Tag Archives: wins

Goa Tourism Wins Best Pavilion Award at ITM Amritsar 2024

Goa Tourism celebrated a significant achievement at the India Travel Mart (ITM) Amritsar 2024 by winning the Best Pavilion Award. Ajay Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director of India Travel Mart, presented the award to Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), and Rodlin Mascarenhas, Assistant Director of the Department of Tourism, Goa.

Goa’s pavilion stood out with an engaging display of the state’s rich cultural heritage, regenerative tourism initiatives, and diverse travel experiences. Its vibrant representation and commitment to sustainable tourism captivated visitors and industry leaders alike.
Speaking on the occasion, Suneel Anchipaka, Director of Tourism, IAS, remarked, “Winning the Best Pavilion Award is a testament to Goa Tourism’s dedication to continuously elevating our tourism offerings. ITM Amritsar has provided a valuable platform for us to engage with industry leaders, share our vision of regenerative tourism, and promote Goa as a destination that balances growth with sustainability.”

Upon receiving the award, Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager, GTDC said, “This accolade is a reflection of our collective efforts to present Goa as a destination that offers not only scenic beauty but also innovative and sustainable tourism solutions. Under the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan Khaunte’s vision to promote Goa Beyond Beaches, we are committed to showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage, diverse experiences, and regenerative tourism practices.”

Norwegian Cruise Line Awarded ‘International Cruise of the Year’ at SATTE 2024 Awards

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), a pioneering force in cruise travel boasting a distinguished history of over 57 years, recently clinched the International Cruise of the Year 2024 accolade at the esteemed SATTE (South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange) awards, celebrated at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida.

This prestigious award underscores NCL’s unwavering dedication to innovation, excellence, and providing guests with memorable travel experiences across the globe.

Since its inception in 1966, NCL has been at the forefront of transforming the cruise industry, continuously raising the bar in terms of quality, service, and onboard entertainment. The company is renowned for its groundbreaking approach to cruising, introducing the concept of freestyle cruising that allows passengers the liberty to tailor their vacation experiences on their own terms, without the constraints of fixed dining times, entertainment schedules, or formal attire requirements. Boasting top-tier entertainment, culinary delights, a range of accommodation options, and enriching excursions, NCL sets the benchmark for a modern cruising experience.

With a modern fleet of 19 ships navigating to 450 global destinations, NCL presents an expansive selection of journeys catering to various interests, including sought-after routes for Indian travellers to Europe, Alaska, and the Caribbean.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized by the Indian Travel and Tourism industry, represented by a prestigious platform like SATTE. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our amazing sales team for their dedication and hard work and to our valued travel agent partners for their ongoing support, both of which are truly instrumental in our success. This award is especially meaningful for us, considering the vital role the Indian market plays for NCL. We will continue to invest in India as we cater to the evolving needs and preferences of Indian travellers,” said Ben Angell, Vice President & Managing Director, Asia-Pacific.

“We are honoured to receive the prestigious ‘International Cruise of the Year’ award at SATTE. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence. At NCL, we continuously strive to introduce Indian travellers to unique destinations and immersive experiences across some of the world’s most stunning destinations,” said Manoj Singh, Country Head India for NCL.

VFS Global Wins Seven Global Contracts in 2023, Reinforcing Its Global Leadership

Including new global contract with the Government of UK for services across 142 countries, and global contracts with Governments of Australia, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Iceland and Austria

VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, significantly added to its business footprint in 2023. Building on its trusted partnership, the company won seven global contracts from the governments of the UK, Australia, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Iceland and Austria.

Among the most significant wins of 2023 was being awarded a global contract for UK visas and citizenship services. In 2024, VFS Global will deploy 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service (VCAS) Centres for the UK in 142 countries across Africa & Middle East, Americas, Australasia & Europe, China & Taiwan, and Asia & Asia Pacific regions catering to an estimated 3.8 million applicants every year, aiding cross border mobility. This is a significant win also because the contract awards VFS Global with 84 new countries of service for UK Visas and Citizenship Service in addition to the 58 countries that VFS Global already serve.

Another major contract for the visa service provider was the global biometric collection service awarded by the Department of Home Affairs, Australia across seven regions comprising Americas, Mekong, Middle East and North Africa, North Asia, Pacific, South Asia and Southeast Asia. According to the agreement, VFS Global’s core services include Biometric Collection and Identity Verification, Digital Assistance with online visa applications submission and Online Payment Assistance on the Department’s ImmiAccount portal.

Similarly, the Swedish Ministry of Justice and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have awarded global tenders to provide Sweden visa services in 37 countries, and Norway visa and residence permit services in 52 countries respectively. Earlier in the year, Latvia, Iceland and Austria too renewed the global visa services mandates with VFS Global.

“These significant contract wins are a testament of our trusted partnership with these client governments and our commitment to customer service excellence. It is also an opportunity to contribute to a larger purpose of restoring travellers’ confidence through technology-led, seamless, highly secure and reliable solutions and playing a key role in reviving global travel momentum,” said Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global.

In 2024, VFS Global will continue to focus on enhancing customer service and business excellence through investments in human capital development and technology.

Abu Dhabi Wins Four World Travel Awards For its Diversity as Tourist Destination

Abu Dhabi has been awarded four prestigious accolades at the 28th annual World Travel Awards in recognition of the emirate’s efforts to establish itself as a leading global tourist destination. Considered to be the highest awards in the field of tourism, the accolades reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the international travel and tourism industry, with travel industry professionals, media, and consumers casting votes for what they consider the best in the travel industry globally.

 

Through the efforts of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) along with strategic partnerships with a number of entities, the UAE capital continues to strengthen its position on the global tourism map. With the appetite for travel to Abu Dhabi stronger than ever, the diversity of the tourism proposition in the emirate contributed to it securing awards for ‘Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021’, ‘Middle East’s Leading Marketing Campaign 2021’, ‘Middle East’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination 2021’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Wedding Destination 2021’.

 

The ‘Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021’ recognises Abu Dhabi for playing host to a vast range of world-class, global business events, providing guests with the opportunity to network with notable personalities from all over the world. The second award, ‘Middle East’s Leading Marketing Campaign 2021’ is a result of the engaging and impressive ‘It’s Always Summer in Abu Dhabi’ campaign that offered a series of thrilling activities and unmissable events to keep residents and visitors entertained. The third award, ‘Middle East’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination 2021’ is a prestigious accolade secured due to it being a premium destination and celebrates Abu Dhabi’s hosting of the world’s top sporting events, including the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Mubadala World Tennis Championship and UFC Fight Island events amongst others. The fourth award, ‘Middle East’s Leading Wedding Destination 2021’ recognises Abu Dhabi’s beautiful locations and unparalleled hospitality, making it the top choice for individuals ‘tying the knot’.

 

HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Abu Dhabi is home to the most important international events and with its vast array of offerings, has focussed on enriching the visitor’s experience even during the height of the pandemic. Under the strong leadership and guidance of DCT Abu Dhabi, the emirate continues to enhance its tourism offerings and consolidate its position on the global tourism map.”

Kerala’s Aymanam Responsible Tourism Project wins World Travel Market award

The Aymanam Model Responsible Tourism Village Project won Kerala Tourism (KT), the World Travel Market’s ‘Indian Responsible Tourism One To Watch’ award, fetching global attention to the riverine location near Kottayam in the state.

Kerala Tourism Director Shri Krishna Teja, IAS, received the honour at the ongoing WTM in London in the ‘High Speed Diversification’ category for tourist activities spanning two years ending on March 31, 2020. The award-winning project functions under KT’s Responsible Tourism Mission, which was formed four years ago as a nodal agency by the Kerala government.

The project won the WTM recognition 14 months after Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan declared Aymanam as a model RT village. The award comes after the village fully implemented the RT Mission’s guidelines focusing on ecological conservation of tourist spots besides promotion of culture in a way that helps local populace earn income.

The WTM award will further enable Kerala to revive its tourism after a lull following the outbreak of Covid-19 in March last year, according to state Tourism Minister Shri P.A. Mohamed Riyas. “We look forward to getting the travel industry back on track at the earliest,” he said. “The WTM award can help us retain the international appeal Kerala has on the tourist map.”

Dr. Venu V., Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), noted that responsible tourism seeks to strengthen local development with people’s participation. The government is planning to implement the project in other villages of the state, thereby serving RT models to rest of the country, he added.

The RT Mission is carrying out the model village projects by coordinating the government’s tourism initiatives under respective panchayats. Helmed by KT Mission Coordinator Shri K. Rupesh Kumar, the project seeks to implement a 15-point programme. Launched in 2018 in 13 regions of Kerala, the endeavour has spread to Neendoor, Arpookara, Ezhumanthuruth and Thiruvarpu of Kottayam district in south-central Kerala.

As part of the RT project, Aymanam, along the Meenachil river, has several homestays, while eight more are set to earn recognition. The village is carrying out packages featuring rural life, bird-watching, walks across paddy fields, cycling and sight-seeing of countryside. It has women as tour community leaders, earning world-wide recognition.

Also, authorities have readied an Aymanam tourism resource directory and publicity videos that are wooing travellers to the village. The project also comprises a cultural experience package featuring local festivals and traditional art-forms. An ‘Aambal’ festival in Aymanam recently fetched good income to Shikara motorboat owners.

The first phase of RT Mission got over in March 2020, giving job training to 617 local residents and 118 entrepreneurs an opportunity to start business. On the New Year day of 2020, Aymanam’s houseboats, shikaras, motorboats and resorts were declared plastic-free.

A second phase is currently on. Having started in September 2020, it is slated to end in March 2022.