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 IN FOCUS

WTTC Global Travel & Tourism Summit 2010: Catalyst to reach new frontiers
‘World’s Leading Industry-Reaching New Frontiers’ the theme for WTTC’s Global Travel and Tourism Summit in Beijing will take stock of the industry post recession, understanding the future and its implications and explore new avenues. TravelBiz Monitor presents a preview of the event to be held from May 25-27
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 DESTINATION INSIGHT

International Focus: Oasis of the Seas: Innovating the cruise experience
Size does matter and how, is what Achal Dhruva discovered onboard Royal Caribbean International’s, Oasis of the Seas, worlds biggest cruise ship. Innovation is the key feature of the ship boasting a long list of firsts, ranging from seven neighbourhoods to a zip line and which has offered around 1.3 lakh guests including 400 Indians a great cruising experience since commencing operations in December last year
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 ON RECORD

IATA economics briefing airline business confidence index - April 2010 survey
KEY POINTS
* There was a further improvement in the indicators of airline business confidence, measured by IATA’s quarterly survey, this April. An increased majority of respondents indicated that profitability had improved during the previous quarter, although regional variation remains with Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern airlines more positive and more pessimism among European airlines. Two thirds expect profitability to improve over the next 12 months. While revenue growth looks to be strong, concern is building over the rise in fuel cost ahead which may hamper a speedy return to profitability at the industry level. IATA’s own forecast predicts that airline net losses will be cut substantially from 2009 levels but a loss in the region of $2.8 billion is still likely in 2010.
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This Week's Top Headlines
ADTOI’s third state chapter opened in Gujarat
  After opening its chapters in Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala, the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) has opened its third chapter in Gujarat. Vipul Mittra, Secretary Tourism, Gujarat inaugurated the Gujarat chapter in Ahmedabad. The function was attended by Rajat Sawhney,
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Gujarat Tourism to come up with new Tourism Policy: Vipul Mittra, Secretary Tourism, Gujarat
  Gujarat Tourism is currently studying the draft of the new Tourism Policy submitted by Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI). The new Tourism Policy is expected to address major issues related to the growth of tourism in the state. Speaking with TravelBiz Monitor, Vipul Mittra,
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SAT to start ‘Learn South Africa’ programme in India from July 2010
  South African Tourism (SAT) recently announced that it will launch its programme, ‘Learn South Africa,’ from July 2010. The unique programme designed to train the travel agents fraternity has been designed by SAT exclusively for the India market and will be available nationally across 12 cities as part of the
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Emirates Airlines partners with VFS Global to introduce online Visa service
  Emirates Airlines has partnered with VFS Global- a part of Switzerland-based Kuoni Travel Group to introduce online Visa service for its passengers visiting Dubai for business or leisure, with an aim to simplify travel to
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MoT to formulate stringent approval norms for tourism development projects
  In order to make tourism development projects more environmental-friendly and sustainable, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India, will make approval norms more stringent for projects involving central
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MoHA lifts restriction on certain areas under Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime along Rajasthan border
  According to a PIB release, with an aim to boost tourism, as per information received in Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Home Affairs in consultation with all concerned agencies has decided to exclude certain areas
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Kerala Tourism to launch serviced villas soon
  According to a PTI report, exploring new options to meet the growing demand for room space in the state, Kerala Tourism is soon going to launch a new initiative called serviced villas. The serviced villas will be
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Jammu and Kashmir govt decides to notify hotel tariff rates in September every year
  According to a PTI report, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to notify the hotel tariff rates on an annual basis for the benefit of tourists. The decision was taken recently at a meeting of officers and representatives
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WORLDHOTELS launches business programme - Travel Select for SMEs
  WORLDHOTELS has launched a dedicated programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the new WORLDHOTELS’ business programme, Travel Select, SMEs will have instant access to
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MICE visitor arrivals to Hong Kong rise by 30 per cent in Quarter One of 2010: HKTB
  The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has announced that MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) visitor arrivals exceeded 280,000 in Quarter One of 2010, a 30 per cent-rise compared to
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Pandaw Cruises pulls out of India
  According to a recent report in traevlmole.com, Pandaw Cruises has pulled its river cruise operation out of India, calling it “a disaster.” Pandaw Cruises operated ten, two week cruises on an 800-mile stretch of the Ganges
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Cleartrip launches www.cleartrip.ae to serve travellers in the UAE
  Cleartrip has launched a new website www.cleartrip.ae to serve travellers in the UAE. With a full product offering customised for the UAE market, Cleartrip chose the ‘Arabian Travel Mart 2010’, which concluded recently,
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Asia Pacific region expected to show strongest rebound: Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General AI, UNWTO
  While growth is returning to international tourism, led to a large extent by Asia and the Pacific, public and private bodies in the region must continue to work together on responses to the crisis to ensure a
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