The Trending Scene of Online Travel Market in India

There is currently a revolution going on in India, the revolution of growth, with primarily all major industries witnessing massive boom, but none looks more promising and fruitful than the online travel market in India. To illustrate the success and penetration of online travel market in India, picture this, about a decade back the mention of travel meant standing in long queues at the railway stations for most Indians particularly since the airfares were seriously costly.

Coming back to modern India, the situation looks completely different; travelers can now book their entire trips online which include airfares, hotel stays, car rentals and much more, and that too at moderate prices without paying extra commission to local agents. In fact according to a survey, online travel industry in India contributes more than 70% to overall e-commerce market in India. The concept is simple, with the revolutionary growth in number of internet users and also the education levels in the country, the number of users visiting travel portals have increased considerably. According to a survey, the number of visitors to travel portals increased by 32% in 2011 to a staggering 18.5 million visitors. With an internet user base of 120 million and the changing perception of people who vouch for personalized packages and cheap deals, India as experts point would soon be the biggest online travel market in Asia. These are just some of the reasons that explain the phenomenal growth of online travel market in India which was poised at $8.4 billion value in 2011.

·   It's Cheap: The bottom line is that it's cheap. In this lucrative online travel market scene, the competitors are hungrier as the potential customers are unlimited and increasing. With the increase in number of airlines, hotels, car rentals companies and almost everything, consumer now has unbelievable choices and with the competitors willing to cut into each other's business, consumer gets the best at the least, meaning true travel experience at fraction of the costs. Picture this, about a decade back, Air India was primarily the major carrier but now with the advent of several low cost carriers and luxury airlines, there are loads of choices for users, also cost friendly ones.

·     It's Easy: With the advent of internet revolution, all one needs to do is go to a travel portal, enter his  requirements and price quote and get a list of all the flight fares and accommodation that match his requirements. It's really that easy, involves no mediators and guarantees the maximum transparency at the lowest prices.

·   Exponential Rise in Number of Users: The massive user base of more than 120 million users means that companies can make decent profits even by lowering their prices. As a result, companies now focus on bulk bookings and are not afraid to offer cheap deals because they know that the sheer size of the travel segment would ultimately put them in the plus.

With the way technology is reaching the far ends of India, the time is not far when this leader in South Asia Travel would manage the landscape of not only Asian but even World travel.

Author:
George

Travel Blogger

Guruvayur Festival

Temple Festivals of Kerala epitomize royalty, grandeur and carnivals of India. And one of them is the Guruvayur Festival or the Guruvayur Ulsavam celebrated at the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur – known as the ‘Dwaraka of the South’- in Kerala starting from 5^th of March.

This March, the little town of Guruvayur will bustle with activity as it celebrates the Guruvayur Festivals – Patahadi, Dhwajadi and Ankuradi that last all month. The Temple would be richly decorated by fresh-cut flowers during day and with multi-coloured blinking lights – thousands in a row at night and the streets would be lined with flower and light decorations with spiritual music in Malayalam playing at every nook and corner. Fireworks, decorative arch-ways, bunches of coconuts and plantain trunks which are planted by most doorways is what Guruvayur experiences every March.

Remembered for the elaborate ‘pujas’ in the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple and the majestic Elephant parades in which Elephants adorned with ornate golden caparisons (nettipattam) parade along with hundreds of Lord Krishna devotees and the temple priests doing the drum-roll in the festival procession around the temples, the Guruvayur Festivals in March are dedicated to Lord Krishna and are much-awaited by the locals and tourists. During this month the Temple hosts several cultural programs daily. It is a feast to the eyes and the experience takes you to a whole new level of spirituality even if you’re not a Hindu.

Known to have more than 60 captive Elephants which are an integral part of the Temple Pujas & Processions, the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple Board has constructed an exclusive, one-of-its-kind Elephant Palace to house these regal beings of which Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan is the most popular and celebrated elephant for his devout behaviour. Beside pilgrimage people from all over the country visit Guruvayur Temple during this festival because of the unique Elephant Race (Aanayottam) which marks the commencement of the festival where all the elephants along with their respective mahouts race against one another on the streets of Guruvayur.

Besides partaking in the celebration of the Guruvayur Festival, rheumatic patients also pay homage to the temple’s residing deity – Lord Krishna as it is a strong belief that doing so would relieve them of their suffering and ailments.

Why India is popular for Tourism?

Travel and Tourism Industry in India

A Man, by nature, has never been satisfied by staying at the same place and never been contended by confining his whole life to only his native place. So traveling around this amazing world is a natural instinct of human being since times immemorial. Travel and Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries in terms of employment, and second to oil industry in terms of turnover.

Tourism industry holds massive potential for the Indian economy. It can provide a movement to other industries through direct and indirect linkages and can contribute significantly to India GDP. By the effect of globalization and opening of Indian economy to the world, travel and tourism in India is getting a great impetus. It is of the major industries in India, which has a great potential for long term growth along with earning a huge amount of foreign exchange for the country.

Why India is popular for Tourism?

I think these are the major factors that made India as a Popular Tourist Destination...

a. India is a vast country with diverse cultures and traditions.

b. India offers a great attraction for those who crave to know about the splendor and magnificence of one of the oldest civilizations of the world and for its scenic beauty, right from Himalayas to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh.

c. India also have a stable political government which a pre-requisite to promote tourism.

d. India is famous for its hospitality.

India has so many popular attractions which attracts lakhs of foreign tourists around the world.

A holiday in glorious India is a truly incredible experience. India is an immense country with unique traditions, cultural heritage and a mix up of variety religions. The India is a home for amazing tourist destinations; including sightseeing, historical forts, national parks, and pilgrimage centers, beaches and tiger safaris, more and more extraordinary spots. Historical Royal Rajasthan, cultural astounding Andhra Pradesh and traditional Tamilnadu, God own city Kerala, Goa, beautiful Taj Mahal (Agra), chilled Jammu - Kashmir, and Martyr Punjab, are the major tourist destinations in India.

The architecture magnificence around India astonishes which represents the great Mughal and Rajput constructions like Taj Mahal, Forts, temples, and modern buildings in the cities. The panorama is dazzling from the mountain peaks of the Himalayas in the north (Jammu), desert on the west (Rajasthan), the tea plantations on the West (Kerala), to the backwaters, palm groves on the south (Tamilnadu). There are also few top class wildlife sanctuaries, national parks (biological and zoological) in India. So you can see tigers, big cats, monkeys, various types of birds and number of animals while visiting these parks.


Apart from this, Indian govt has started several other new strategies for the promotion of tourism in India.

a. A multi-pronged approach has been adopted by Indian government that includes new mechanism for quick implementation of all tourism projects.

b. Development of integrated tourism circuits and rural destinations. 

c. Special capacity building in the unorganized hospitality sector and new marketing strategy.

Travel industry in India provides a large number of jobs in different areas through its various related fields. The scope of travel and tourism in India is truly enormous: in the last six years, it has provided almost 11 million jobs in its various fields and has the potential to provide another 37 million jobs (estimated by the NSSO, Ministry of Tourism) of the 120 million projected requirements by 2020.

The future of tourism in India is certainly bright with above fact and effort by Indian Govt.

Famous Beaches in Andhra Pradesh

Find The Best Beaches in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is Widely known as the hub of Tourist attractions. It has many Beautiful, Romantic, Family and Scenic beaches all around.

1.      Ramakrishna Beach:

Ramakrishna Beach is lovely & one of the most famous beaches on the East Coast, located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is widely called as R K Beach, which derives its name from the Ramakrishna Mission. Submarine Museum, Visakha Museum, Aquarium, number of road side parks with children play equipments & lawns, War Memorial, statues of eminent personalities are the main attractions near this Beach. Best time to visit Ramakrishna Beach is August to October and January to March, when the pleasant atmosphere is present all around the beach.

2.      Bheemunipatnam Beach:

 

Bheemunipatnam Beach is the popular beach located in Bheemili Patnam about 25 km north of Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh. This beach is widely known as Bhimli Beach. Bhimli beach is considered one of the safest beaches for swimmers and surfers due to its shallowness of water. The road across Vizag and Bhimli Beach is about 24 kms and is known to be one of the longest beach roads of India.

3.      Manginapudi (Machilipatnam) Beach:

 

Manginapudi Beach is the natural beach located about 11 kms from Machilipatnam in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. The beach is famous for its panoramic views and beautiful locations and dark sands mixed up with black clay. Beach has a natural bay with deep and shallow waters. Machilipatnam beach is gifted with exotic sites and a historic port city. This beach is renowned as a health resort and also as a perfect picnic spot.

4.      Mypadu Beach:

 

Mypadu beach is located about 20 kms from Nellore city in Andhra Pradesh. It’s is a beautiful beach with lush greenery & long stretches of silver sand. Mypadu beach is an excellent beach which attracts many tourists all the time.

5.      Rishikonda Beach:

 

Rishikonda Beach is located beach is about 10kms from Visakhapatnam and is a perfect place for spending the vacation. The clean beach and facilities for wind surfing and swimming attracts many tourists from all over the world. This beach is an ideal place for water sports lovers, especially for the swimmers, water skiers, & wind surfers.

6.      Kakinada Beach: 

Kakinada beach is situated on the Uppada Road, which is about 5 km away from Kakinada city, Andhra Pradesh. This beach is a famous tourist attraction with the combination of gradual slope and wide shore. Clear water, the silver sand & the golden sun adds beauty to the beach. It’s a marvelous place for enjoying the sea breezes. The Beach also has an attractive & beautiful park near to it.

7.      Kalingapatnam Beach:

    The Kalingapatnam beach is the perfect spot for spending your leisure time. It is situated in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. The long coast stretched along the Bay of Bengal makes it a famous tourist destination. During summers it becomes a hot spot for many visitors and dwellers, who throng from local as well as far off places to spend time in water. A.P Tourism department has developed this beach into a beach resort.

8.      Kothapatnam Beach:

Kothapatnam beach is the clean water beach located about 18 km from Ongole town in Andhra Pradesh. During Karthika Pournami thousands of devotees visit Kothapatnam beach to take a holy dip. Tourists can accommodate at cottages provided by A.P tourism near the beach.

9.      Motupalle Beach: 

 

Motapalle beach is the clean and sea water beach located in Motupalle village, which is about 12 km away from Chinaganjam & 45 km from Ongole in Andhra Pradesh. This beach is surrounded by lush greenery and is the beautiful spot for relaxation.

10.  Perupalem Beach:

 

Perupalem beach is the mesmerizing virgin beach located very close to Narsapur town in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Green paddy fields and lines of coconut trees are the feast for eyes along the Narsapur – Perupalem road. This beach is also popular for religious importance and historic heritage. October to March is the best time to visit Perupalem beach. This beach is shallow and sea water is safe for swimming & ideal for sun bath and surfing. Perupalem beach is the most captivating picturesque fusion of sea, sun & sand.

11.  Suryalanka Beach: 

 

Suryalanka Beach , which is widely known as Bapatla Beach is the silent and once unfamiliar beaches of Andhra Pradesh, located about 10 kms from Bapatla town.  At present this beach turned into a place of potential tourists and is a nice place to chill out and have fun. Suryalanka Beach with wide shore and flat beach is the closest beach to Hyderabad. APTDC provides cottages and guest houses for accommodation close to this beach.

12.  Vodarevu beach: 

Vodarevu beach is one of the beautiful beaches of Andhra Pradesh, located about 6 kms from Chirala & 35 km from Guntur. This beach is bordered with pleasant sea on one side and abundance of coconut trees on other side. Tourists can spend their weekends at Vodarevu beach for memorable experience.

13.  Yarada Beach:

 

The Yarada Beach is another beach located very close to Vizag, Andhra Pradesh. This beach is surrounded by hills and valley. It is a captivating beach with soft pebbles and rocks, the golden sand and the lush green stretch of hills making it attractive for tourists. Yarada beach is calm and shallow and is the perfect place for relaxation & spending weekend/vacation.

14.  Ramapuram Beach:

 Ramapuram beach is another beautiful beach situated near Chirala in Andhra Pradesh. 

15.  Gangavaram Beach:

 

Gangavaram Beach is the beautiful beach situated near Vishakhapatnam steel plant (VSP) at a distance of 26 kms from south of Vishakhapatnam (vizag). It is the pleasant place for leisure, tourist spot and film shootings.

16.  Appikonda Beach:

Appikonda Beach is the beautiful tourist spot located on the coast of the Bay of Bengal at a distance of about 30 kms from Vizag in Andhra Pradesh. This beach has sky blue water and is surrounded by lovely lush greenery.  Appikonda beach is a nice place for fishing and tourists can enjoy an exciting boat ride in the sea. There is an ancient lord shiva’s temple with a life size Nandi carved out of black stone located very close to this beach. On Shivarathri many devotees throng to this temple. September to March is the best time to visit this place.