INDIA: Airlines Offering Discount Offers On Domestic And International Flight Tickets

Airlines are offering a host of discount offers on domestic and international flight tickets.

The offers come amid high competition in the country's civil aviation market. Jet Airways is offering up to 30 per cent discount on base fare in premiere and economy class on select domestic as well as international flight tickets.

IndiGo is offering flight tickets at an all-inclusive starting price of Rs. 999. GoAir is offering flight tickets from Rs. 1,099, while AirAsia India has also announced flight tickets starting from Rs. 999 on select routes.

Jet Airways is offering up to 30 per cent discount on base fare in premiere and economy class on select domestic as well as international flight tickets.

Jet Airways' all-new Global Sale is valid for bookings done till September 7, 2018. According to the airline, the discount is available on 25 lakh seats.

However, tickets must be purchased a minimum of 8 days prior departure.

IndiGo is offering flight tickets at an all-inclusive starting price of Rs. 999. As part of its four-day special festival sale, the airline is offering 10 lakh seats.

The booking period of the offer ends on September 6, 2018. Under this scheme, IndiGo is offering domestic flight tickets starting at Rs. 999 and international flight tickets starting at Rs. 3,199.

The travel period of the offer starts on September 18, 2018 and ends on March 30, 2019.

GoAir is offering flight tickets at a starting all-inclusive price of Rs. 1,099. The booking period of the offer ends on September 5, 2018 and the travel period ends on March 31, 2019.

However, this scheme is valid across selective fare types and fare products, said the carrier.

AirAsia India has announced flight tickets starting from Rs. 999 on select routes under a limited-period offer. AirAsia India is offering flight tickets priced from an all-inclusive Rs. 999 on the Guwahati-Imphal, Bengaluru-Kochi and Bengaluru-Chennai routes, according to the airline's website - airasia.com.

Bookings under the sale offer are open till September 9, 2018.


Tourism Observer

INDIA: IndiGo Flying Lucknow to Ahmedabad & Guwahati, Bengaluru-Indore & Raipur-Patna

IndiGo has announced the launch of 28 new flights on its existing domestic network. The new schedule will see maiden flights on the Guwahati-Lucknow, Lucknow-Ahmedabad, Bengaluru-Indore and Raipur-Patna sectors.

With the new flights and frequencies and induction of two new Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline’s frequency will increase to 890 daily. Effective November 2016, these flights will provide enhanced connectivity on the key sectors thus strengthening IndiGo’s existing network within India.

With 890 daily flights connecting 41 destinations, these new flights will enable both corporate and leisure travellers to experience IndiGo’s unmatchable on-time performance.

Speaking about the latest network expansion, Aditya Ghosh, President and Whole Time Director, IndiGo said, “We are absolutely delighted to announce 6E’s new flights connecting the metro cities with the regional destinations.

In the exciting times for Indian aviation, we are hopeful that these flights will prove to be popular among our customers.”

INDIA: Special Train Coaches To Be Dedicated For Tourists

A team of officials from Tourism and Railways Ministries will be formed who would identify in two months 25 railway stations which are most frequented by tourists, the source said.

Two coaches in every special train passing through 25 railway stations most frequented by domestic as well as foreign tourists may get improved and special facilities. These 25 stations, to be named ‘Adarsh Railway Stations’, will have a tourism help desk, special toilets, rest rooms, besides having the guide facilities, a source said.

A team of officials from Tourism and Railways Ministries will be formed who would identify in two months 25 railway stations which are most frequented by tourists, the source said.

It was discussed during a meeting between Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma and Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu in the presence of other senior officials here today. Police personnel who are trained for managing the tourists grievances and volunteers from NCC and NSS will also be deployed at these stations.

Two coaches, specially dedicated to domestic and foreign tourists, in the special trains which pass through these Adarsh Railway stations are also being considered, the source said.

These coaches, which would be coloured differently, will have special fares, facilities as well as reservation criteria, he added. The team would also come up with solutions for ferrying the tourists from these railway stations to tourist destinations.

Railway station at Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Guwahati, Puri and Varanasi may find the place in the list of 25 Adarsh Railway stations, according to the source. During the meeting, it was also decided to make a provision for group booking customers to get seats in a same coach, the source said.

INDIA: Contribution of Tourism and Hospitality Sector to Economy

As per the 2nd Tourism Satellite Account of India (TSA) - 2009-10 and subsequent estimation for the next three years namely 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, the contribution of tourism to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were 6.77%, 6.76%, 6.76% and 6.88%, respectively. The contribution of tourism to total Employment of the Country during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were 10.17%, 10.78%, 11.49% and 12.36%, respectively.

Keeping in view this significant contribution of tourism in economy and employment of the country, Ministry of Tourism makes adequate policies and programmes to attract more tourists. Some of the major initiatives taken by the Ministry of Tourism to attract more foreign tourists in the country are as below:

i. Central Financial Assistance (CFA):

Ministry of Tourism operates various schemes through which Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided to States/UTs for overall development and promotion of tourism.

Recently, Ministry of Tourism has launched following two new schemes for development of tourism in thematic manner:

Swadesh Darshan: Swadesh Darshan was launched for development of theme based tourist circuits in a way that caters to both mass and niche tourism in a holistic manner. Twelve Circuits namely North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit and Ramayana Circuit have been identified for development under this Scheme.

National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD): This new Scheme has been launched for the development and beautification of pilgrimage sites to tap the growth of domestic tourists driven by religious sentiments and to augment tourism infrastructure at places of pilgrimage to facilitate pilgrims/tourists. In the first phase, cities namely Amritsar, Kedarnath, Ajmer, Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Dwarka, Amravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni, Guwahati and Patna have been identified for infrastructure development.

ii. Publicity and Promotion:

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, promotes India as a holistic destination in the international markets. As part of its promotional activities, the MoT releases campaigns in the international markets under the Incredible India brand-line to showcase various tourism destinations and products including its cultural heritage.

Moreover, a series of promotional activities are being undertaken in tourist generating markets overseas through the India Tourism Offices abroad with the objective of showcasing Indias tourism potential and promoting tourism to the country. These promotional activities include participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organising road shows, Know India seminars & workshops; organizing and supporting Indian food and cultural festivals; publication of brochures, offering joint advertising and brochure support, and inviting media personalities, tour operators and opinion makers to visit the country under the Hospitality programme of the Ministry.

The Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to Stakeholders and Tourism Departments of States/Union Territories for undertaking promotional activities under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme.

iii. e Tourist Visa (e-TV):

The Government of India has introduced the facility of e-TV for the citizens of 113 countries at 16 airports. Introduction of e-TV is a Path breaking measure by the Government in easing entry formalities in the country.

Government of India has also revised the e-TV fee in four slabs of 0, US$25, US$48 and US$60 from November 3, 2015. Earlier e-TV application fee was US$60 and bank charge as US$2 which was uniform for all the countries. The revision of Visa fee has been done on the principle of reciprocity. Bank charges have also been reduced from US$2 to 2.5 % of the e-TV fee. During the period January to October, 2015 a total of 2,58,182 e-TV holders visited India indicating the success of the new online process.

This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.