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Importance of Eram in Basudevpur, in the tourism map of India

Lotus Ray — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:54:34 +0000

Eram also known as the `second Jalianawala Bagh’ where the British forces killed 28 persons on September 28, 1942 was also very important as the only woman martyr of the freedom movement in Orissa, Pari Bewa, also fell to the British bullets there.

But today there is only one martyrs’ pillar at the ground standing as a mute reminder to the historic incident and there were no statues of the martyrs so far. Even there is no museum to showcase the great sacrifice through pictorial or any audio-visual depiction.

In Eram’s blood-soaked ground, not only 28 villagers died and 56 were injured, but another injured, lodged in Koraput jail also succumbed to his injuries later taking the toll to 29. Also the British police executed the gruesome murder the way they did it in Jalianawala Bagh by blocking all the three entry points of the ground.

People of nearby villages were assembled at Eram after they declared themselves as part of a `swadhina chakla’ or independent area under the leadership of freedom fighters Kamalaprasad Kar, Gouranga Chandra Mohanty, Aniruddha Mohanty and Shyamsundar Panigrahi.

People of Basudevpur have demanded that a proper memorial museum with depiction of the freedom struggle at Eram should be built as there is a nationwide demand to upgrade historical places with contribution to freedom struggle.

Importance of Eram in Basudevpur, in the tourism map of India is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

Egypt Tourism Authority starts tourism campaign in India

Lotus Ray — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:55:29 +0000

Egyptian envoy Mohamed Higazy says that India is a country with which Egypt shares cultural synergies and affinities that go far back inhistory and this had prompted the launch here of a new tourism campaign.

Higazy was speaking at a function to launch a new brand campaign for the Egypt Tourism Authority. ‘It is for this reason that we are launching our new campaign and logo here. We want more and more Indians to visit Egypt and experience for themselves the warm hospitality of Egypt, something for which both India and Egypt are fabled,’ he said.

According to Egyptian Tourism Authority director Adel El Masry the new campaign signified that Egypt was not only the origin of a great civilization, but helped in shaping global culture.

Egypt Tourism Authority starts tourism campaign in India is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

UK Borders Agency suspends student visas from India, Nepal, Bangladesh

Lotus Ray — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:57:19 +0000

The UK Immigration Service, now known as “UK Borders Agency” has suspended the applications process for student visas from northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh after a dramatic upsurge in numbers and allegations of fraud.

The suspension will remain in place for at least one month while a backlog of applications is processed – but that period will be extended if necessary. During that time, applications will become subject to much greater scrutiny.

The problem appears to originate in the UK’s adoption of a points-based system which grants visas to anyone who can prove they have taken a place at a UK educational establishment.

There are several hundred universities and recognised places of higher education but they are not, it appears, what is fuelling a boom which has seen applications – and grants – soar by more than six and a half times in the past year.

The Borders Agency has noticed a problem that has existed for years, but has usually been used by Eastern Europeans and Africans in relatively small numbers: small tuition businesses that take on foreign students are commonplace, particularly language schools.

UK Borders Agency suspends student visas from India, Nepal, Bangladesh is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

New visa regulations will limit medical tourism

Lotus Ray — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:50:43 +0000

New visa requirements oblige travelers on tourist visas for more than 90 days to take a mandatory two-month “time-out” before returning to the country. The unexpected visa rule changes were prompted by revelations that Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley and his associate Tahawwur Rana had visited India on fake multiple-entry visas. The duo were arraigned in October in Chicago on charges of plotting an attack on India that killed 160 people in Mumbai. Foreign governments have protested at the new rules. The US issued an advisory asking its citizens to review their travel plans to India. Permission to re-enter without a 2-month gap may be granted on the submission of a detailed itinerary and supporting documents such as ticket bookings, but it may take most of the gap period to process the documentation. The new visa rules will apply to anyone needing a visa to come to India, even to people of Indian origin. Although there is a system of medical visas, the process is complex and off-putting, so most medical tourists come on normal tourist visas.

The new rules will also have an impact on medical tourism, as many medical procedures that people go to India for require time, often with treatment over several months, so will affect those needing several visits.

New visa regulations will limit medical tourism is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

Eco-friendly Colors to Night Tourism in West Bengal

Lotus Ray — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:33:02 +0000

The Kolkata night life will soon throb with music and the sights and sounds of history. The West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation (WBTDC) is preparing to take up a project to overhaul the existing son-et-lumiere at Victoria Memorial and replace it with an “intelligent dynamic light-and-sound show”. The newage eco-friendly system will have low power consumption, generate less heat, save energy and have a longer shelf life.

Also on the anvil are illumination of four heritage buildings Nakhoda mosque, Town Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral and Dakshineswar temple. Add to that another son-et-lumiere show at the Park Street Cemetery for which talks have started. Here, plans are to organize a light-and-sound show with a narrative on the city’s history, that of the cemetery and the personalities buried there.

“These new concepts have been thought of to give a boost to night tourism in the city. Tourists would actually stay back for the night if the illumination plan works out and the tours are introduced,” TVN Rao, WBTDC managing director said.

The son-et-lumiere at Victoria Memorial has been running for about 18 years now. Two shows are held daily, except on Monday. However, less than 50 people are present per show, said sources.

Detailed project reports have already been prepared, for which funds are available under a ministry of tourism scheme. The initial installation cost of the son-et-lumiere at Victoria is nearly Rs 2.64 crore and Rs 18.4 lakh every year as running cost. Victoria authorities have already given the no-objection certificate to WBTDC for the project. An official of the state tourism department said: “We hope that the project can be introduced next year”.

For illuminating the four other heritage buildings, the initial installation cost would be Rs 201 lakh, and the annual expense Rs 6.9 lakh. Under the present system of illumination, conventional lighting fixtures are used, and the buildings are not lit up regularly as the running cost is very high. Now, a mix of sodium vapour lamps and tungsten halogen lamps are used that are not eco-friendly, consume lot of power and generate enormous heat.

With “intelligent lighting fixtures”, the entire system will be more eco-friendly, increase the aesthetic beauty of the buildings, have low operational cost, require less maintenance and reduce 70% of the power consumption cost.

Eco-friendly Colors to Night Tourism in West Bengal is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

Kamat Hotels to develop heritage hotels in Odisha

Lotus Ray — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:04:34 +0000

Kamat Hotels India Ltd (KHIL) has signed a lease agreement of sixty years with Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). Likewise, Kamat Hotels has acquired the heritage palace ‘Mahodadhi Niwas’ in Puri and also the Eco Resort at Ramchandi, in Konark, in addition to the Parikud Palace and Rambha Palace, which are located near the Chilka Lake.

Of the three heritage properties acquired by Kamat Hotels, Mahodadhi Niwas opened for business on November 28, 2009. In the first phase, Mahodadhi offers 12 rooms and an additional 60 are expected to be developed over the next phase. KHIL is presently involved in restoring Parikud and Rambha Palaces, which will be commissioned in a phased manner in 2010.

Kamat Hotels to develop heritage hotels in Odisha is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

Update 1: Manipur Tourism Festival 2009 – showcasing rich Manipuri culture

Lotus Ray — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:52:46 +0000

Manipur Tourism Festival 2009 has started with fanfare on Friday at Hafta Kangjeibung in Imphal.

The festival is one of the main platforms to display the uniqueness of the culture of Manipur. Manipur festival aims at promoting tourism in the north-east by showcasing the richness of the Manipuri culture and heritage, by portraying its art and culture and exhibiting crafts, indigenous sports along with tourist spots of the state.

In all, 300 stalls including representatives from outside the state have participated in the festival. The most attractive aspect of the festival this time is the participation from Thailand.

The festival will conclude on December 19.

How to reach Imphal

There is no direct train service to Imphal. But travellers can travel upto Guwahati or Dimapur.

Update 1: Manipur Tourism Festival 2009 – showcasing rich Manipuri culture is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

Manipur Tourism Festival 2009 in a New Look

Lotus Ray — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:38:44 +0000

The Manipur Tourism Festival 2009 is going to be held at the Hatta Kangjeibung ( Palace ground), Imphal East from December 10 to 19.

Highlights of this year`s festival:

Showcasing of extreme sports like BMX cycles
Demonstration cum friendly competition will be held by the expert cyclists from Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, apart from local talents
Adventure tours: cycles expedition from Imphal to Ukhrul, Siroy Lily and Dzuko valley areas will be held.
Different items of foods including from Myanmar are also going to be made available at different stalls.
Indigenous sports like Polo (Sagol Kangjei) will be played
Display of famous dances like Raj Leela and other tribal dances

From next year the Manipur Tourism Festival will be celebrated as “Sangai Festival”.

Manipur Tourism Festival 2009 in a New Look is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

Easier clearance for hotel projects with Hospitality Development and Promotion Board

Lotus Ray — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 04:57:16 +0000

The tourism ministry has planned setting up of a single window clearance system under the guidance of the Hospitality Development and Promotion Board (HDPB).

The HDPB Board, to be established will streamline permissions and clearances required for the hotel industry. Currently, 64 clearances that are required to set up a hotel.

The proposal is in the final stages and waiting for approval from the cabinet secretariat.

The decision comes at a time when India is under pressure to meet accommodation demands for Commonwealth Games 2010. With an estimated 30,000 rooms required, hotels have only contributed about 10,000 rooms.

Easier clearance for hotel projects with Hospitality Development and Promotion Board is a post from: Coastaltourism.in

Andaman and Nicobar islands to promote eco-friendly tourism

Lotus Ray — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:07:10 +0000

The Andaman and Nicobar govt has decided to develop 36 beach sites on the islands.

‘Action has been taken to develop three sites in outer islands – Hut Bay, Neil island and Lalji Bay under PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode,’ Lt. Gen. (retired) Bhopinder Singh, the lieutenant governor of the union territory, said in an official statement here.

He also announced setting up of the country’s first ever marina in Andaman and Nicobar islands.

‘The islands administration has started some unique projects like introduction of seaplane service launched for the first time in India. The administration will set up canopy walkways, luxury cottages, and procure luxury boats to attract high-end tourists. Plans are afoot to start more sound and light shows and setting up de-compressions chambers for scuba drivers in the islands in the near future,’ he said.

Singh informed that ITDC (India Tourism Development Corporation) has submitted a detailed project report to connect Port Blair-Havelock-Baratang islands, work on which will start next year.

Singh said a comprehensive tourism policy has been formulated with detailed deliberations from local tourism industries, entrepreneurs, academicians and other stake holders.

‘Annual tourist arrivals increased to 130,000 in September 2009 as compared to 33,716 tourist arrivals recorded in 1990,’ he added and exhorted people to visit the islands.

The Andamans are a group of 572 islands, inhabited and uninhabited, in the southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal.

Andaman and Nicobar islands to promote eco-friendly tourism is a post from: Coastaltourism.in