About India Outbound Magazine

India Outbound, a bi-monthly print magazine with dynamic web and social media presence focused on outbound travel from India, is published by Media India Group. Distributed all over India, and in all the top tourism events across the world, India Outbound caters mainly to the tourism professionals and is looking to develop new and innovative circuits and promote new destinations to the high-end travellers.

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Thailand extends visa on arrival fee waiver till October

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced that the Royal Thai Government has approved the extension of the visa-on-arrival fee waiver for citizens of 20 countries for another six months, until 31 October.

The decision was announced in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on April 30, reasoning it as a measure to stimulate and promote tourism as well as to enhance the kingdom’s attractiveness among foreign visitors.

Citizens of Andora, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, including Taiwan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan will be exempted from the 2,000 Baht visa-on-arrival fee for the purpose of touring in Thailand for not more than 15 days.

The government first approved the visa-on-arrival fee waiver from November 15, 2018, to January 14, 2019, and further extended the measure till April 30.

Sri Lanka Tourism begins destination brand recovery process

The Sri Lanka tourism industry is regaining recovery from the recent serial bombings in the country. One week on from the deadliest terror attacks perpetrated in the country, Sri Lanka Tourism discussed measures taken to ensure the safety and security of tourists and outlined strategic plans to rebuild tourism stakeholder confidence to ensure the vital recovery of the tourism industry that supports one in 10 families in Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lankan’s are among the most warm and nurturing people on earth, when guests arrive on our shore they become family,” said Kishu Gomes, chairman Sri Lanka Tourism. “And when family is hurt the entire community comes together to protect, nurture, mourn and grieve and heal together…this is our way and it has been our way from the beginning of time.” Chairman Kishu Gomes explained that it is important to review emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the attacks; Sri Lanka Tourism was focused on organising our response in emergency care and assistance, providing access to clear and accurate information and working with all national and local law enforcement agencies and foreign missions to ensure the safety and security of tourists.

The tourism board released a press release in which it said that in the immediate aftermath of the attacks they rolled out emergency response protocol; trained teams were deployed to the affected hotels, all hospitals and the airport to ensure that all tourists directly affected by the attacks received all the care, attention and assistance they needed.

Tourists already in country and those scheduled to arrive in the hours and days following the attacks were also an immediate priority. In addition to the help desk at hotels, airports and tourist information centers Sri Lanka Tourism set up an emergency hotline to ensure tourists and their loved ones back home had access to accurate information and the entire suite of emergency services, updated information continues to be issued via local, global media, social media, and foreign missions on a regular basis. “Addressing security issues is a prerequisite for the revival of tourism and we continue working closely with all relevant authorities to support all foreign nationals in the country. Sri Lankan police and Tri forces are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all tourists currently in Sri Lanka. This is absolutely our first priority,” said Gomes.

Monaco offers new experiences with ‘ONE Monte-Carlo’

After four years of construction, Monaco presents a whole new exclusive and comprehensive luxury experience, the ONE Monte-Carlo, the latest addition in the Principality of Monaco.

"I feel sure that ONE Monte-Carlo will be a key driver in the development of our core activities – gaming, hospitality and fine dining. Not only through the residents of ONE Monte-Carlo, but also and above all, as a result of the valuable contribution it will make in securing Monaco’s position as ONE of the most sought-after destinations for all lovers of gaming and l’art de vivre”, says Jean-Luc Biamonti, CEO, Monte-Carlo SBM.

With the biggest wonders in luxury lifestyle, unlike any other in the world, ONE Monte-Carlo aims to become the most exclusive destination in Europe, in a haven of greenery!

ONE Monte-Carlo is also a brand-new fashion district, with 24 luxury boutiques. Fully pedestrianised, ONE Monte-Carlo is a unique window to the world’s most luxurious brands. Moreover, a unique residential address on the Place du Casino, ONE Monte-Carlo is a haven of peace and a superb place to live, work, or simply take a stroll. The brand-new residential district, the first of its kind in Monaco, offers 37 high-end apartments for international clients looking for a truly exceptional living environment.

It is set to become a new business tourism hub in the heart of Monaco with endless possibilities for meetings, conventions and business events. The legendary Salle des Arts has been reconstructed, to exactly replicate its previous incarnation as an Art Deco hall accommodating 300 people.

Qatar National Tourism Council and UNWTO partner to develop tourism in Qatar and globally

The World Tourism Organization of the United Nations (UNWTO) and Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) have announced a string of collaborations that are set to support the tourism industry in Qatar and globally.

Signed during the UNWTO secretary-general’s first mission to Doha, the agreements will see QNTC become a sponsor of the first UNWTO Sports Tourism Start-Up Competition, which will be carried out in collaboration with Futbol Club Barcelona (FCB). The competition aims to promote and strengthen the tourism and sports sectors while enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem and boosting innovation in sports tourism.

Winners of the competition will be incubated in the Barca Innovation Hub and their concepts will also be considered for implementation in Qatar, which is gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup 2022.

HE Akbar Al Baker, secretary general of QNTC said “Qatar has a longstanding tradition of supporting entrepreneurship in sports. We believe sporting events have a unique power to bring people of the world together, and that is also why sports tourism is one of six key sub-sectors we are investing in as part of our national tourism strategy. We look forward to seeing the innovative ideas that will come through the inaugural Sports Tourism Start-Up Competition and hope that one of them will come to life in Qatar.”

In addition, QNTC will be the founding sponsor of the IE University|UNWTO Tourism Online Academy, an online platform that will provide professionals with easy access to high quality education and training in the travel and tourism, hospitality and destination management fields.

The initiative will provide easily accessible and exhaustive training for people seeking a profession in the tourism sector, which provides one in ten jobs globally.

The academy will benefit from UNWTO’s thorough knowledge and expertise in tourism, as well as IE University’s innovative education model. Graduates will receive an IE University | UNWTO Online Tourism Academy certification in Foundations of Management Applied to Tourism. The curriculum will cover strategy management, operations management, marketing management, finance fundamentals, as well as technology and innovation management.

As a United Nations agency, UNWTO is in charge of the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism. UNWTO generates market knowledge, promotes competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective tool for development.

DC’s International Spy Museum to reopen

The temporarily shut International Spy Museum is all set to reopen on May 11, said the museum officials. They are in the process of moving many of the existing exhibits over from the museum’s former home.

The permanent exhibits will be done by then, including those featuring many newly acquired artifacts and subjects not previously featured in the museum. New topics the exhibits will tackle include East Berlin during the Cold War, including a piece of the Berlin Wall, and more content related to cybersecurity and espionage.

Unlike Spy’s former home, which only had about 19,000 square feet of exhibit space, the new building will also have room for temporary, rotating exhibitions, though those will likely come after the May 11 opening. There is 32,000 square feet of exhibit space in the new building, along with a large top-floor event space and rooftop terrace. The rooftop event space has been open since last fall.

Spy closed the Penn Quarter Museum on January 1 in order to focus on the move. The new museum costs USD 162 million to build and will allow the group to host 100,000 more visitors per year, bringing the total to around 700,000.

Most of the exhibits and artifacts have already been removed from the old museum, including one very high-profile item. Museum officials used a crane to move a James Bond car, an Aston Martin DB5, on January 5.

The museum dedicated to espionage and all things covert has been one of the most successful paid-entry museums in Washington, which boasts so many free Smithsonians.

Yas Island announces 2019 summer packages

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s leisure & entertainment hub, has announced the launch of its 2019 summer season packages. Family holiday makers as well as staycationers in the UAE can enjoy the ultimate summer break on Yas Island until September 30, with ‘Kids Go Free’ packages. When booking a hotel stay for one night or more through yasisland.ae, each child under the age of 12 can stay and play at the Island’s theme parks for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

The ‘Kids Go Free’ summer packages gives families access to more than 100 thrilling rides and attractions at the three one-of-kind theme parks nestled on the Island. From braving record-breaking roller coasters at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, to making waves with thrills and spills at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, to joining the stories of superhero favorites and iconic characters at Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, there’s a wealth of fun and adventure for the whole family to enjoy for a summer like no other.

Family members can also explore their more competitive side and race against each other on the winding track of Yas Marina Circuit’s Yas Kart Zone, which features kids’ sessions for 5 to 7 year olds and juniors’ sessions and teen events for 8 to 12 year olds.

Arabian Travel Market concludes on a high note

The Arabian Travel Market, a premier tourism event that displays international prominent tourism destinations and attracts a wide range of visitors and individuals interested in the travel and tourism sector came to an end on May 1. The event was covered by a host publications in the field of travel and tourism. This year's edition featured 500 exhibitors, with an estimate of more than 39,000 visitors who attended over four consecutive days.

The Ministry of Tourism under the “Incredible India” banner participated at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai 2019 and showcased India as a preferred destination for tourism and provided a platform for the tourism stakeholders to showcase the various tourism destinations and products and promote India as a ‘Must See, Must Visit’ destination.

The India Pavilion showcased India as a “365 Days Destination” year round multi-faceted tourist destination, Culture, Adventure, Cruise, Golf, MICE, luxury, wildlife, Wellness and medical tourism etc.

The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity for all industry professionals to meet, communicate, negotiate, and do business covering travel, tourism, airlines, cruising, hospitality, car rental, and spa sectors. On the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market, a number of in-depth seminars were held in which industry experts shared the latest research, trends, and case studies in halls packed with attendees.

Corporate Alliance Group acquires Meet 2 Travel

Kapil Kumria CMD Corporate Alliance Group, a MICE and corporate business travel company with its other group companies announced that 'YESPIRED', Corporate Alliance Group companyhas acquired an 80 pc stake in Meet 2 Travel - first of its kind consumer tourism exhibition & fest. This acquisition will help strengthen Corporate Alliance Group foothold in exhibition business both B2C & B2B. Vineet Gopal director Meet 2 Travel with 20pc stakes will be the new CEO of the acquired Company 'YESPIRED' and Gopal, will be responsible for managing affairs and opening of new exhibition segment in future.

Commenting on the acquisition Kapil Kumria CMD Corporate Alliance Group said, “Meet 2 Travel -a Consumer Exhibition and Fest opens new business proposition for Corporate Alliance Group. India is one of the biggest consumer markets and current trends today shows that everyone is working towards luring the consumer for business, whether its social media or any other medium, end of the day its all about consumers. In web space also the trends are all about artificial intelligence- AI which is about analytics of consumer behaviour and M2T on same lines will be a great platform for its participants to showcase their offerings through 360 degree approach, M2T will help participants to network with new clients hence helping to enhance business.”

Vineet Gopal, director Meet 2 Travel said, “We are excited for Meet 2 Travel to join Corporate Alliance Group family. This acquisition is of two like minded companies having the same values and business interest, definitely with Corporate Alliance Group we will be bigger and better, the new M2T connect and expertise will help clients optimize their travel spend and improve their travel booking experience. The acquisition creates clear opportunities, including a significant increase in scale and network reach, volume as well, all resulting in stronger customer service.”

Ctrip emerges as the largest stakeholder in MakeMyTrip

Chinese travel company Ctrip International will become the largest stakeholder in homegrown online travel operator MakeMyTrip (MMT) after South African tech and internet conglomerate Naspers sells its stake in the Gurgaon-based, Nasdaq-listed company in a share-swap deal.

Most of the 42.5 pc that Naspers holds will be exchanged for a 5.6 pc stake in Ctrip, which will hold 49 pc of MakeMyTrip once the deal is completed, up from 10 pc now, said a person with knowledge of the matter. A separate, unaffiliated fund will get a 4pc stake in MakeMyTrip from the remaining Naspers holding, he added. Naspers became an investor in the Indian site in late 2016 following the acquisition of Ibibo Group by MakeMyTrip.

The Chinese travel giant, which has a market capitalisation of USD23.5 billion, had first backed MakeMyTrip in January 2016 through an investment of USD 180 million in convertible bonds.

“Over the past years we have witnessed the great achievements of MakeMyTrip and we are confident that MakeMyTrip will extend its success in the future,” Ctrip International executive chairman James Liang said in a release. “We are also delighted to welcome Naspers to become our shareholder.”

India Outbound is a publication of Media India Group