New Zealand is latest destination for Indian tourists

Most visitors are choosing to stay in 4- or 5-star hotels, luxury lodges and boutique accommodation on an average spending NZ$3,425 (Rs.105,782), excluding airfare, per person per trip - higher than the average of NZ$3,115 (Rs.96,304) spent by tourists from other countries.





Bangalore-based Ajay Vij, a senior executive with Accenture, recently travelled with his wife Kavita and two kids to New Zealand. He says, "We as a family enjoy travelling to places where nature plays a huge role.





"New Zealand attracted us as it had so many elements within a single country and it didn't disappoint. We were exposed to fiords, glaciers, volcanoes, geothermal activity, whales and wine regions."

Kavita, a corporate training consultant, says: "The country is pure and beautiful, fragile is some parts and immensely strong in others. The friendly and content Kiwis love their country and openly share this with their visitors."

Most Indians spend four days in Auckland and Rotorua in North Island - some even venture to drive north to the Bay of Islands - and seven days in South Island, touring Christchurch, Mount Cook, Queenstown and Milford Sound.

However, many young couples choose to spend 12-14 days only in South Island.

"As many as 65 percent of Indian travellers do only New Zealand whereas 40 percent take specialised tours combining New Zealand with Australia. April to June are most popular months for small family groups whereas honeymooners and young couples travel all through the year," Tourism New Zealand India Manager Kiran Nambiar told IANS.





Favourable weather during the northern winter, fly and self-drive deals, ease with English and a competitive dollar are perhaps some reasons why New Zealand is such a hit with Indian families and honeymooners.

"An Indian honeymooning couple spends on an average two weeks touring across New Zealand, staying in 4-star accommodation and spending a few days in a luxury lodge. Families normally prefer apartments with cooking facilities," says Nambiar.

New Zealand being so sparsely populated, one honeymooning couple from Rajasthan says, "It gives you space and a chance to spend quiet time together. It is serene, romantic and at the same time adventurous and exciting."

Many young families and couples look at the varied leisure activities the country offers. There is much to choose from: soft adventure - jet boating, whale and dolphin watching, hot air balloon rides and high adrenalin sports like sky diving and bungee jumping.

It is little wonder that readers of Wanderlust, Britain's leading travel magazine, have voted New Zealand as the top country to travel to. New Zealand received an impressive 96.86 percent satisfaction points followed closely by Madagascar and Namibia.



However, as Nambiar says, "2007 posed a challenge with fewer airline seats and higher airfares making the growth decline to 7.8 percent, but increase in flight capacity between India and Asian transit points will make it easier for Indian visitors to get to New Zealand. For 2008, we expect an increase of 10 to 15 percent in visitor arrivals from India."

A New Zealand Tour Video


It is not just Indians travelling to New Zealand. In December 2007, there were 19 percent more trips by Kiwis to India compared to the previous year, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Kerala's Wayanad district brims with tourists

Located in North Kerala, 60 km east of Kozhikode, at an altitude ranging from 700 to 2,100 metres on the Western Ghats, Wayanad attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.

"This year all the resorts and hotels in the district are fully reserved. Tourists are now looking for getting accommodation in home stays," Praveen P.P., the information officer at the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), told IANS.



"In Wayanad, tourist arrival peaks during November to February. This year till December, the district recorded 20 percent increase in the arrivals," Praveen said.

Last financial year (2006-07), Wayanad received a total of 470,000 tourists, a large majority of which are domestic tourists.

"But the actual number far exceeds this as we don't have the statistics of those visiting the famous Thirunelli temple, which is considerable, and tourists coming to the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary," he said.

After the IT boom, Wayanad started attracting IT professionals from Bangalore. The district borders Karnataka and is only six hours by road to the metro.

"The district is now a favourite weekend tourist destination. Large numbers of IT professionals are flocking to the district," said K. Raveendran, owner of Pranavam Homestay at Pozhuthana near here.

Raveendran's facility is meant only for foreign tourists, who are interested in local culture and local cuisines.

"Reservation by tourists is made much in advance. Now, my Home stay is booked till February 20," says Raveendran.

According to DTPC, the district is witnessing a sharp increase in the rate of foreign tourist arrivals.

However, the resort owners disagree.

"Foreign tourist arrivals to Kerala dipped this year. This is reflected in Wayanad also. It may be due to the Chikungunya outbreak in the state. It gave us a bad image," said Vancheeswaran K.R., managing partner of Wynberg Resorts at Thrikkaipetta, 12 km from here.

Vancheeswaran is also the secretary of Wayanad Tourism Organisation.

"Tourism season starts in September. However, this year it got delayed and started in October as rains continued beyond the normal season. Now, the tourist arrivals have really picked up. My resort is fully booked till January 7," he said.

Vancheeswaran has 11 dwellings for tourists - two of them are treetop cottages.

"A good number of tourists are IT professionals, who come with their families. Although the season starts much earlier, we host corporate events during the February-March period," he added.

A video from You Tube featuring Wayand Wildlife......

Taj Hotels and Silversea Cruises form Strategic Marketing Alliance

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and Silversea Cruises have entered into a strategic joint marketing alliance to develop cross-promotional opportunities for both companies and harness each other’s strengths in their respective markets of dominance.

Mr. Manfredi Lefebvre D'Ovidio, Chairman, Silversea Cruises, commented on the alliance, “We are thrilled to have formed this alliance which comes at the most opportune time when India’s tourist industry is booming with increased travel by Indians to domestic and overseas destinations. By creating an alliance with a hotel company that has similar brand positioning and quality of customer service to our own, we offer our guests reciprocal privileges and benefits that reflect the style and quality of the Silversea product”

Silversea Cruises owns and operates four ships namely Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper. An innovator in the ultra-luxury segment, Silversea Cruises has become a favourite among modern affluent travellers with its all-inclusive pricing, and unmatched onboard product enhanced by partnerships with some of the world’s most respected luxury brands.

There are 19 hotels under the Taj Luxury Hotels portfolio. These include the legendary Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Mumbai, Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur and The Pierre in New York. Taj’s international portfolio consists of hotels spanning across regions like USA, UK, Australia, and Middle East and the Indian Ocean Rim. The Indian Ocean Rim has the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives and Mauritius hotels.

Supporting and enhancing the representation of both partners in different parts of the world, the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces - Silversea Cruises alliance will develop reciprocal and joint marketing activities that include undertaking of high profile joint marketing initiatives in designated market areas, developing and strengthening guest and client relationships through the affiliation and building brand awareness.