TRAVEL NEWS: Banyan Tree in Kerala, India Opens on December

source: Google Images

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts will be opening ‘Banyan Tree Kerala’, its first resort in India by December of this year.

Banyan Tree Kerala is situated in Nedithuruthu, midway between Kochi and Alleppey in the southern state of Kerala. It will feature 59 villas and one houseboat for a maximum of four guests. All villas will have two private pools – one lap pool and one regular – in addition to a common outdoor swimming pool.

The resort will also offer four meeting rooms, two F&B outlets, a kid’s club, a gym, and a spa with six treatment rooms.

Assistant Director Key Accounts of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Manas Sinha is quoted saying: “Our focus for Banyan Tree Kerala will be on the domestic luxury market. We are adopting a different business plan from what we practice elsewhere.”

Meanwhile, in order to boost brand recognition in the domestic market, Banyan Tree has organised a series of one-on-one meetings between high-end local tour operators and marketing representatives from its resorts in Asia, starting with one such meeting in Kolkata on March 20.

“Banyan Tree opening in India is very welcome, as we now have an option to send our high-end clients to a resort within the country. This will be handy for last minute decision-making by clients, and we will not have to bother about visas as in the case of overseas destinations”, Managing Director of Gainwell Travel Leisure Kolkata, Manoj Saraf said.

Banyan Tree had just acquired a plot of land in Goa for its second property in India which will be a 50 to 60-key resort, scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Within this year, the group will be opening a total of four resorts worldwide, including two in China and one in Vietnam while 2013 will see the launch of one Angsana in Vietnam and one Banyan Tree each in China and the Philippines.

India Plans to Extend VOA Policy to 13 more Countries

Photo by Sylwia Bartyzel 

The Indian government is planning to extend visas on arrival (VOA) to citizens of 13 more countries including Malaysia and Thailand according to a source from India’s Ministry of Tourism.

Based on a report published in India’s “The Economic Times”, other countries which are being touted as potential beneficiaries of the VOA policy extension are Brunei, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and South Africa.

The report also stated that the VOA facility would be extended within a year to airports in Hyderabad, Kochi, Bangalore, and Goa, adding to the four active airports such as Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.

Currently, there are 11 nations that are benefiting from the said policy, namely Luxembourg, Finland, New Zealand, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. In 2011, records showed that only slightly more than 10,000 VOA applications from nationals of these countries were granted.

Anju Desai, vice president of Mumbai-based HMA Travel was quoted saying: "The countries earmarked for the VOA are major source markets and will open the floodgates of inbound tourism. We have received complaints about delays in the issuance of Indian visas from our missions abroad. Now, all that will end and seamless travel will begin."

In relevance to the issue, the Indian High Commission in Malaysia released a statement clarifying that the Indian Government had not yet taken any decision to extend VOAs to Malaysian nationals.

News Source:

TTG Asia

Exploring New Delhi

Reasons Why You Must Grab The Best Deal in India

Photo by Krishna Moorthy D

New Delhi is the capital city of India known for its tree-lined boulevards and home to numerous national institutions, museums, and landmarks. It is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in the world with a population nearing three hundred thousand residents. That is why one negative impression of first-time tourists in this city is its tenacious touts and crush of mechanical and human traffic. However, we cannot deny the fact that amidst these negative things, New Delhi is a place rich in history and amazing ancient monuments which made this place worthy of an air ticket to visit India.

Delhi represents two very different worlds, the “old” and the “new”. New Delhi was built as the imperial capital of India by the British while Old Delhi served as the capital of Islamic India. Visitors can easily have a taste of both worlds by immersing themselves in medieval-flavored bazaars of New Delhi or chilling out in the modern cafes and bars in New Delhi.

New Delhi is also home to two UNESCO Heritage Sites namely Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. These two ancient historical places are must-see places when you book air tickets to New Delhi. Considered two of the most popular tourist destinations in India, these monuments represent the ancient history of India.

Photo by Rohit Tandon

Humayun’s Tomb was designed by a Persian architect named Mirak Mirza Giyas for Humayun’s widow Hamina Banu Begum. This tomb later established a standard for all Mughal monuments, such as the Taj Mahal which followed its design.

Qutub Minar is a 72.5 meters fluted red sandstone tower covered with intricate carvings and verses of the Qur’an. The construction of this monument signifies the Muslim domination of Delhi and is a minaret for the muezzin to call the faithful to prayer. Qutub Minar is the first monument built by a Muslim ruler in India which began the new style of art and architecture that came to be known as Indo-Islamic style.

Another historical structure worth spending for an air ticket in India is the India Gate located on the ceremonial Rajpath Avenue in New Delhi. This monument is erected in honour of the Indian soldiers who died during the Afghan wars and World War II, names of all those soldiers were inscribed on the walls.

Photo by Vinit Singh

Aside from these magnificent monuments, New Delhi is the best place to sample authentic Indian cuisine. Have a taste of the meaty Mughlai curries, plump South Indian idlis (rice cakes), wood-fired pizzas, and squishy sashimi to complete your New Delhi experience.

Photo by Saundarya Srinivasan\

Don’t let petulant first impressions stop you from visiting India. Create a journey now for wonderful moments to last a lifetime.