Tag Archives: adventure

MTPA, Air Mauritius host FAM trip for Indian tour operators

The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), in collaboration with Air Mauritius, recently organised a successful familiarisation (FAM) trip for 21 tour operators from Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai.

Held between June 16 and 22, 2024, this immersive 6-night trip aimed to showcase Mauritius as a premier travel destination, offering a comprehensive experience of the island’s luxury, adventure, and culinary delights.

The group comprised owners and senior management from leading tour companies in India, providing them with first-hand insights into Mauritius’ top attractions and hospitality offerings. The FAM trip spanned six nights, for participants to explore and enjoy the diverse experiences Mauritius has to offer.

The meticulously planned itinerary focused on offering a blend of luxury and adventure, ensuring the participants experienced the best of Mauritius. Visits to some of Mauritius’ most exquisite luxury resorts, where the agents experienced world-class hospitality and sampled gourmet cuisine. MTPA facilitated valuable networking opportunities for the participants with local DMCs, senior management of hotels, and companies promoting experiential activities, thus fostering strong business relationships and collaborations.

The participants visited the headquarters of Air Mauritius, where the agents engaged with the airline’s senior management, gaining insights into the carrier’s operations and services. The FAM trip not only highlighted Mauritius’ stunning natural beauty and luxurious accommodations but also emphasized its potential as a top destination for Indian travellers. The travel agents left with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Mauritius, equipped to promote the island with renewed enthusiasm.

Intrepid Travel unveils new adventure packages for India

 

Intrepid Travel’s India office has unveiled tailor-made adventure packages for the North Eastern States and Central India, aiming to immerse travellers in the vibrant culture, rich heritage, and stunning wildlife of the region.

The packages, dubbed ‘Premium India Safari’ and ‘India Expedition: Sikkim, Assam, and Nagaland’, are designed to draw approximately 12,000 adventure enthusiasts from around the globe to India in 2024. Each package is meticulously crafted and led by seasoned experts and tour leaders, ensuring an intimate experience for groups of 12-15 individuals.

The ‘Premium India Safari’ spans 13 days, offering a unique wildlife-focused adventure that tantalises the senses with the sights, sounds, and aromas of India. Activities include a rickshaw safari through Keoladeo’s bird sanctuaries, evening boat rides, and nocturnal safaris in Satpura National Park, as well as jeep excursions through Bandhavgarh and Panna National Parks. Travellers can expect sightings of diverse wildlife, including birds, deer, flying foxes, leopards, sloth bears, monkeys, and tigers.

Meanwhile, the ‘India Expedition – Sikkim, Assam & Nagaland’ extends over 16 days, venturing into the pristine wildlife reserves, breathtaking wetlands, and picturesque mountain villages of northeastern India. This expedition offers insights into the cultures of Sikkim, Assam, and Nagaland, with highlights such as exploring Kaziranga National Park to encounter the iconic one-horned rhinoceros and experiencing the scenic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. From the floating villages of Majuli Island to the extraordinary living root bridges crafted by the Khasi people, this journey unveils a lesser-known side of India.

Rama Mahendru, Country General Manager-India, Intrepid Travel, expressed delight in launching these new packages, which aim to expand the company’s footprint in Central India and the North Eastern states. With a target of welcoming 12,000 travelers to India this year, Intrepid Travel ensures that each group is accompanied by knowledgeable and experienced leaders. Currently offering 800 trips in the country, Intrepid Travel is dedicated to providing authentic and immersive travel experiences that capture the essence of each destination.

In 2023, Intrepid Travel hosted 7,500 travellers in India, underscoring its commitment to delivering genuine and memorable travel experiences.

AlUla sets sight on leisure travellers from India’s metro cities

The Royal Commission of AlUla (RCU) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen to tap leisure travellers from the Indian market, especially from the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Talking to the press during her recent visit to Mumbai at ITC Parel, Melanie de Souza, Executive Director, Destination Marketing, RCU, said, “The ancient city of AlUla is well positioned to tap leisure travellers for its heritage, arts, and adventure, nature and wellness offerings. Our while campaign is about the leisure market, and visiting AlUla is an experience of a lifetime.”

Sharing her views, she said, “AlUla is well-positioned to cater to the Umrah+ travellers. Saudi Arabia is sitting on the natural assets, Red Sea, its pristine corals, and the luxury hotels are worth indulging in. It is a matter of time that the world will realise that Saudi also beyond a religious destination.”

India ranks among AlUla’s top three global priority markets, and early results from the ‘ForeverRevitalising’ campaign have shown strong demand from this region. “With a firm commitment to sustainability, RCU aims to limit tourist influx to 2 million by 2035 while striving for net carbon neutrality.”

AlUla welcomed 263,000 visitors, with projections estimating 292,000 tourists for 2024 and an anticipated surge to 381,000 guests by 2025. The destination expects 1.1 million visitors by 2030, and 2 million visitors by 2035.

AlUla unveils ‘Forever Revitalising’ global campaign to captivate travellers

The ancient oasis city in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, is set to embark on an exciting journey with the milestone launch of its inaugural global brand campaign, Forever Revitalising.

This campaign encapsulates the essence of AlUla, presenting a refreshing and authentic perspective crafted to captivate travellers worldwide. With the ambition to be more than a traditional destination marketing campaign, the data-driven endeavour debuts across nine core global source markets in six languages, and will be integrated across multiple channels.

Signature events targeting travel trade and media partners in five major international cities -: Dubai, London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, and Mumbai, kicked start the campaign and to tell a captivating story.

Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), added, “In just a few years, AlUla has established itself as a destination on the global traveller’s wish list. However, Forever Revitalising marks the next chapter in this ever-evolving journey. Through this campaign, we can open up the dialogue even further on a global stage and communicate the full depth of AlUla’s appeal, attributes and ambition. The best is yet to come, and we extend an open invitation for all to be part of this extraordinary journey.”

Melanie de Souza, Executive Director, Destination Marketing at RCU, commented, “Forever Revitalising is not only about driving global awareness of a destination that till recently was relatively unknown to most travellers, but it is also about communicating the breadth and depth of the programmes and initiatives designed to create a better future for all those who live, work and visit our ancient oasis.”

“We hope that the film and creative assets do justice to a truly unique destination, capturing the essence of AlUla across our rich heritage, vibrant arts and culture, breath-taking natural beauty, thrilling adventures, and rejuvenating wellness experiences. This campaign we hope will not only resonate with travellers but also support and engage our travel partners who are critical to curating the unparalleled experiences of our evolving tourism landscape.”

With an emphasis on renewal and transformation, Forever Revitalising aligns with AlUla’s vision of becoming a destination that is not only historically rich but eternally relevant. With this global campaign, AlUla presents a revitalised cultural promise, inviting discerning tourists and partners to emotionally engage and be vested in its unique and evolving narrative.

Forever Revitalising encapsulates and delivers precisely what today’s globetrotters seek: authentic and meaningful experiences, and an acknowledgment that niche is the new travel norm, alongside the growing trend of eco-friendly and culturally-conscious travel choices.

This approach is firmly anchored in the AlUla Sustainability Charter, which exemplifies the destination’s commitment to integrating economic prosperity with the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage. This is best demonstrated by a development approach that centres on the well-being and interests of the people of AlUla. As the city evolves as a destination, it does so in a manner that is both sustainable and enriching for its residents, with goals to create 38,000 new jobs, contribute SAR 120 billion (USD 32 billion) to the Kingdom’s GDP, and increase the population to 130,000 by 2035.

Renowned French cinematographer Bruno Aveillan’s captivating film, Forever Revitalising takes the form of a two-minute thirty-second hero film, adding a cinematic touch like no other. Following his exceptional work on AlUla’s domestic brand campaign film in 2021, Bruno returns to the city with a fresh perspective, aiming to provide viewers with an emotive masterpiece that meticulously highlights AlUla’s essence and its promise across its core destination pillars: history & heritage, arts & culture, nature, adventure, and wellness.

This film, available in various lengths and offered in multiple languages, serves as the vehicle that introduces Forever Revitalising to the global audience. It goes beyond mere visual storytelling and destination marketing, conjuring an emotional response from its audience while capturing the elusive essence of AlUla.

Bruno Aveillan commented, “Every corner of AlUla is a wellspring of inspiration, and this essence is vividly captured in the hero film of the Forever Revitalising’ campaign. It’s infused with the enduring spirit of creativity and passion that courses through AlUla and its people, reflecting a legacy passed down from generation to generation. This legacy promises to continue thriving in the forthcoming chapters of AlUla’s journey. Crafting this film was an enriching experience, not only because it allowed me to witness some of the world’s most breath-taking landmarks and locations, but also because it offered me a vast canvas to explore the depths of my own creativity—a profound and enduring gift that AlUla bestows upon everyone who walks upon her historic sands and experiences the sheltered embrace of her oasis.”

The campaign also includes a collection of Brand Pillar Films, offering shorter yet captivating destination-focused videos that showcase the rich tapestry of experiences that AlUla has to offer. These Pillar Films, available in 12 different edits, each lasting six seconds and presented in various languages, cast a spotlight on iconic AlUla destinations such as Hegra, Jabal Ikmah, AlUla Oasis, AlUla Old Town, Sharaan Nature Reserve, and Elephant Rock, and a variety of attractions including balloon adventures, luxury hospitality, local artistry and craftsmanship, and the vibrant food and beverage scene.

Forever Revitalising also marks the first steps towards an integrated and connected omnichannel digital approach and experience for an enhanced customer journey. A digital transformation for AlUla features a new state-of-the-art e-commerce website, mobile app and a social first strategy.

Intrepid Travel plans to double its global customers by 2030

Intrepid Travel, a renowned adventure tourism company, orchestrated a special visit by its founder and Chairman, Darrell Wade, to underscore the significance of India in their 2030 strategy.

As part of their dedication to their global teams, the Co-founder and Chairman of Intrepid Travel, based in Australia, are embarking on a journey to all 27 of the company’s country offices this year. Their objective is to engage with Intrepid’s teams and stakeholders, introducing the company’s 2030 Strategy first-hand.

During his visit Wade, said “Our goal is to increase the positive outcome of tourism on local communities by expanding our business. As a certified B Corp, with the highest standard of social and environmental performance, this remains a key priority for us in India and around the world”

Beyond India, the 2030 Strategy involves a global ambition to double its global customers to 600,000 (320,000 in 2023), achieve revenues of $1.3bn ($565mil in 2023) and contribute 1% of revenue to Purpose initiatives. It plans to deepen its vertical integration to expand into areas including accommodation and grow its presence in key countries, including India, Jordan, and North America.

Intrepid supports local communities via its not-for-profit, the Intrepid Foundation. This has raised more than $15.5M for communities around the world since 2002. In India, the Intrepid Foundation works with Positive Change for Marine Life in Kovalam to protect our oceans and leave no trace of plastic.

Intrepid Travel- India currently employs 30 staff, 75 local trip leaders and operates 800 trips across the country. In 2023, it supported 7500 travellers to explore India in a conscious manner. Each product offers in-depth local expertise, and exceptional delivery. Intrepid’s local teams deliver innovative, competitive, low-risk, high-quality travel products to customers.

Ras Al Khaimah and Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism launch See Double campaign

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in collaboration with OMRAN Group have launched the See Double campaign – their first joint promotion that aims to entice visitors to explore the nature emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and neighbouring Musandam, the governate of Oman, in one experience-packed trip this summer.

The summer campaign, twinning up both destinations, encourages travellers to enjoy fun, adventure, and beauty, thereby creating double the memories. As an added incentive, the promotion highlights the ‘Kids Go Free’ offer available at many hotels and attractions in Ras Al Khaimah and Musandam.

The See Double campaign was officially unveiled at global travel industry event, ITB Berlin, which run from March 5-7 and brings together leisure travel partners from all over the world. The launch comes after the tourism entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2023 to pursue cross-destination tourism promotion and marketing initiatives, with a view to boosting international tourism to Ras Al Khaimah and the Musandam Governorate.

See Double effectively demonstrates how travellers can maximise their experience by visiting two remarkable destinations within a 90-minute drive of each other. Featuring an easy border crossing and the shared natural beauty of the majestic Hajar mountain range, as well as a rich, intertwined history and cultural heritage, the campaign promises to captivate visitors.

Commenting on this, H.E Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said, “Our See Double campaign with the ministry in collaboration with OMRAN brings together the best of Ras Al Khaimah and the Musandam Governate in one sensational summer promotion. This joint marketing effort marks the beginning of numerous cross-destination promotions we plan with the Sultanate of Oman. It aims to highlight the diverse attractions and experiences available to international travellers in both destinations. Pioneering in the region, the campaign is testament to our strong synergy, aligning with the international trend towards frictionless, borderless travel, and enhancing accessibility and convenience for travellers.”

Haitham Al Ghassani, Director General for Tourism Promotion at Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said, “We are excited to unveil our first collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, which unlocks the outstanding tourism offering that our destinations have to offer families and travellers from all over the world. From adventure and sport to unearthing historic treasures, there is something for everyone in Musandam and Ras Al Khaimah, and with the mountains and the sea remaining cooler during the summer, there’s no better place to be.”