Tag Archives: FAM

Bintan Resorts Stands Out at Indonesia’s Bali and Beyond Mega FAM Series

Indonesia’s breathtaking destinations took centre stage during the Bali and Beyond Mega FAM Series, held from November 9-16, 2024. Travel professionals from South and Central Asia explored key locations, including Jakarta, Bandung, Bintan, Yogyakarta, and Labuan Bajo, experiencing the country’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and diverse activities. Bintan Island, in particular, captivated participants with its stunning landscapes and cultural treasures, making it a standout destination.

The event included visits to Bintan Resorts, where attendees explored the island’s cultural and natural attractions, such as the 500 Lohan Temple, Kwan Yin Temple, Sand Dunes & Blue Lake, and the Bintan Mangrove Discovery Tour. Thrilling water sports at Lagoi Bay Beach, like jet skiing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking, showcased Bintan as the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.

The FAM trip also featured site inspections of luxurious resorts on the island, emphasizing Bintan’s appeal to travellers seeking both elegance and comfort. From beachfront properties to luxury villas, Bintan Resorts demonstrated its wide range of offerings for all types of visitors.

The series concluded with a networking event in Bali, fostering connections between travel professionals and Indonesian tourism providers. The event highlighted Indonesia’s potential in global markets, with India represented by three top travel agents, underscoring the growing interest in Indonesia, especially Bintan, for MICE, weddings, and unique travel experiences.

“We are thrilled to partner with VFS Global to introduce the beauty and charm of Bintan Island to the Indian market,” said Abdul Wahab, Chief Operating Officer of Bintan Resorts. “This collaboration will elevate Bintan’s status as a must-visit destination for Indian tourists. We eagerly look forward to welcoming more visitors from India and providing them with the extraordinary experiences that only Bintan Island can offer.”

 

Türkiye sees 34% surge in Indian visitors during Jan-March, 2024

In the first 5 months of 2024, the number of Indian visitors to Türkiye reached an 1,26,000, representing a 34% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This surge is notable against the backdrop of 2023, wherein Türkiye welcomed a total of 2,74,000 Indian tourists for the entire year.

This significant growth highlights Türkiye’s ongoing appeal and its strategic efforts to attract more Indian tourists.
This growth is attributed to active promotion and PR activities in India, as well as successful collaborations with Indian stakeholders, including travel agents, corporates, and wedding planners. Earlier this year, Türkiye Tourism concluded a successful six-city India Roadshow in collaboration with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). This initiative aimed to strengthen ties between the Indian travel trade and Turkish tourism, fostering collaboration and opening new horizons.

Türkiye has continued to work closely with Indian travel agents, with initiatives like the recently concluded OTOAI (Outbound Tour Operators Association of India) mega fam tour playing a significant role in promoting tourism. Held from June 30 to July 6, 2024, this initiative was dedicated to highlighting the myriad attractions of Türkiye to Indian travel agents. A total of 40 OTOAI members from across India participated in this exciting endeavor, representing diverse regions and tourism interests.

SriLankan Airlines welcomes Top Travel Agents and Elite Sports Influencers for the Sri Lanka Vs Australia Test Series

SriLankan Airlines, the award-winning National Airline of Sri Lanka and a member of the prestigious one world airline alliance, recently took top Travel Agents and elite sports influencers from India to watch the first match of the test series between Sri Lanka and Australia, which was held at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka.

The visit also served an opportunity to the influencers and agents to witness normalcy in the country and how inbound tourism is flourishing across the island. The tourism industry of Sri Lanka has always been one of the largest sources of foreign revenue for the country. It has been no secret that the country is currently passing through the most difficult time in its recent history due to the ongoing economic crisis just after the COVID 19 pandemic which had previously destructed tourism in the country.

In order to inspire travellers across India which is the Airline’s single largest source market and also to reassure that Sri Lanka is welcoming and safe, the Airline took this initiative whereby inviting the tourists arriving in Sri Lanka to make the most of this much sought-after tourist paradise – with high exchange rates and great travel offers.

Richard Nuttall, CEO, SriLankan Airlines, met the group at a fellowship and dinner where he spoke his sentiments, “We believe that Sri Lanka holds a timeless appeal to the discerning Indian traveller; whether you are travelling solo or with family; or whether you are a seasoned repeater or a first-timer. During these challenging times, I firmly believe that the India Market will be largely helpful in our bounce back efforts. I am confident that our long-standing affinity with the Indian travel trade partners will pave the way for fruitful results in the days to come.”

The Fam tour included a memorable opening day of the first test between Sri Lanka and Australia played in honour of the legend the late Shane Warne, at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, a city tour of Colombo and experiencing a range of luxury hospitality properties in Colombo and the Southern Coast of the island. The Airline also offered them a memorable flying experience inclusive of a Business Class service.

Expressing her feeling, Pradnya Naik , Head of FIT Products, Contracting, Cruises & Trade Relations, Kesari Tours, said, “Thank you SriLankan Airlines for inviting me to your beautiful island and the on-ground situation is very safe. A lot has been said and talked about the current scenario in Sri Lanka which has been portrayed in the media with partial truth and fake news. All my worries vanished post visiting this gorgeous country. Sri Lanka is open for travel and rest assured you will be in safe hands.

Vikas Kashyap of Yatra.com said, “We felt so comfortable. Everything worked out on time and was handled perfectly. We felt very safe and were treated like royals or VIPs. We will definitely recommend SriLankan Airlines to our customers/agents and to our friends who are also planning trips out of India.”

SriLankan Airlines, Head of Marketing Saminda Perera said, “Our intension has been to portray Sri Lanka as a safe and secure destination to the travellers from our closest neighbour, and to re-emphasize that the timeless charm of the destination remains intact despite what one sees or hears about the country on media which is mostly exaggerated.”

Yas Island and Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi host a Mega FAM with Indian travel agents for the 22nd IIFA

Experience Hub, the trade and promotion arm of Yas Island Abu Dhabi and a subsidiary of Miral and Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT) partnered to host 45 Indian leisure and MICE travel agents on a four-day familiarization trip to Abu Dhabi. The group was invited to be part of the glitz and glamour of the IIFA Awards along with discovering and participating in all of Abu Dhabi’s and Yas Island’s attractions.

Yas Island, one of the world’s fastest growing leisure and leading entertainment destinations hosted one of the grandest celebration of the Indian Cinema; the 22nd International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2022. The event took place at the Etihad Arena, the Middle East’s largest state-of-art indoor entertainment venue and was organized in collaboration with the Department  of Culture and Tourism—Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), and Miral, Abu Dhabi’s leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences.

The trip saw the agents experiencing rides at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi to trying their hand at golf at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, venturing to Yas Mall for some shopping, appreciating the amazing artworks at the Louvre Museum, marvelling at historical landmark Qasr Al Hosn, the presidential palace Qasr Al Watan, and then visiting the largest mosque in the country, none other than the architectural masterpiece Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to learn about the Emirate’s culture.

They had the opportunity to experience the best of hospitality as Yas Island has more than 2,000 rooms and suites across 10 hotels including the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island. Located on the Waterfront, Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island features a 545-room and around 2000 sqm of event space, offering an exceptional array of culinary options across a multitude of dining venues. Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island also has a kids’ club with splash pad, all within a five-minute walk of the award-winning Etihad Arena.

The destination is not only home to award wining theme parks but also offers world-class shopping and165 dining experiences for guests to choose from.

“We are thrilled to host the mega FAM trip from India and showcase all that Yas Island Abu Dhabi has to offer. This trip is an excellent opportunity for both leisure and MICE agents to experience the attractions on the island and understand first hand, the potential that Yas Island offers.” Liam Findlay, CEO of Experience Hub said.

Spread over 25 kilometres, Yas Island is conveniently located, a 10-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport and a 50 minute-drive from Dubai. As many as 500 international shows, cultural festivals and family entertainment events are hosted here all year around.

Marc Asia Destination Representation organises a FAM trip for Indian MICE operators to Oman

Marc Asia Destination Representations announces completion of a successful FAM tour to the beautiful country – Oman, in association with their representation partner Travelpoint (Tour Oman), Oman Air, Grand Millennium Hotels – Muscat & Dusit D2 Naseem Resort – Jabal Akhdar.

Total of 10 people representing top MICE operators from India were taken on the tour of this beautiful country where they enjoyed the hospitality of the hotels, airlines and understood the wide range of options available for the MICE movement.

Oman offers easy access to major tourist attractions and the abundance of variety to meet all interests. From nature lovers, white sandy beaches, shimmering golden sand dunes, refreshing oases, countless wadis (valleys) and lagoons that constitute a single and independent ecosystem by themselves. Various range of adventures and options available from desert activities to water sports.

“It was a very informative tour with MICE special teams inspecting and interacting with other premium hotels like W-Muscat, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza and included visits to the ancient capital – Nizwa. The group visited Nizwa fort, Nizwa Pottery Souq (market),” said the release.

Tourism Turkiye conducts FAM trip for Indian Travel Agents to showcase its cultural & leisure offerings

The Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in India recently organized a FAM trip for a group of travel agents from the western India region to Turkiye. The familiarization trip aimed to create a first hand experience of the destination Turkiye and highlight its cultural & leisure offerings.

The carefully curated itinerary helped showcase the best of Turkish culture, gastronomy & hospitality to the agents. The first destination for the group was Antalya, where they explored the city and sampled local cuisine. In Antalya the group stayed in some of the best hotels and had a leisure visit to Golf courses in Belek region, Aspendos Antique Theatre and Land of Legends amusement park. The agents also experienced the all-inclusive system of hotels/resorts in which all services such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, local and import drinks, sport activities are covered under a fixed price package. In addition to being an FIT destination, the visit to Antalya also helped agents understand its potential & importance as a MICE and Wedding destination for Indian market.

After Antalya, the group headed to Istanbul, a city known for its historical landmarks and considered one of Turkiye’s top tourist destinations. Here the group had a cultural tour with visits to Galata Tower, Beylerbeyi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia Hippodrom and experienced Bosphorus boat cruise. In between, the group experienced the regional cuisine and culture very closely.

Commenting on the Fam trip, Siddhesh Sood, Founder & CEO, Rapidluxe, Mumbai said, “My trip to Turkiye was phenomenal & it has left spellbound with its beautiful structures and picturesque locales. In the true sense of it, it is very well described that ‘the beauty of a landscape resides in its melancholy”

“It was a true travel experience in this Covid times very well organized trip. For me Turkiye was mesmerizing, enchanting and awe-inspiring…the more you speak about Turkiye the less it will be to define the grandeur of the city …With some of the most beautiful landscapes, a couple of heritage site, marvelous mosques, and one of the seven wonders in the world, there are a plethora of things to do in Turkiye for all age group. The trip has given me first-hand experience which will help me to promote the country!” said Sachin Jain, Founder, Skyline Travels, Mumbai

Dheeraj Kandur, Partner, Flight Shop Holidays, Bangalore added, “Turkiye was a bliss, it was an eye-opener to see the blend of the east and west with so much culture and most importantly heart-warming people”