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| With diverse experiences and research in sustainable tourism, EQUATIONS has the wherewithal to justifiably turn into an advisory... |
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| August 30, 2010 |
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| We have never before witnessed such a huge multi-billion rupee racket as the Commonwealth Games in... |
| State tourism policy scrutinized by various concerned organizations |
| August 29, 2010 |
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| The second and the final day of the Regional Consultation on Responsible Tourism in the North Eastern States of... |
| NE Tourism conference has an eye for future prospects |
| August 26, 2010 |
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| A two-day regional consultation on responsible tourism in the North Eastern states of India kicked off this... |
| NE tourism stakeholders to brainstorm at Gangtok for responsible tourism code |
| August 25, 2010 |
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| A two day regional consultation on ‘responsible tourism’ in the North-eastern region of India organized by... |
100 days to CWG 2010
June 24, 2010
100 days to CWG 2010
The Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010 bandwagon has been making waves since the last two years. In spite of being a coveted opportunity to host a spectacular sports event and also a much awaited chance to showcase the true essence of Indian hospitality; preliminary reviews on proposed accommodation facilities indicate that there is still a lot that needs to be accomplished. Hospitality Biz evaluates the lodging & accommodation scenario in Delhi NCR region as we fast approach the CWG deadline.
http://www.livemint.com/2009/09/22153316/Commonwealth-games--Delhi-dri.html
24 June 2010
The Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010 bandwagon has been making waves since the last two years. In spite of being a coveted opportunity to host a spectacular sports event and also a much awaited chance to showcase the true essence of Indian hospitality; preliminary reviews on proposed accommodation facilities indicate that there is still a lot that needs to be accomplished. Hospitality Biz evaluates the lodging & accommodation scenario in Delhi NCR region as we fast approach the CWG deadline.
http://www.livemint.com/2009/09/22153316/Commonwealth-games--Delhi-dri.html
24 June 2010
According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2010 is likely to push India’s Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) through tourism alone in 2010 to an estimated level of over USD 16,915 million, as these are expected to grow at a cumulative rate of 20 per cent in the next two years. Through tourism industry last year, FEE’s were measured at USD 11,747 million.
Ambitious estimates
Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during October 2009 were 4.48 lakh as compared to FTAs of 4.53 lakh during October 2008 and 4.45 lakh in October 2007, while FEE during October 2009 was Rs 4,806 crore as compared to Rs 4,248 crore in October 2008. The growth rate in FEE (in terms of rupee) during January-October 2009 (4.1 per cent) registered an improvement over the growth rate during January-September, 2009 (3.1 per cent), especially from countries like the UK, Japan, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Mauritius, the Middle East and the Far East. Releasing the analysis ‘Impact of CWG 2010 on India’s Tourism Sector’, D S Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM said that in the last couple of years, FEE’s earnings on an average have been growing at a robust average of over ten per cent and there is no reason that their average rate of growth will accelerate during Commonwealth Games for which India is creating lot of facilities by renovating its majority of tourist sites. Also, advertising strengths and intellectual superiority and skills of India’s Ayurvedic, Medical and Clinical Tourism including Religious Tourism are expected to draw a large crowd during the forthcoming Games for multi purposes.
ASSOCHAM estimates that if India’s tourist arrival in October 2008 was 4.53 lakh, during CWG 2010 which will take place in October, FTAs are likely to double. The total tourist arrival in India last year was 5.37 million and since India will emerge as a leading tourist destination in the South East Asian region in next two years, the total tourist arrivals in 2010 is likely to be around ten million.
The 19th Commonwealth Games which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi, from October 3 to 14 will be the largest multi-sport event conducted in the National Capital Region (NCR), which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The Commonwealth Games 2006 in Melbourne had attracted 90,000 visitors and more than one lakh visitors are expected to attend Commonwealth Games 2010. At present, there are only about 11,000 rooms in the star category hotels in the NCR. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India estimates that 30,000 additional hotel rooms would be required in NCR for CWG 2010.
Games Village
A modern Games Village is being developed along the east bank of river Yamuna by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The site is located off National Highway 24, adjacent to Akshardham Temple at Noida intersection. The Games Village is designed to translate traditional Indian hospitality into standards of comfort and excellence never seen before by participating teams. The accommodation venue is being created at a cost of USD 230.7 million (including the Residential Zone). The Games Village is spread over an area of 63.5 hectare (158.4 acre) and has 14 blocks, 34 towers and 1,168 air-conditioned flats to comfortably accommodate 8,000 athletes and team officials. The apartments range from two to five bedroom units, each with en suite facilities. There will be only two occupants per room thus making it the highest ratio of facilities provided for any sporting event to date.
ITDC gears up for CWG 2010
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) hotels in Delhi have been declared as the Games Family Hotels for CWG 2010. The CWG General Assembly was held at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi in October 2009, which was appreciated by Michael Fennell, President, Commonwealth Games Federation and Mike Hooper, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation.
Further, ITDC has also been entrusted the job of creating and operating additional hotel accommodation in DDA Flats at Vasant Kunj. There are 2,709 flats in the High Income Group (HIG), Middle Income Group (MIG) and Low Income Group (LIG) categories and 5,009 rooms. ITDC has undertaken the furnishing of the Games Village near Akshardham for Commonwealth Games 2010. The total number of apartments are 1,168 (two-five bedroom apartments) and the total number of rooms are 5,176. ITDC has undertaking extensive renovation of its properties and in 2008-09 an amount of Rs 8.93 crores were spent on Hotel Janpath, Hotel Jaipur Ashok and Hotel Patliputra Ashok, Patna. Subsequently in March 2010, ITDC unveiled 2,709 Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) flats for the upcoming CWG in Vasant Kunj’s D-6 pocket. These flats will be available from September onwards and are expected to be the base for delegates coming for the Games as well as for tourists.
Overall Anticipated Availability of Room for CWG 2010
*details available as of March 2010
Review of Task Force’s Meet – four months to D-day
With a view to take stock of various arrangements related to the augmentation of hotel accommodation developed for CWG, a high level meeting of the Task Force was held under the chairmanship of Sujit Banerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. The meeting was attended by land owning agencies namely Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Government of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other stakeholders namely Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council, Ministry of Urban Development, Department of Delhi Jal Board BSES and India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).
Likewise, Banerjee reviewed all the new hotel projects coming up for CWG 2010 along with licensed guest houses, B&B establishments, DDA Housing flats located at Vasant Kunj, which will be operated by ITDC. The June 2010 review of the Task Force indicated that there are 11,793 ‘definite’ rooms showing an increase of 812 rooms since the previous review. Further, 8,659 rooms have been completed, out of the overall 11,793 ‘definite’ rooms.
The performance of Haryana has been consistent with nearly 93 per cent of the ‘definite’ 7,221 rooms having been completed. The review indicated commendable performance by Uttar Pradesh since the last meeting of the Task Force, which was held in April 2010. There are 377 functional rooms and 609 ‘definite’ rooms showing an increase of 71 rooms and 303 rooms respectively in Noida. In respect of Greater Noida, the ‘definite’ rooms have shown an increase by 408 rooms and thus 569 rooms have now been placed in the ‘definite’ category. As regards Ghaziabad, there will be 672 functional rooms and the ‘definite’ category now stands at 1,363 rooms showing an increase of 295 rooms. As of June 2010 Haryana had completed construction of 7,300 hotel rooms and is expected to rise up to 7,500 by the time D-day arrives.
Speedy completion
Banerjee stressed the need to ensure timely completion of the remaining 3,134 ‘definite’ rooms by DDA, Haryana and other land owning agencies and urged for timely completion of ‘likely’ rooms into the ‘definite’ rooms category. Likewise, all land owning agencies have been asked to upgrade and beautify surrounding areas and approach roads to the upcoming hotel projects. The issue of clearances was critical for the hotels, as the benefits announced by the Government of India of the five-year Tax Holiday would be available to two, three and four-star category hotels under sections 80-ID of the Income Tax Act, only if they start operation by July 31, 2010. The upgradation of DDA Flats located at Vasant Kunj were also reviewed .It was stressed that DDA may strictly adhere to the completion plans so that they can be handed over to ITDC for furnishing as these process should be completed by August 31, 2010.
It is estimated that around 11,028 rooms would be available from the licensed guest houses in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. MoT is providing skill development training to the owners and the staff of these identified licensed guest houses through IHM, Pusa. With regards to the ‘Bed & Breakfast’ establishments, currently there are a total of 2,007 rooms in the NCR of Delhi (1,230 rooms in Delhi and 777 rooms in the NCR namely Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad). Delhi government representatives informed that efforts are being made to expedite all pending applications and for wider publicity of the scheme to enlist more homeowners to join the scheme. Banerjee asserted that the list of B&B establishment should be updated on the official website of the Games Travel Office for wider publicity.
Ambitious estimates
Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during October 2009 were 4.48 lakh as compared to FTAs of 4.53 lakh during October 2008 and 4.45 lakh in October 2007, while FEE during October 2009 was Rs 4,806 crore as compared to Rs 4,248 crore in October 2008. The growth rate in FEE (in terms of rupee) during January-October 2009 (4.1 per cent) registered an improvement over the growth rate during January-September, 2009 (3.1 per cent), especially from countries like the UK, Japan, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Mauritius, the Middle East and the Far East. Releasing the analysis ‘Impact of CWG 2010 on India’s Tourism Sector’, D S Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM said that in the last couple of years, FEE’s earnings on an average have been growing at a robust average of over ten per cent and there is no reason that their average rate of growth will accelerate during Commonwealth Games for which India is creating lot of facilities by renovating its majority of tourist sites. Also, advertising strengths and intellectual superiority and skills of India’s Ayurvedic, Medical and Clinical Tourism including Religious Tourism are expected to draw a large crowd during the forthcoming Games for multi purposes.
ASSOCHAM estimates that if India’s tourist arrival in October 2008 was 4.53 lakh, during CWG 2010 which will take place in October, FTAs are likely to double. The total tourist arrival in India last year was 5.37 million and since India will emerge as a leading tourist destination in the South East Asian region in next two years, the total tourist arrivals in 2010 is likely to be around ten million.
The 19th Commonwealth Games which is scheduled to be held in New Delhi, from October 3 to 14 will be the largest multi-sport event conducted in the National Capital Region (NCR), which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The Commonwealth Games 2006 in Melbourne had attracted 90,000 visitors and more than one lakh visitors are expected to attend Commonwealth Games 2010. At present, there are only about 11,000 rooms in the star category hotels in the NCR. The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India estimates that 30,000 additional hotel rooms would be required in NCR for CWG 2010.
Games Village
A modern Games Village is being developed along the east bank of river Yamuna by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). The site is located off National Highway 24, adjacent to Akshardham Temple at Noida intersection. The Games Village is designed to translate traditional Indian hospitality into standards of comfort and excellence never seen before by participating teams. The accommodation venue is being created at a cost of USD 230.7 million (including the Residential Zone). The Games Village is spread over an area of 63.5 hectare (158.4 acre) and has 14 blocks, 34 towers and 1,168 air-conditioned flats to comfortably accommodate 8,000 athletes and team officials. The apartments range from two to five bedroom units, each with en suite facilities. There will be only two occupants per room thus making it the highest ratio of facilities provided for any sporting event to date.
ITDC gears up for CWG 2010
India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) hotels in Delhi have been declared as the Games Family Hotels for CWG 2010. The CWG General Assembly was held at Ashok Hotel, New Delhi in October 2009, which was appreciated by Michael Fennell, President, Commonwealth Games Federation and Mike Hooper, CEO, Commonwealth Games Federation.
Further, ITDC has also been entrusted the job of creating and operating additional hotel accommodation in DDA Flats at Vasant Kunj. There are 2,709 flats in the High Income Group (HIG), Middle Income Group (MIG) and Low Income Group (LIG) categories and 5,009 rooms. ITDC has undertaken the furnishing of the Games Village near Akshardham for Commonwealth Games 2010. The total number of apartments are 1,168 (two-five bedroom apartments) and the total number of rooms are 5,176. ITDC has undertaking extensive renovation of its properties and in 2008-09 an amount of Rs 8.93 crores were spent on Hotel Janpath, Hotel Jaipur Ashok and Hotel Patliputra Ashok, Patna. Subsequently in March 2010, ITDC unveiled 2,709 Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) flats for the upcoming CWG in Vasant Kunj’s D-6 pocket. These flats will be available from September onwards and are expected to be the base for delegates coming for the Games as well as for tourists.
Overall Anticipated Availability of Room for CWG 2010
| Definite rooms (New Hotel Projects) |
10,540 | Rooms from DDA, Haryana, Greater Noida, GDA |
| Likely rooms (New Hotel Projects) |
624 | 50 per cent of 1,248 likely rooms from DDA, Haryana, Greater NOIDA, DMRC |
| Guest houses (Licensed) | 11,912 | estimated rooms in guest houses as per review / grading of IHM, Pusa |
| Bed & Breakfast establishments | 3,000 | Total of 1,669 rooms currently available in Delhi NCR (Delhi-993; Gurgaon-362;Faridabad-04; Noida/Greater Noida-299;Gaziabad-11) |
| Housing Units of DDA Rooms | 5,500 | 3,179 LIG, MIG and HIG DDA Flats at Vasant Kunj and Jasola |
| Star category hotel rooms currently available in Delhi NCR | 10,161 | |
| Grand Total | 41,737 |
*details available as of March 2010
Review of Task Force’s Meet – four months to D-day
With a view to take stock of various arrangements related to the augmentation of hotel accommodation developed for CWG, a high level meeting of the Task Force was held under the chairmanship of Sujit Banerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. The meeting was attended by land owning agencies namely Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Government of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other stakeholders namely Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council, Ministry of Urban Development, Department of Delhi Jal Board BSES and India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).
Likewise, Banerjee reviewed all the new hotel projects coming up for CWG 2010 along with licensed guest houses, B&B establishments, DDA Housing flats located at Vasant Kunj, which will be operated by ITDC. The June 2010 review of the Task Force indicated that there are 11,793 ‘definite’ rooms showing an increase of 812 rooms since the previous review. Further, 8,659 rooms have been completed, out of the overall 11,793 ‘definite’ rooms.
The performance of Haryana has been consistent with nearly 93 per cent of the ‘definite’ 7,221 rooms having been completed. The review indicated commendable performance by Uttar Pradesh since the last meeting of the Task Force, which was held in April 2010. There are 377 functional rooms and 609 ‘definite’ rooms showing an increase of 71 rooms and 303 rooms respectively in Noida. In respect of Greater Noida, the ‘definite’ rooms have shown an increase by 408 rooms and thus 569 rooms have now been placed in the ‘definite’ category. As regards Ghaziabad, there will be 672 functional rooms and the ‘definite’ category now stands at 1,363 rooms showing an increase of 295 rooms. As of June 2010 Haryana had completed construction of 7,300 hotel rooms and is expected to rise up to 7,500 by the time D-day arrives.
Speedy completion
Banerjee stressed the need to ensure timely completion of the remaining 3,134 ‘definite’ rooms by DDA, Haryana and other land owning agencies and urged for timely completion of ‘likely’ rooms into the ‘definite’ rooms category. Likewise, all land owning agencies have been asked to upgrade and beautify surrounding areas and approach roads to the upcoming hotel projects. The issue of clearances was critical for the hotels, as the benefits announced by the Government of India of the five-year Tax Holiday would be available to two, three and four-star category hotels under sections 80-ID of the Income Tax Act, only if they start operation by July 31, 2010. The upgradation of DDA Flats located at Vasant Kunj were also reviewed .It was stressed that DDA may strictly adhere to the completion plans so that they can be handed over to ITDC for furnishing as these process should be completed by August 31, 2010.
It is estimated that around 11,028 rooms would be available from the licensed guest houses in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. MoT is providing skill development training to the owners and the staff of these identified licensed guest houses through IHM, Pusa. With regards to the ‘Bed & Breakfast’ establishments, currently there are a total of 2,007 rooms in the NCR of Delhi (1,230 rooms in Delhi and 777 rooms in the NCR namely Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad). Delhi government representatives informed that efforts are being made to expedite all pending applications and for wider publicity of the scheme to enlist more homeowners to join the scheme. Banerjee asserted that the list of B&B establishment should be updated on the official website of the Games Travel Office for wider publicity.