India-reports.com

North East India -new travel ebook by Chillibreeze

“North East -India’s Paradox worth visiting” has been authored by James Perry an authority on travel in North East India, with research and editorial support from Chillibreeze Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

For decades, North East India has been physically and emotionally marginalized from the rest of India. The biodiversity of this region is known to many, but experienced by very few. This eBook provides an insight into the experiences this region offers and highlights the ethnic and cultural aspects of its major tribes. The eBook offers valuable information about the different states in the region, their cuisine, and places to stay and provides useful travel advice (permits, travel gear and what to expect!) for the Westernized traveler. It also elaborates on the various tailor-made cultural, wildlife and adventure tours offered by agencies like Cultural Pursuits and detailed listings of what to do, see, experience, eat, buy and more!

Title: North East: India's Paradox worth visiting.
ISBN 978-81-904055-8-4
URL: http://www.chillibreeze.com/ebooks/North-East.asp
Price: USD 25
Contact:ePublishing@chillibreeze.com

Tailor Made Holidays to India $5.99

Tailor Made Holidays to India - Available on India-reports.com for $5.99

Discerning travelers are opting for ‘tailor-made holidays’. Tailor made holidays are all about personal choice and priorities with respect to time, taste, location and comfort level. Bespoke holidays are considered the ultimate luxury experience- personal and unforgettable. Bespoke travel to India has been popular for some time now. Indians are just discovering the travel made to fit their lifestyles and aspirations.

Why outbound tourism is on the rise?

There are few Indians who would have seen all the states in India.
But they have holidayed in US, UK and the holiday hot spots in South East Asia.

Wonder why?

India has been unable to build its tourism infrastructure and services.
Holidaying in India is expensive. Room tariffs are high and the quality of accommodation is disappointing in most cases. Experiential holidays are the best way to travel India. Gourmet tours, tailormade holidays are the new trends catching on.

India falls in global tourism rankings

India ranks poorly in the latest WEF travel and tourism competitiveness report. Safety of tourists, especially foreigners and women, has emerged as a big concern and damaged the Incredible India campaign. New Delhi needs 40,000 more hotel rooms by 2010. The hospitality sector is expected to be the top employment generator for 2008.

Weekly news updates on Travel & Hospitality

UNESCO’s World Heritage Monuments in India

India's historical treasure:

Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Khajuraho monuments, Khajuraho, Uttar Pradesh
Red Fort, New Delhi
Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi
Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu
Sanchi Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
Bhimbhetka caves, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Sun Temple, Konark, Orissa
Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam
Churches and Convents of Goa
Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar
Champaner-Pavagadh Archaelogical Park, Gujarat
Hampi monuments, Hampi, Karnataka
Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka
Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Maharastra
Elephanta Caves, Mumbai, Maharastra
Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai, Maharastra
Sunderbans, West Bengal
Mountain railways of India ( Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bangal, Maharastra)
Nanda Devi Valley of Flowers, Uttaranchal

Is India safe to travel?

India’s global rankings have fallen due to reports of rapes and murders of tourists. India ranked 117 among 130 countries in the 2008 Travel and Tourism Competitive Report of the World Economic Forum

It is a huge setback to the Incredible India campaign. Some countries have issued warnings to its citizens and rightly so.

Here are some tips to ensure personal security:

1. Choose reputed travel companies and well located hotels when making the reservations
2. Avoid hotels near railway stations and bus stands – they tend to have a mixed kind of crowd and you are in greater danger
3. Do not venture out alone (specially if you are woman) in the evenings.
4. Ensure you have transport provided by the hotel.
5. Avoid being too familiar with cab drivers.
6. Be alert
7. Avoid drinking alcohol in unfamiliar company
8. Carry a mobile and keep your friends and family informed about your travel plans
9. Avoid a casual attitude towards safety
10. Avoid holidays in high risk places ( terrorist threat, isolated resorts).

Industry concerned about poor tourist inflow

There is concern in industry circles about India’s inability to attract large number of tourists despite historical and cultural riches compared to other countries. India has seen an increase in foreign tourist arrivals from different regions, but the figures are dismal compared to other global tourism hubs.

Subscribe to travel and hospitality news updates.

Golf Tourism- another niche tourism sector

Golfing is catching up fast in India. The sport has witnessed 35-40% growth over the last four years. Real estate developers and tourism companies are keen to cash in on the tee factor as well.

India is way off the mark, compared to countries like Malaysia, as far as number of golf courses are concerned. Golf courses have been traditionally owned by city clubs or the defense service wings. The scene is changing now. The sport is becoming popular with the upwardly mobile professionals. The presence of the expat community has added to the glitz for the sport.

The tourism companies are adding ‘the heritage experience’ to the golf tours. Most luxury housing development projects have the golfing greens as a focal ‘selling’ point.

Can tourism address climatic and poverty imperatives?

The Taj Mahal is getting a face lift. India’s former royals are taking up the challenge to convert heritage properties across small cities and towns to profitable boutique hotels. Religious tourism has emerged as an important aspect of tourism planning. Hopefully, it will see improvement in accommodation and services at pilgrimage centres. Austria has emerged as a popular MICE destination for Indians. A marina is being planned near Kochi to keep pace with the yachting momentum. The United Nations World Tourism Organization has called for a constructive approach by the tourism industry to address poverty and climatic imperatives.

Bangalore best restaurants and pubs:

The Times Food Guide 2008 toppers list for Bangalore:

Holiday in India

Taj, Leela and Oberoi are India's leading hotel chains and the hottest destinations this season ( as always) have been Kerala, Goa & Rajasthan.

The lead chains have had a profitable tourist season. Tariffs have been reportedly as high as Rs 35 lakh/ night.

India needs to improve the quality of tourism infrastructure to be able to attract a larger spectrum of the global traveler.

Pilgrims progress: Hospitality players planning hotels at religious hot spots

Religious and spiritual tourism has always been an important component of tourism in India. However, never before have the numbers been so large so as to prompt players like the Leela group to set up hotels at religious places.

It is happening now!

Is it because the profile of the religious traveler has changed?

We have always had domestic travelers visiting pilgrimage centers like Badrinath- Kedarnath, Mathura-Vrindavan, Tirupati, Rameswaram, Sabarimala, Puri, Varanasi.

What is interesting is that lot of NRIs and HNIs are now traveling to these places and it makes business sense for big players to start operations.

Our pilgrim centric cities have always needed infrastructure improvement and it is time things changed for the better.

Will the hospitality groups contribute to the overall improvement of these urban areas?

Reality Check: Indian airports

Indian aviation is booming and air passenger traffic has increased manifold.
Indian airports are poor in infrastructure and services. This is proving to be a huge bottle neck in the aviation growth story. Frequent domestic and international travelers are aware of the lacunae, long queues, delays in check in and overall poor standards of signage, safety, recreation and basic services. Lets say, flying is not a pleasure because airports are in poor shape.

Bespoke Travel

Bespoke holidays are the new rage with the upwardly mobile.
India has been a popular destination for tailor made holidays.

Gourmet Tourism in India

The diversity of India is best reflected in the cuisines it offers.

States, regions, cities and communities have characteristic food and eating styles which make for a memorable experience for food aficionados.

Special interest tours to wineries, tea gardens, coffee estates, villages, heritage vacations, royal weddings and ‘learn to cook’ experiential tours are becoming increasingly popular in India.

Indians are high on foreign travel

Indians are high on travel these days. By 2010 the number of tourists travelling from India is expected to more than double. The total number of outbound travellers is set to reach 16.3 million in 2011 alone.

Conde Nast Awards 2007 : India all the way

The best spa (Ananda), the best hotel ( Udai Vilas) , the best business hotel ( The Leela, Bangalore) and the top destination (India) - India is on the top in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Travel Awards.

Hospitality: on the verge of a boom

India’s hospitality sector is on a song.

Global players are keen to set up base in India and Indian hotel chains are making strategic tie ups for reservations, loyalty programmes and travel benefits.

Incredible India- top destination in the world

India is the top travel destination in 2007 according to the Condé Nast Traveller UK.

Must Do in India - 15 and counting

A must do list if you happen to be in India:

- visit the Taj mahal
- enjoy the pushkar fair
- visit the mountains of ladakh
- travel on the palace on wheels
- live in a heritage hotel
- travel north india during the winters
- bathe in the ganges ( rishikesh)
- watch the folk dancers of states you visit
- go rafting in upper ganges
- participate in the kumbh mela

Guides and informative resources for foreigners in India

News is that more Indian companies are recruiting expats to curb attrition levels.

Here are informative and affordable ebook resources for anyone planning to relocate to India for work, moving family or travelling for health care.

The guides are written by people who have gone through the experience of it all. There are interviews with expats and reurned NRIs- for a true picture.

Worlds Best Luxury Hotel : Oberoi Udai Vilas, India

For the first time, an Indian luxury hotel has made it to the top of the list.

The Travel + Leisure magazine's 2007 survey ranks Udaipur's Udai Vilas as the best hotel in the world.