Lucrative Discount Packages to lure tourists in Kashmir

In an effort to revive tourism in Kashmir, hoteliers and houseboat owners in the valley have announced lucrative and discounted holiday packages to Kashmir for visitors.

Buzz up!
Tourism authorities have tied up with leading travel agencies to come up with packages and schemes, which offer lodging, boarding and sight seeing facilities for tourists at discounted rates.

The tariffs of the houseboats and the hotel room costs have been slashed by fifty percent in comparison to the government approved rates, to increase the influx of tourists in the upcoming holiday season.

"The government has set per room rate as 4500 rupees but now we are giving the rooms for 1500 to 2000 rupees to all the travel groups. Deluxe houseboat rooms are being rented out at cheap rates. We are doing all this to revive tourism which has been hit hard in the valley, said Tariq Ahmad, a houseboat owner.

However, tourists have welcomed this initiative and believe that media should inform the people about the holiday packages.

"This season we are getting discounted rates and we can avail them not just now but even in the summer holidays. People usually visit places during the summer holidays. But I think people should come to know about these discounted rates being offered here. We all think it will be very costly here but it is not like that. We can bargain here. The main thing is people should know they could bargain here. And discounted rate should be made known to everyone," said Sunita Kumar, a tourist from New Delhi.

Tourism, once a flourishing industry in Kashmir, has been badly hit by the ongoing conflict in the state.

But the state tourism department is using various tools like participating in India Travel Mart - a travel and tourism exhibition, to attract tourists to this heavenly destination.

"We have taken part in country's major Travel Marts. We have also done road shows in Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat and we have got really good response from the people. We hope that the tourist season will see heavy influx this holiday season," said Farooq Ahmad Shah, Director Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir.

"If the tourism industry in the state revives it could become the source of employment for 70 per cent of the state's population. It can again become the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir's economy," he added.

SOURCE:
By Parvez Butt (ANI)
Date - February 23, 2010
Location - Srinagar

Egypt Tourism Authority focus on promoting Honeymoon, Heritage and Culture segments in India

With an aim to further attract Indian travellers to Egypt, the Egypt Tourism Authority will focus on promoting Honeymoon, Heritage and Culture segments in India. The tourism board is looking at promoting the same through travel agents, media campaigns through different mediums like outdoor, print and online, as well as conduct joint promotions with travel agents. Besides this, the tourism board is also looking at promoting MICE, Incentive, Golf and Safaris in the Indian market.

Speaking with TravelBiz Monitor, Samy Mahmoud, Under Secretary Head of The International Tourism Sector, Egyptian Tourist Authority said, "For Egypt, India is the second biggest emerging market after Japan and we will look at promoting the destination through travel agents and different marketing initiatives."

From the Indian market, the tourism board is targeting a total of one lakh Indian tourists this year, whereas last year the country witnessed 88,000 Indian visitors. Furthermore, the tourism board will also invest USD 130 million over a period of next three years to promote Egypt in the international markets.

SOURCE: TravelBizMonitor.com
By Krupa Vora | Mumbai
Date - February 10, 2010