COVER STORY Agri-Tourism: Rich benefits to be reaped The latest potential tourism segment is the concept of Agri-Tourism, which requires a concerted effort from both the state tourism bodies, as well as private players ...read more>>    ON RECORD Airline frequency & capacity trends: Indian domestic & international routes The Airport Authority of India (AAI) plans to upgrade 33 non-metro airports in the country to provide some much-needed relief. Besides, the Civil Aviation Ministry aims to have 500 airports by 2020, including the redevelopment of currently unused airports and development of Greenfield airports and ‘merchant’ airports ...read more>>    VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY Subhash Goyal, Chairman, STIC Travel Group, and President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the importance of taking on new challenges ...read more>>    IN CONVERSATION Upendra Singh Jamwal, Vice President – Operations, Mapple Group details the various aspects of managing Golden Chariot ...read more>>    DESTINATION INSIGHT International Focus : More than A one-night stand It's terribly difficult to be original when attempting to write anymore about Paris. But the fact it is still indefinitely possible, is a apt tribute to the attractive French capital and its culturally distinct populace...read more>>    FOCAL POINT We're not like that only! Hugh and Colleen Gantzer's take on the image that Indian tourism projects. Or rather, what it doesn't!...read more>> www.travelbizmonitor.com This Week's Top Headlines Maharashtra may slash VAT on ATF in Mumbai, Pune to 4%   The Maharashtra government is now considering reducing the Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from 25 per cent to four per cent in Mumbai and Pune. This development comes close on the heels after the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)  ...read more>>   IAAI and ADTOI to fight for industry issues on a common platform   IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) and Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) have expressed their desire to forge a common platform to voice similar. industry issues affecting both the    ...read more>>   Worldspan diversifies its offerings   Worldspan recently expanded its hotel content by adding 2,000 hotels on its Global Distribution System (GDS) in India. The hotels are all mid-segment, which will be available to all travel agents and tour operators who are on the  ...read more>>   Kingfisher-Deccan merger to be finalised by June 2008   The merger of Kingfisher Airways and Deccan Aviation was announced at the share holders meeting of both aviation companies held recently. The official cut-off date for the merger is ...read more>>   TCGL to hire travel trade partners to promote Gujarat tourism   Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) will hire marketing agents to promote tourism in the state. It has invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) from the reputed travel agents and tour operators of...read more>>   NTOS woos Kingfisher to set up hub in Madrid with incentives   As Kingfisher is all set to commence its international operations by August this year, the airline is keenly mulling over the idea of setting up a hub in Europe. The airline is contemplating an exclusive hub at the Madrid Barajas  ...read more>>   WTAAA to incorporate itself into a Non Profit Organisation   The World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA) held a formal General Assembly in Lyon, France recently, and voted unanimously to incorporate itself as a Non Profit Organisation. This development  ...read more>>   Bharat Petroleum joins hands with STAR, will service BIAL   Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. has entered into a Joint Venture (JV) with Singapore based S T Airport Services Pte. Ltd. (STARS) on a 50-50 equity partnership to form a new company Bharat Star Services Pvt. Ltd. (BSSPL). The new company won the tender to become the first `Service Provider Right Holder (SPRH) for Into-Plane Services  ...read more>>     Jet Airways links Kochi to Doha with a daily direct flight   Jet Airways commenced daily direct flights from Kochi to Doha last week. Jet Airways’ flight 9W 556 (Kochi-Doha) will depart from Kochi International Airport at 22.00 hrs, and arrive at Doha International Airport at 00.20 hrs. On the return leg, Jet Airways’ flight 9W 555  ...read more>>     Global warming: Aviation and Tourism industries in the danger zone   According to a recent Centre for Asia Pacific (CAPA) news report, heightened short-term economic headwinds facing the airline industry could defer attention away from the most serious longer-term challenge for the industry — climate change  ...read more>>     This e-newsletter has been sent since you are part of Travel Biz Monitor Magazine's subscriber list. If you wish to unsubscribe, please send UNSUBSCRIBE as a reply to this e-mail.