Posts tagged Tourism

Many more cruise liners come calling at Indian ports

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 05.04.2012: In the days when journalists used Olivetti typewriters and bromides to make news pages, merchant navy ships making port calls at Mumbai were a major attraction. The narrow pavements of Colaba and Fort would be dotted with hawkers selling the `imported’ Australian Kraft Cheese, the Italian Ferrero Rocher chocolates, American Lacoste Tshirts and airline socks on wooden boxes transformed into tables for displaying wares.

Today, along with cargo ships, many of the world’s renowned cruise liners regularly make port calls along India’s lengthy coastline. Cruising is fast becoming the choice of Indian travellers to explore the world for its all-inclusive nature, relieving the stress of constant packing and unpacking, checking-in and checking out. On a cruise, one unpacks on day 1 and packs on the last day whether travelling for days, weeks or even months.

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Cruise takeaway – Onboard the MS Amsterdam from Melbourne to Sydney

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 20.01.2012 (Khaleej Times): With the advent of summer, cruise liners begin port calls on Australian shores. So instead of a 90-minute flight or 10-hour drive, I embark on my maiden cruise on Holland America’s MS Amsterdam from Melbourne to Sydney. Overzealous customs officials greet me at the Melbourne Port before I am ushered on board by cheerful crew.

The classic interior, broad staircases and polished decks display Dutch heritage and tradition. At the epicentre is the Planeto Astrolabium, a signature sculpture soaring in a three-story atrium, which tracks constellations, the planets, world time and ship time.

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Australia bets on Indians to triple tourism revenue

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 14.10.2011 (Business Standard): Tourist arrivals declined by 6% in Australia after attacks on Indian students. Australia is luring high-spending Indian visitors to triple its tourism revenue from AU$820 million to AU$2.3 billion by 2020.

Australia’s image as a welcoming country suffered a setback following attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and Sydney, and subsequently tourist arrivals declined by six per cent to 17,565 in 2010. However, Tourism Australia is now determined to bring back Indian tourists to its shores.

Tourism Australia’s 2020 India Strategic Plan launched today at the annual Australian Tourism Directions Conference in Canberra aims to triple the growth of inbound Indian travellers, including students, from around 145,000 to 400,000 in the next 10 years.

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