ask when you reserve a rental car.

Choosing a Rental Car Company
What Size Car Do You Need?
Before you reserve a car, think about the size you want or need and how much you are willing to spend. This will help you avoid making a hasty or expensive decision that you may regret later. At the same time, be aware that vehicle classification systems vary. The terms "compact," "mid-size," and "luxury" sometimes differ among companies.

Get Price Estimates and Look for Specials
Call several rental car companies for price estimates, or check rates through your travel agent. Ask about specials geared to the length of time you need the vehicle. Many companies offer weekly or weekend deals. If your plans are flexible, you may be able to save money by renting a car when price breaks are available. But be sure to ask about restrictions on special offers, including blackout dates when an advertised price may not be available.

Make Sure The Rental Company Will Accept Your Driving Record
Ask if the rental car company checks the driving records of potential customers. Many companies now check driving records when customers arrive at the counter. Some reject customers whose driving records don't meet company standards. Even if you have a confirmed reservation, you may be disqualified from renting a car for:

    * Moving violations within the last few years.
    * Seat belt law violations.
    * Accidents, regardless of fault.
    * Convictions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Driving Under the Influence (DUI), reckless driving, or leaving the scene of an accident.
    * Driving with an invalid, suspended or revoked license.

Ask your travel agent or the rental car company in advance whether your driving record will be checked.

Ask About Extra Charges
Ask if there may be charges that could increase an advertised base rate, such as:

    * Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) fees (in states that allow them)
    * A deposit or refundable charge.
    * Airport surcharges and drop-off fees.
    * Fuel charges.
    * Mileage fees.
    * Taxes.
    * Additional driver fees.
    * Underage-driver fees.
    * Out-of-state charges.
    * Equipment-rental fees (for items such as ski racks and car seats). These charges are defined below.

Read complete article at About.com

Source: FTC.

10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas off to a vibrant start in Jaipur

Sunday, January08, 2012

By Mohammed Iqbal

The 10th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conclave got off to a flying start here on Saturday with a colourful display, depicting the rich and vibrant Rajasthani culture, followed by half-a-dozen parallel brainstorming sessions convened on subjects such as water management, solar energy, health care, tourism and tapping the potential of youth.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will formally inaugurate the prestigious annual event with his address at the main venue, the B.M. Birla Auditorium, on Sunday. The chief guest, Indian-origin Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad Bissessar, arrived here on Saturday.

The theme of this year's three-day convention is “Global Indian: Inclusive Growth.” Over 10 Union Ministers as well as Chief Ministers of six States are scheduled to address the delegates on different aspects of the country's development process.

Among those taking part in this flagship event will be about 1,500 NRIs and persons of Indian origin from 54 countries, leading businessmen, industrial magnates, government functionaries and young entrepreneurs.

Ms. Bissessar met acting Rajasthan Governor Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here. Mr. Patil apprised her of the desert State's cultural heritage and the rapid strides being made in the modern scientific and industrial realms.

The Trinidad and Tobago Premier asked Mr. Gehlot to consider teaming up for a proposed oil refinery here, while pointing out that oil and natural gas production comprised 40 per cent of the gross domestic product of her country. Ms. Bissessar said her country had 100 years of experience in this sector.

Mr. Gehlot later told journalists that the State government would not expect huge investments from the event's participants, but would like to enhance interaction with the diaspora and seek their suggestions for giving a suitable direction to development: “This [event] would enable NRIs from all walks of life to come and see what is happening in their country.”

The Prime Minister is scheduled to interact with the State Council of Ministers for an hour at the Raj Bhavan here after inaugurating the conclave. Mr. Gehlot and his Cabinet colleagues are expected to apprise Dr. Singh of the State government's performance and difficulties over the past three years.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi inaugurated the Protector of Emigrants (POE) office at Sitapura on the outskirts of Jaipur. He said the ninth POE office established in the country would render assistance to the large number of people from the State who went abroad for jobs, particularly to the Middle East. The new office would do away with the need for prospective emigrants to travel to Delhi for emigration clearance, while the registered recruiting agents could file their applications online.

Addressing a seminar ‘Solar energy: Investment and R&D,' Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said the sector could help preserve the global ecological balance. He emphasised the need for increased efficiency and better technology for harnessing the true potential of solar energy. The national diaspora could consider making investments for generating capacity and R&D, Mr. Abdullah said.

Speaking at a seminar ‘Health and wellness: Partnering with the diaspora,' Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the share of healthcare in the GDP should be enhanced from the present 1 per cent to 2.5 per cent. The Centre was considering allowing medical practitioners having post-graduate degrees from the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to practise in India, Mr. Azad said.

President Pratibha Patil will address the closing ceremony of the conclave on Monday and give away awards to NRIs and PIOs in recognition of their achievements in different fields.

The three-day event has been jointly organised by the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the State government.

Keywords: Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Jaipur PIO meet, NRI, diaspora

Sourced:The Hindu

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