Aerial tourism is now a reality in Hyderabad. If you can afford to spend nearly Rs 3,000, then you can have an aerial tour of the city's famous tourists spots for 15-minutes.
The AP Tourism Development Corporation in association with the Deccan Aviation Private Limited has launched helicopter services which would take the tourists on a 15-minute ride to the tourism spots. They include Golconda, Falaknuma, Chowmohalla Palace, Birla Mandir, Buddha Statue and the Hi-tech City.
According to Col (Retd) M S Sehgal, Executive Pilot and Base Manager, the helicopter would carry six people in each round and each of them would be charged Rs 2950. There will be no fare for the children below two years. However, the tourists will not be able to capture their visit in camera due to DGCA norms.
Talking to reporters, Col Shegal said that the interested tourists could come to the helipad near Snow World at Lower Tank Bund. They will also have to carry a photo ID card, as per the DGCA norms.
The services were launched by Tourism Minister Vatte Vasanth Kumar at Begumpet Airport here on Tuesday. GHMC Mayor Banda Kartika Reddy and APTDC MD Sandeep Kumar Sultania were also present.
Earlier, the Tourism Minister also flagged off Open Top City Tourism Buses at Charminar. Speaking to media persons, the Minister said that the APTDC has also launched transit tourism for the passengers of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. He said passengers would be taken on the city tour of about three to four hours which would include visit to places like the Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Purani Haveli and Golconda Fort. Fare for each passenger would be Rs 475 and A/c Qualis vehicles have been engaged for the services.
The minister said that the government was also trying to get approval from the Centre for the aerial tourism of water bodies which would include Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar, Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam and other water bodies. (INN)
2011/9/27 8:09:13 Tourism Minister Vatti Vasant Kumar flagging off “Open Top City Tourism Buses” at Charminar on Tuesday on the eve of World Tourism Day. GHMC Moyor B Kartika Reddy and others also seen in the photos.
2011/10/21 4:41:16 India can close its eyes and miss the global gay tourism bus, an international gay tour promoter said here Friday even as the Goa government unceremoniously dropped a session on lesbian gay bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) tourism from a state sponsored travel and tourism mart.
Rika Jean-Francois, a representative of the ITB Berlin - a renowned tourism and travel mart - and Thomas Bomkes, managing director Munich based Diversity Tourism, who were to participate in a discussion on LGBT tourism at the Goa International Travel Mart (GITM), also issued a joint statement protesting accusations that LGBT tourism was equivalent to "paedophilia practices, sex tourism, sex tourism or escort service".
"India can close its eyes, but gay tourism is going to be there. It is up to India to see if they can tap this sector. Gay tourists globally will go elsewhere," Bomkes said.
The decision to drop the LGBT discussion from the three day GITM was taken after rightwing groups and the Goa church criticised the government's decision to endorse LGBT tourism mart, claiming that the state government was endorsing "perversity".
Francois, whose ITB Berlin had tied up with the GITM for a session on LGTB tourism, said that India with ayurveda, culturally rich cities, beach tourism was an ideal destination to promote gay friendly tourism and that they were disappointed that the discussion on the LGBT segment was dropped in face of protests.
"We did not want to hurt any feelings or promote anything sleazy or non decent. We respect cultural diversity," she said. "We have never promoted Goa as a special LGBT destination.... It's a misunderstanding of the subject and a prejudice to think and express that LGBT tourism has anything to do with drugs, sex tourism, escort service or paedophile practices," Bomkes said. He further said that the average gay tourist spent more money than the average straight traveller.
"In the US alone, there the LGBT market is worth $ 65 billion," he said. IANS
Celina Jetley has been signed up as brand ambassador for Egyptian tourism by the Egyptian Tourism board. She will represent the board as their brand ambassador in India and promote tourism. She will play brand ambassador for the pyramids and promote them among the folks back home.
2011/11/19 3:43:29 (IANS) Iran started on Friday the initial stage of an aerial war game in eastern part of the country, Xinhua reported citing the local Mehr news agency.
At the initial stage, Iran is focusing on offensive tactics, the public relations office of the Khatam al-Anbia Air Defence Base was quoted as saying.
Domestically manufactured missile, radar, and defence systems will be tested during the military manoeuvres, the report said without further elaboration.
In September, Iran staged the large-scale air drill in northwest of the country which lasted for 10 days.
IFFI to be part of Incredible India campaign: Official
2011/11/12 8:56:41 Panaji, Nov 12 (IANS) Films aside, the organisers of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) aim to leverage the top draw event to beef up international tourism inflows, making it part of the tourism ministry's 'Incredible India' campaign.
Speaking to reporters Saturday, IFFI director Shankar Mohan said that the IFFI would also be promoted as a part of the flagship tourism promotion campaign started a few years back.
"Incredible India is playing a major role in this festival," Mohan said, adding that the IFFI this year would also be partially sponsored by the tourism ministry.
"We have also curated a special segment on tourism related films, which we will be showcasing during the film festival," he said.
A memorandum of understanding between the union information and broadcasting ministry - which organizes the IFFI and the union tourism ministry has already been signed in a bid to enhance synergies between the two.
"The tourism ministry will promote India as a tourism destination using the IFFI as a medium," Mohan said, adding that Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay would be visiting the IFFI which kicks off in Goa from Nov 23 and goes on to Dec 3.
2012/3/1 2:56:47 Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar on Thursday informed the State Legislative Assembly that the State Government was making efforts to identify and develop new tourists destinations in the State.
Replying to a question raised by PRP MLA K Kannababu during Question Hour, the minister said 21 new tourist places have been identified for development of tourism including five places in East Godavari district. He said that the government has asked the East Godavari collector for a report on the development of Kakinada beach.
Vasanth Kumar said that the State Government has included the Koringa Forest Area development under the prioritised list for the year 2011-12. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation was proposing to develop the eco-tourism centre at Koringa with an estimated amount of Rs 6.25 crore wherein the Central Government's component is Rs 5.20 crore and State's component is Rs 1 crore. He said that the Detail Project Report was under preparation.
The minister said that under tourism sector, the APTDS has employed 1910 people and the PMU wing YAT&C Department provided an employment to 1600 people through PPP projects. (INN)
2012/5/5 4:02:45 Hyderabad, May 5 (INN): In order to attract large number of foreign tourists to India, there is a need to develop Buddhist and other circuits with quality facilities in the country, a top government official said here on Saturday.
“If we can develop circuits based on the connectivity with logistics and with quality facility for tourists, we can attract a large number of tourists, particularly from Japan, Thailand and other Far East countries,” said R H Khawja, Secretary Tourism, Government of India. He was speaking after inaugurating a special exhibition on Buddhist paintings and Buddhist heritage at Paryatak Bhavan here.
Centre has been emphasising on the development of special niche tourism circuits like Buddhist, Jain, Sufi circuits amongst others, he said and pointed out that there have been a lot of requests from different countries on improving the quality of infrastructure that would help in developing Buddhist circuits in the country.
Khawja also underlined the need to adopt standard operating procedure and asked those associated with the tourism sector, to develop a sense of professionalism in their approach to enable better services.
According to the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Special Chief Secretary Chandana Khan, the State Tourism Department has developed Buddhist circuits at Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam that highlight the Buddhist heritage of the state.
Govt to create ‘Land Banks’ for tourism projects: Vatti
2011/5/31 4:06:25
The state government will create a ‘Land Bank’ from which land would be allotted for construction of tourism projects in collaboration with private companies to promote tourism in the state.
Minister for Tourism Vatti Vasantha Kumar told media persons at the Secretariat on Tuesday that the ‘Land Bank’ is part of the government’s efforts to give a further boost to the tourism sector and is part efforts to make the ‘Destination Andhra Pradesh’ programme a success.
Mr Vasantha Kumar revealed that foreign and domestic tourists have increased by 18 lakh in the last four years as part of the efforts of the state government.
He pointed out that a replica of Mysore based Brindavan Gardens is being planned at Nagarjuna Sagar project on 150 acres with private participation with the ‘Land Bank’ providing the required land.
The Minister added that a campaign to promote tourism would be taken up to intensify efforts for projecting the state as tourism destination.
As part of these efforts, Rs 52 crore has already been sanctioned for the sector and another Rs 10 crore would be spent by the state government to develop tourism infrastructure on the highways.
A matching grant of Rs 10 crore would be sought from the Centre as well to achieve the objective.
These and several other decisions were taken by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at a review meeting he chaired and attended by Mr Vasantha Kumar and other officers concerned at the Secretariat.
The Minister pointed out that government was taking various measures to promote tourism in a big way.
“The last policy on tourism was made in 1998 and changes were effected to it in 2010 to suit the growth of the sector as per the existing trend and demand,” he said.
During 2010-11, 15.70 crore domestic and international tourists visited the state and efforts were being made to step up their visits envisaging a better destination, Mr Vasantha Kumar pointed out, adding that during 2004-2010 the pending incentives due to the private projects amounted to Rs 7.50 crore. The Minister informed that these pending incentives would be cleared shortly.
A proposal to seek tax concessions to 150 AP Tourism Development Corporation buses has been made with a view to providing better facilities to the tourists.
Two societies – Andhra Pradesh Convention Bureau at a cost of Rs 2 crore and another Andhra Pradesh Medical Tourism Society at a cost of Rs 1 crore would be formed in order to promote tourism as also to upgrade the skills of the youth who would be drafted on the projects revolving on historic theme based tourism.
TTF inaugurated: Vatti promises all help to PTOs to boost tourism in AP
2011/7/8 10:55:53 Pointing out that there is immense potential to boost tourism in the state due to the presence of a 1000 KM coastline and pilgrimage centres, Minister for Tourism and Culture Vatti Vasant Kumar called for private participation in the sector.
Talking to media persons after inaugurating the Travel and Tourism Fair at Hitex Exhibition Centre, Madhapur, Mr Vasant Kumar said that the state government will extend all possible help to the private sector to develop tourism in the Andhra Pradesh.
“We have a 1000 kilometer long coastline, besides temples and other religious places which the tourists will throng to. Besides this, there is an immense scope for medical tourism. Private participation in this sector will not only generate employment opportunities, but will also give a boost to the state’s economy,” the Minister said. The three day Travel and Tourism Fair will seen international participants from Dubai, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Turkey and Thailand. Many other international destinations are being promoted by outbound tour operators based in India.
Besides the states’ tourism organizations, hotels, resorts, travel agents, cruise-lines, railways, travel portals, publications, travel products etc have put up stalls in the exhibition. The interest in the sector has seen a boom as evident by the fact that while domestic travel is still most popular, travel to destinations overseas is also growing very fast. About 56 per cent of the visitors to the TTF surveyed last year preferred domestic destinations, while 23 per cent expressed their desire to holiday overseas.
Egypt Tourism Office director in India Adel El Masry said that “1,14,000 tourists from India visited Egypt last year. We expect the number to grow. Hyderabad being a city that has generations who are culturally very profound besides the young working people who undertake vacations as well as business trips. Egypt has a lot to offer to them”’ Mr El Masry said.
TTF will provide Hyderabadis with a one-stop shop opportunity to make their domestic and overseas travel plans. It will help them evaluate various travel options and decide on customize plans suiting their budget. Entry to the fair is free, while every visiting family gets a surprise gift.
The event, to be held between July 8 to 10 is open for visitors from 11 AM to 7 PM every day. The opening day is reserved travel trade visitors, while on the rest of the days, entry is open to all. About 10,000 visitors are expected to visit the show in Hyderabad, including 2,500 from the travel trade.
About 170 domestic from 19 states and Union Territories and seven tour operators from foreign countries are participating in the fair this year.
AP Tourism Development Corporation Vice Chairman and Managing Director Sandeep Sultania, Tourism Commissioner Sabyasachi Ghosh and Fair Fest Media India Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Agarwal were also present. (INN)
The state of Andhra Pradesh scored over other states with Air India deciding to name its first Boeing non-stop flight to New York as Andhra Pradesh. The move is a victory of sorts for the state and a big image booster for YS Rajashekar Reddy.
The maiden flight will take off from Mumbai on August first. The chief minister YS Rajashekar Reddy and tourism minister A Ramnarayan Reddy would be present in Mumbai to take see the plane take off on its maiden journey.
The Boeing is a fitted with the latest twin-engine technology and can carry 250 passengers. The Air India is acquiring 68 new aircraft as part of their expansion plans. Indian has been merged with Air India making it one of the largest domestic carriers in the country.
Andhra Pradesh is likely to give a big boost to tourism in the state and promote the state as a tourist destination. The tourism department has made arrangements to screen a short film on tourism in AP in the flight and Tgyagaraya Krithis would also be played on the flight.
2011/4/1 6:26:12 Abhishek and Rana’s upcoming Hindi film ‘Dum Maro Dum’ runs into controversy for its Goan back drop. It drags the attention of Goa Tourism Minister Neelakanta Halaarkar and a former minister of Goa. Neelakanta stated that, he is going file a petition in high court against the film makers, who showcased Goa and the beaches as place of all illegal activities like drugs, sex rockets.
He said if the film is released as it is it will damage the reputation of Goa city and adversely affect the state tourism. He said that, he will meet the director Rohan Sippy and suggest him to remove the objectionable scenes from his film. If, still he wants to keep it intact, then he has no other option except knocking the high court doors.
However, director Rohan Sippy said that, Narcotics and sex rockets can take place anywhere on this globe. Hence, taking Goa as back drop for the film is not intended to defame the state or its tourism. Therefore, the question of removing the scenes from the film doesn’t arise.” This film is releasing on 22nd of April. Unless, the problem is solved amicably some trouble for the screening of the film in Goa can be anticipated.
Abhishek Bachchan, Rana, Bipasha Basu Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranauth, Dhilip Mehta, Prateik Babbar, Aditya Pancholi, Monti Munford and Goveind Namdev are in the star cast of this movie.
It was a nostalgic moment for Bollywood actor Anupam Kher when he signed papers Wednesday to set up an acting institute in the city where he took his first professional lessons in acting.
"This is a very emotional moment for me. I started my journey from this city after coming from Shimla. I think this is the right time for me to pay back to the city," Kher told reporters here as he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chandigarh administration for setting up the institute in May this year.
Kher did his acting course at the Department of Indian Theatre at Panjab University here in the 1960s.
Hailing from the hill station town of Shimla, 120 km from here, his other connection to this city is that his wife Kirron Kher, herself an acclaimed film actor and theatre personality, is from Chandigarh.
"I thank the Chandigarh administration for taking steps to set up the Chandigarh Acting Institute (CAI). People in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh have immense talent in acting and will no longer have to go to Mumbai to learn acting," Kher said.
His institute, Actor Prepares, will run acting courses from the Central Crafts Institute in Sector 11. The government infrastructure would be lent out to CAI for short acting courses.
"I can assure you that the acting school here will be of international standard. Teachers will come from Mumbai and abroad. The courses would be chosen as per needs of modern cinema," the actor announced.
He said that these days, marketing themselves was important for actors and this would also be taught to the students.
The MoU for the CAI was signed between Kher's institute and the Society for Tourism and Entertainment Promotion in Chandigarh, its CEO and director Vivek Atray announced.
The Chandigarh administration has already initiated steps for setting up a state-of-the-art film city to cater to the needs of the film industry. Noted director Yash Chopra, chairman of the Chandigarh advisory tourism forum, had suggested setting up of Kher's school in the city last year. Kher already runs his private acting institute in Mumbai.
Mumbai, May 2 (IANS) Actress Celina Jaitly, who gave birth to twins - Winston and Viraaj - in March, has returned to work to fullfil her commitments as the brand ambassador of Egypt tourism.
"Resumed duties as tourism ambassador of Egypt. Had a lovely evening at the Egyptian consulate. Feels great to start work slowly," Celina tweeted.
"It was an honour to meet the very insightful and dynamic tourism minister of Egypt Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour," she posted.
The 30-year-old was made the brand ambassador in 2007.
The former beauty queen made her Bollywood debut with 2003 film "Janasheen" and was seen in films like "No Entry", "Zinda", "Golmaal Returns", "Thank You" and most recently "Will You Marry Me?"
2012/3/1 6:55:48 Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar on Thursday said that there was no proposal to develop Osman Sagar and Himayath Sagar as tourists' spots.
Replying to a question raised by MLC Shabbir Ahmed, he said presently, there was no proposal to develop the city's reservoirs. However, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Limited has already developed Sagar Mahal Resorts at Gandipet through PPP method in the year 2001 and the project has commenced commercial operations on January 1, 2006, he said. (INN)
State to develop 7 reservoirs as tourists' destinations
2012/2/28 5:47:05 Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar on Tuesday informed the State Legislative Assembly that the State Government was planning to develop the surrounding areas of reservoirs as tourist centres in the State.
Replying to a question raised by MLA P Rajanna Dora and others during Question Hour, the minister said that the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has identified reservoirs at Dindi, Jurala, Kadem, Sriram Sagar, Gundlakamma, Yeluru and Bharmasagar in the State for development of tourism. As many as 162 applications have been received under the Expression of Interest (EoI) from different entrepreneurs.
Further, the minister said that irrigation sites of Cheetakoduru and Aswaraopally at Jangam in Warangal district and Velligallu at Rayachoti of Kadapa district have been identified for development.
Vasanth Kumar said there was no proposal to develop Peddagadda reservoir to Araku as Tourist Corridor. However, the ITDA Parvathipuram has proposed to operate a boat with a capacity of 20 to 30 people through tribal fishing society and requested APTDC to provide a boat. Accordingly, one 22-seater deluxe boat has been transferred to ITDA in July last year to operate at Peddagadda reservoir.
The ITDA Parvathipuram has proposed to procure three FRP boats through tender process for development of tourism project at Peddagadda reservoir. (INN)
2012/2/10 13:47:42 Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar on Friday defended the State Government’s decision of leasing out Bhavani Islands near Vijayawada to Pratyusha Associates Fishing Limited owned by Infrastructure and Investments Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao for 57 years.
Talking to media persons after inspecting the Bhavani islands, the Tourism Minister said that Pratyusha Associates got the tender after it offered Rs 289.87 crore for a 57-year lease. Stating that government could not alone develop tourist spots in the State, he said that the development of tourism would be possible with the active involvement of private parties only.
He also denied the allegation leveled by the TDP MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao that PRP chief K Chiranjeevi has a share in the lease awarded to Ganta Srinivasa Rao. He said there were no violation of rules and regulations in awarding of lease of Bhavani Island to Pratyusha Associates. At the time of awarding lease, he said Ganta Srinivasa Rao was not a minister in the Cabinet. (INN)
Even before the date for their wedding has been finalized, there is a lot of peculation in the media about their Honeymoon plans. It is now learnt that the ministry of Tourism in Ireland has sent an official invite to Aishwary Rai and Abhisekh Bachchan to visit Ireland for their honeymoon.
The invitation said that the ministry of Tourism in Ireland would provide airfare to the couple and also provide accommodation at the Ashford castle. The place has a rich history. Eminent personalities like the Reagans, Brad Pitt, Pierce Brosnan etc. have all stayed at the place.
2012/4/10 8:45:47 Senior IPS officer Anurag Sharma took charge as the in-charge City Police Commissioner here on Tuesday.
Earlier posted as Additional DGP (Greyhounds), Anurag Sharma was appointed as the in-charge commissioner following City Police Commissioner AK Khan's five-week leave to attend a mid-career training programme at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel National Police Academy (NPA) followed by one week training in London. The 1982 batch IPS officer will be in-charge Commissioner till Khan returns. (INN)
2011/10/11 21:08:16 In a bid to fulfil her pre-poll promise of turning Darjeeling in northern West Bengal into Switzerland, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday announced a host of tourism and economic projects for the hilly region.
"Darjeeling will be Switzerland and everybody's dreamland. The master plan for tourism development is underway, and once completed and implemented, the region will turn into Switzerland," Banerjee said at a government programme here while announcing the 'Destination Darjeeling' project.
"Under the project, from installing street lamps and signages on roads, to sanitary development and garbage disposal, all will be done to make the city better. Eco-tourism policy for Darjeeling is ready. The funds have been sanctioned," she said.
Banerjee also unveiled six railway projects, including a modern printing press and basic training centre at the neighbouring hill town Kurseong, a filter manufacturing plant and a multi-functional complex building at Siliguri in the plains.
A tourist information centre (TIC) will be set up in the picturesque Mall, the tourist hub of Darjeeling town.
An international research centre named after Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and a Nepali academy named after poet Bhanubhakta will also come up at Kalimpong's Mongpu.
"In addition to the beautification of stations, tourist lodges will be renovated and upgraded. A trekking route will be created from Moniganj to Sandakphu...With private participation, four ropeways would also be installed," she said.
A tea tourism festival and an orange festival will also be held, with the former being organised from Dec 20 to Jan 5.
Besides, a Rs.28 crore parking lot and a Rs.3 crore stadium will be set up. Air-conditioned buses will soon connect Darjeeling to various important centres.
She also said her government would provide Rs.56 crore for developing drinking water facilities in the region and establish 100 primary and upper-primary schools.
The government will also upgrade hospitals and health centres in the area.
The youth of the region have been promised police jobs.
"Like the people in Junglemahal (Maoist-affected forested areas in western part of the state), the youth here too will get police jobs," the chief minister said. (IANS)
2011/12/5 14:55:04 (IANS) Fourteen commercial sex workers were rescued by Goa Police from a famous nightclub at the popular beach village of Calangute following a raid Monday, an official said.
A police spokesperson said nine promoters and staffers of Club Virgin, some 10 km from here, were booked for trafficking the women and peddling them to customers visiting the club.
"We have arrested nine promoters and staffers of the club. The women were being pimped in the club premises and were forcibly kept there," the spokesperson said.
Several of the rescued women were formerly employed in Mumbai's dance bars.
All the rescued women have been sent to a protective home.
Goa is one of the most well known beach tourism destinations in India, but is increasingly gaining infamy as a sex and narcotics tourism hub.
India can close its eyes and miss the global gay tourism bus, an international gay tour promoter said here Friday even as the Goa government unceremoniously dropped a session on lesbian gay bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) tourism from a state sponsored travel and tourism mart.
Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar on Thursday informed the State Legislative Assembly that the State Government was making efforts to identify and develop new tourists destinations in the State.
Tourism Minister Vatti Vasanth Kumar on Friday defended the State Government’s decision of leasing out Bhavani Islands near Vijayawada to Pratyusha Associates Fishing Limited owned by Infrastructure and Investments Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao for 57 years.
In a bid to fulfil her pre-poll promise of turning Darjeeling in northern West Bengal into Switzerland, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday announced a host of tourism and economic projects for the hilly region.
