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May 2013
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BREAKING NEWS
INBOUND NEWS
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India has sent out an
official notice permitting the issuing of the visa on arrival of
foreign tourists at Indian ports and airports with groups of
minimum 4 passengers, traveling on a pre- drawn itinerary
through a recognized Indian tour operator.
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With this notification, this VOA scheme is operational with
immediate effect and all that is required are passport details of all
passengers traveling on a single itinerary within a group of minimum
4 PAX, minimum 72 hours in advance .
For more details, please contact [email protected]
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May 2013
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INBOUND NEWS
Introducing the wonderful drivers of CHIME-- Sukhdev who is affectionately
referred to as 'Tauji' or older uncle (in Indian culture) and Maniram.
With driving experience of over 40 years, both of them exemplify the true spirit of
Indian hospitality. They are the true faces of our company as they spend the most
time with our clients, guiding them, helping them and enabling them to see and
discover the real beauty of India. As our trustworthy and honest allies, they know
India, its myriad lanes, roads and the most interesting spots like the back of their
hand. They will stop at a small village which might not be listed on the map, take you
to that gorgeous photo-stop or help you buy flowers from a small market early in the
morning. These men are committed to helping you, being with you and making your
trip a truly unforgettable one!
INDIA'S FIRST EXECUTIVE LOUNGE AT NEW DELHI RAILWAY STATION OPENS
India's First Executive Lounge at New Delhi Railway Station in collaboration with The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism
Corporation (IRCTC) is on the lines of those at airports in a 300-square-metre area opposite platform No 16 at New Delhi Railway
Station. The 125 seated & 24x7 operated lounge offers food and beverages, luggage racks, Wi-Fi connectivity, business
centre's/enclosures with phone, fax, laptop facilities, lockers and foreign exchange. There will also be a separate private dining area, apart
from a common dinning space, for families or groups. This concept is newest in the Indian Market.
CENTER PLANS TO DEVELOP DELHI-AGRA-MP CIRCUIT
The Union Ministry of Tourism is mulling over a proposal to develop a tourist circuit that will identify and develop the places of interest in
Delhi-Agra-Madhya Pradesh route. Tourists who have Agra on their must-visit list will be encouraged to extend their stay and go on to
Madhya Pradesh's historical cities such as Gwalior, Orcha, Khajuraho, Sanchi and Bhopal.
MOT COMMITTED TO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH EAST INDIA
The International Tourism Mart 2013, held in Guwahati, Assam, concluded recently after a successful showcasing of the unique and
diverse tourism potential of North East India. Overseas delegates, including diplomats, tour operators, hoteliers, etc., from Europe and
Asia, were positive about the interactions they had with their counterparts during the three-day Mart. About 79 delegates from 23
countries participated in the event, apart from travel and tour operators.
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INBOUND NEWS
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May 2013
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AVIATION
GOA AIRPORT TO OFFER VISA ON ARRIVAL
In another update, Goa Airport that includes five more international airports across the country, will now offer visa on arrival facilities to
foreign tourists. Currently this facility was available only at four international airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
ETIHAD BUYS STAKE IN JET AIRWAYS
Jet Airways has announced that Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways has purchased stake in its company. This will spell good news for the
traveller as it spells code sharing, enhanced connectivity from Europe and the USA and additional flights from these sectors. This buyout
will benefit passengers, as increased competition will bring down air fares, aviation sector experts said. This will also lead to low air fares,
besides bringing about improvement to passenger amenities.
OVER 600 INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO BE ADDED BY OCT 2013
The number of international flights of Indian carriers will go upto 1,695 a week by October 2013 from 1,074, an increase of almost 58 per
cent. This follows the Indian Government allowing domestic airlines to not only operate on new routes connecting India with Rome,
Madrid, Moscow, Barcelona,
Zurich, Dusseldorf, Ho Chi Minh city and Al Najaf (in Iraq), but also permitting them to increase the frequency of flights to international
destinations.
This will be a phased increase over the next 15 months.
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May 2013
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TOUR INDIA'S F1 FERRARI TRACK
The Home of motor sports in India has witnessed enthralling races amongst the best drivers in the world. Recipient of several
International awards, you can now offers you the opportunity to see the magnificent track in person and experience what makes it what it
is. BIC has 41 stunning pit garages, 18 lavish team buildings, a swanky paddock club, a state of the art 500 seater media center and more.
Highlights of the BIC Tour:
ŸTour of the pit lane, garages, medical center, race control, winner's podium, team building, paddock club, time keeping office etc.
Ÿ1 introductory lap of the circuit describing the turns.
ŸVisit to the media center and screening of BIC film
ŸAdditional lap of the circuit in a BIC car
Ÿ
Guided tour every Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm
CONTACTCHIME FOR DETAILS!
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May 2013
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VILLAGE
RUBBLE
– EXPLORE
RURAL
KERALA
VILLAGE
RUBBLE
– EXPLORE
RURAL
KERALA
Experience Kerala in its purest form. Walking through fish markets,
cruising in country boats and interacting with women immersed in
their daily chores and work…. In the end, by design, you become a part
of the life, the spice and the charm that makes rural Kerala the place
they call God's Own Country.
The programme stands for a social cause too and is committed
towards the development of the region and its people -25 people
benefit directly and 30 others gain indirectly from the excursion-. The
programme also encourages and supports women empowerment in
rural Kerala.
The journey begins early in the morning, where you get your bicycles
and follow a 25 km ride to reach Valliyathodu where you take a slow,
captivating cruise on a country boat, through the intricate canal
system. During the course of your cruise, you will see the children
hurrying to school, giggling and balancing precariously in a canoe,
ladies washing and going about their morning house-hold chores at
the banks of the backwaters, and fishermen netting their catch. These
experiences will give you an insight as to how important the
backwaters are to the lives of the common man in Kerala. At places you
would be off the boat for a walk through the village to see alternate
cultivation method (Paddy/ Fish/ Prawn farms), coir-yarning, Woman's
group working on Coir mat weaving, and spend time with kids at the
local kindergarten and more…
After the village cruise, you will be handed back your bicycles and take
a route exploring the beautiful country roads to find your way to Mr.
Shaji's ancestral house. This cycling leg is for 5 km, which will also have
a ferry journey across a 60-feet wide canal.
Once you reach Shaji's house, you will get to dig into some authentic Kerala cuisine. After lunch, you can have a siesta or just
relax by the backwaters, looking at the birds and the busy anglers at work for their lucky catch.
Late afternoon, you will embark on a sunset cruise that will take you to a lovely beach, after which you will be driven back to
your hotel.
Village Rubble is perfect for FIT's; contact [email protected] for details.
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May 2013
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GO GOA!
To experience Goa differently stay at Olaulim Backyards! Set by the Olaulim River, it has been conceived by the owners –Pirrko and
Savio as a typical Goan casa, melding together the resident foliage, pool and sprawling house. Olaulim is in North Goa and close to
Panjim and is home to the owners, their lovely children and their brood of beautiful animals! There are three cottages on the property that
overlook the lake. The cottages are very artistically decorated and have a distinct look. All the three cottages are well spaced out and hence
privacy of guests is assured. With options of Kayaking, Fishing, Bird Watching, and Bicycle rides to nearby places. This will be a
memorable time for you in Goa! Contact for details.
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May 2013
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Hilton Announcement
For more than 40 years, DoubleTree by Hilton has been a name to be reckoned with and has grown across India at a positive rate. The hotel is known for
its exceptional staff and of course, its unique properties.
Selecting a region or subregion from the pull-down menus below will refresh available properties in map view or gallery view.Hilton Worldwide
announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Panchshil Hotels for an upscale, full-service DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. The 115-room
DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad, scheduled to open in June 2013, will mark the rapidly expanding global hospitality company's first hotel in
Pune.
DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE COOKIE NEWS!
Did you know that DoubleTree by Hilton gives out approximately 60,000 chocolate chip cookies each day adding up to more than 21 million cookies
annually. In the early 1980s, most hotels reserved treats like these for VIPS; but the hotel started handing them out to everyone because they treated every
guest as a VIP. Since 1995, Christie Cookie Company has been the keeper the secret cookie recipe. Every DoubleTree by Hilton hotel follows this recipe
and exact baking instructions to the letter to ensure you guests get the same delicious experience no matter which DoubleTree they visit. Cookies are
baked fresh every day at every hotel, all over the world, from Canada to India and China. That’s why they taste so good! Each cookie is approximately
two full ounces of delicious-ness and is filled with an average of 20 yummy, melty chocolate chips - that’s more than 580,000 pounds of chocolate chips
each and every year! The hotel has donated more than 1,000,000 cookies to acknowledge and honor members of the communities where they operate
hotels. Doctors and nurses, homeless shelters and orphanages, food banks and firefighters have all been given DoubleTree signature chocolate chip
cookies.
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May 2013
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DIVE INTO
BARRACUDA DIVING INDIA began operations in 1993 to promote the sport of
recreational diving in India. They are the first PADI Dive Resort in the entire Indian subcontinent. Their membership, held since 1997, recognizes the highest standards of diver
education, staff training, safety, equipment and dive services and denotes a quality control
assurance to divers worldwide. The Barracuda team have received three PADI 'Awards of
Excellence' for outstanding dedication to diver safety, education and environmental
conservation.
They have recently also become India's first SSI Diamond Dive Center and now offer an
extensive range of SSI certification courses, specialties and Dive Professional levels.
Owners Venkatesh Charloo (India) and Karen Gregory (UK) are both highly qualified PADI
IDC Staff Instructors with extensive diving and teaching experience in Hong Kong, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia,
Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives, Andaman and Lakshadweep Islands.
BARRACUDA DIVING INDIA are now in Sun Village Resort, located in the heart of Baga yet beautifully set in the picturesque hills of
Arpora Village and is close to the beaches of Anjuna, Calangute, Candolim, Vagator and the main attractions and highlights of Goa.
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May 2013
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CONTACT US
CHIME
898, Udyog Vihar Phase I,Gurgaon 122016, Haryana, India
P: +91 124 421 7800
F: +91 124 421 7849
www.chime.travel
For further information and bookings on any of the products, images, press releases and other creative
material, please contact
Vineet Batra at [email protected]
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