DESTINATIONS INDIA
Still a
hot
favourite
Increased airlift to India means more Brits are
fl ocking to explore traditional hotspots and
lesser-known regions. Joanna Booth reports
The British love aff air
with India shows no
signs of abating, with new
itineraries in lesser-known
areas springing up and
old favourites still popular.
Flight access is growing
increasingly easy. British Airways
and Virgin Atlantic have both
scaled up their fl ights in the past
few years, and this year Indian
carrier Kingfi sher launched its
fi rst international route connecting
London and Bangalore.
Tropical Locations has just
launched its fi rst India brochure,
taking the best of its parent
company Western and Oriental’s
existing tours and adding a number
of new programmes. Western and
Oriental group head of product
David Kevan said: “Clients are
moving away from simple beach
holidays to more experience-based
vacations. India fi ts this profi le and
as such has massive potential.”
Kirker’s India bookings over the
past few weeks have been 10% up
on last year, and Travel 2 has also
seen considerable growth, leading
to an expansion of its programme.
Travel 2 Asia product manager
Helen Beedle said: “Varanasi,
Rajasthan and Kerala are still top
of our visitor wishlist, but travellers
are realising that India is not just
for those hitting the backpacker
trail – clients can choose to travel
in comfort and style.”
Thomas Cook holidays division
long-haul product manager Michael
The Taj Mahal,
Agra
Thurston also said there is increased ✈
demand for higher quality
accommodation, especially in Goa.
“Goa maintains a strong appeal for
the budget-conscious traveller, but
also caters for families and clients
after a more luxurious holiday.”
High-end accommodation is
becoming more common in India,
with a range of new openings. Two
new luxury lodges opened last
month, run by Taj Safaris, in the
Panna and Kanha National Parks.
The Leela is a family-owned
group with four luxury hotels in
Bangalore, Mumbai, Kerala and Goa.
Over the next three years it will open
new hotels in Delhi, Udaipur, Pune,
Hyderabad and Chennai.
In northern Kerala, the ecofriendly
fi ve-star hotel and spa
Neeleshwar Hermitage has just
FACTS
The Taj Mahal
became a
UNESCO World
Heritage Site in
1983 and was
cited as ‘the jewel
of Muslim art in
India’
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