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Holiday packages draw UAE tourists to ‘Incredible India'

DUBAI - India is scoring over other holiday destinations in Europe and Far East this summer with tourists from the Middle East, particularly the UAE, choosing to opt for the myriad holiday packages that are being made available by Indian tour operators as well as India's domestic and national carrier, Indian Airlines (IA) and Air India (AI).

Speaking to Khaleej Times on Tuesday, Syed Iqbal, Assistant Director (West Asia) India Tourism office in Dubai, predicted that July and August would see a massive influx of tourists from the Gulf into India. "Starting from earlier this year, we have received a numerous enquiries from the UAE, Bahrain and Muscat with people from different nationalities evincing interest in holiday packages on offer. The repositioning of the Indian tourism industry under its new brand name ‘Incredible India' has also started paying rich dividends," he said pointing to the upswing in the sector since October 2002.

Safe destination

"Most tourists from the Gulf are now eyeing India as a safe and exotic tourist destination, where one can get a taste of diverse cultures and sight-seeing options at attractive prices," Mr Iqbal said adding that the SARS-affected Far East and tumultous impact of September 11 had limited holiday options for Gulf tourists. However, India has emerged as a hot-spot for tourists from the Gulf, with industry pundits forecasting a 10 per cent increase (even by the most conservative estimates), in tourist arrivals from the Gulf, during July and August compared to the same time last year.

From January to June 2003, foreign tourist arrivals amounted to 12,55,503, an increase of 11.6 per cent from last year, with the number of foreign tourist arrivals from the Middle East expected to peak during July and August, Mr Iqbal said.

With the current months of July and August - the time when a majority of Gulf residents like to take off for hill stations to beat the heat - Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Mussorie and Kodaikanal are topping the popularity chart among the foreign tourists.

Kerala, the land of Ayurveda, India's ancient system of holistic treatment, is also attracting a large number of health tourists this summer. Sharjah-based Highland Tours is offering packages to various destinations in Kerala like Cochin, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Thenmala, Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Vazchal, Malampuzha, Wayanad, and Bake. The duration of these packages vary from 4 days and 3 nights, 6 days and 5 nights, 8 days and 7 nights and 10 days and 9 nights that the tourists can choose from. Similar trips are also being organised for Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa, Ooty and Kodaikanal, by the same tour operator.

"The Ayurvedic spas and massage centres have also generated interest among the Gulf tourists who wish to eliminate stress and rejuvenate themselves this summer ," explained Mr Iqbal. The India tourism office has brought out a new pamphlet describing 101 things that tourists could do while in India.

"From the backwaters of Kerala and the waters of Goa to the Northern frontiers of Kashmir, cruising on the calm waters surrounded by scenic beauty adds a magical charm to an unique holiday. Tourists can opt for a stay in a houseboat or a shikara in Kashmir, or relax in the Kettuvalloms in Kerala, houseboats made out of jackwood planks sewn together with coir ropes, Mr Iqbal said.

Other highlights of the ‘Incredible India: 101 Things To Do' campaign launched by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India gloss over the life-time experience of getting married Indian style, symbolised by a host of rites and rituals, pomp and festivities. Here tourists can take a peek into the world of Indian weddings at a luxurious heritage hotel in India of their choice. They can also avail of the ‘Catch the Rapids During Full Moon' offer and get a taste of the most organised water-sport in the country, spanning rafting, canoeing and kayaking. India's rafting stretches are mainly on the rivers Beas, Sutlej, Mahakali and Ganges out of which Ganges is the safest.

Sipping tea in a wayside stall or tasting the traditional South Indian food served on the banana-leaf might make for a novel experience with Dosas, griddle-fried pan-cakes and idlis.

Ballooning is also great way to see a city and Delhi's Safdurjang Airport provides some great opportunities to float past the old monuments that the Indian capital boasts of. For those interested in arts and sculpture Khajuraho with its ancient and captivating sculptures are a must see.

Serene nature

In a bid to give travellers from the UAE, a unique opportunity to explore the splendour and serenity of India, and the country's multi-faceted art, culture and heritage, IA is offering cost-effective holiday packages dubbed as IA Flyaways that have been carefully put together in association with the best of hospitality at a number of destinations like Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Alok Singh, IA's country manager said that the IA Flyaways are an attractive proposition to most tourists for the value that it represents." He confirmed that there had been heavy bookings among holidayers from the UAE for these packages. "We have had UAE residents including expatriates as well as UAE nationals who have booked for such packages." These packages include popular destinations like Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan as well as Jammu and Kashmir.

Steeped in history and packed with rich historical sites, Rajasthan is a tourists' delight with its stunning forts, palaces and monuments. There is a convenient IA flight everyday between Dubai and Jaipur with an onward connection between Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur. On IA Rajasthan Flyaways, tourists can extend their holidays to Jodhpur and Udaipur.

Kerala on the other hand is the land of backwaters beaches and unparalleled natural beauty. Indian Airlines currently operates 19 flights a week between UAE and Kerala offering the wider choice of flights to Trivandrum, Cochin and Calicut. The holiday packages from IA Kerala Flyaways cover all the three destinations and tourists can spend their entire holiday at any one of the destinations or choose to experience all the three.

Goa, the favourite of tourists worldwide with its swaying palms and beautiful beaches have given it a signature of its own.

This summer, there is a direct flight to Goa every week that holidayers can avail of.

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