Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com 18 OCTOBER 2019 D AY 3 TRAVEL WEEKLY ASIA I T B A S I A S H O W D A I L I E S 14 "Countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand have been successful in attracting Indian tourists because of free visas. Our government's decision to introduce one-month e-visas with flexible charges signals that India too welcomes tourists," - Creative Travel joint managing director, Rajeev Kohli, a former vice-president of Indian Association of Tour Operators Tigers and temples drive India tourism By Ian Jarrett Wildlife conservation programmes paying dividends as tiger numbers jump by one third T ogether with the Taj Mahal, the Bengal tiger is the icon that dominates Incredible India's tourism marketing campaigns. From Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book to the recent Man vs Wild Discovery network show – which featured Indian prime minister Narendra Modi telling presenter Bear Grylls about India's efforts to embrace wildlife conservation – temples and tigers are the images that have sold India to international travellers. The good news is that India's tiger population is making a strong comeback across the country, up 33% from 2014. Encouraged, India's tourism ministry this year flagged wildlife as the theme for an Incredible India campaign, coinciding with the Man vs Wild show, seen in more than 180 countries across the world on Discovery network channels. The campaign was shot in Jim Corbett National park in Uttarakhand, northern India, where it is estimated about 10% of the world's remaining wild tiger population live within the tiger reserve. Tigers were the lure for resort and lifestyle brand Karma Group to open a resort in the Jim Corbett National Park, which is named after naturalist and photographer Jim Corbett Set across 3.4 acres, Karma Sitabani, which takes its name from the local Sitabani Temple, features 42 suites, a spa, swimming pool, restaurant, fitness centre and kids' area. The resort is 120km from Patnagar Airport, or a six-hour drive from Delhi. WHAT'S HAPPENING Tigers are making a comeback thanks to India's wildlife conservation programmes. Coonan Kurisu church in Mattancherry, Kochi. CREDIT: TONY BENDELE/GETTY IMAGES. make up the professional profile of the Indian adventure women traveller. Diving and trekking have emerged as the two most likened activities by Indian women adventure travellers. While Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and Nepal top the trekking bucket-list, Andaman Islands, Maldives, Malaysia, Red Sea-Egypt, Bali, Gili Islands, Great Barrier Reef and Mauritius comprise the list of diving destinations. CREDIT: RKLFOTO/GETTYIMAGES. Kochi heritage to be protected Heritage status is to be granted to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry in Kochi in India's south. The two destinations have been the mainstay of tourism in Kerala. The heritage town tags will help conserve heritage structures and upgrade current infrastructure in the area. The project will include history related to Portuguese, Dutch, English and other foreigners who visited the region. Homestay in Gujarat Tourists visiting the Statue of Unity in Gujarat can now opt for homestay facility in villages near the site. The Statue of Unity commemorates Indian statesman and activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875– 1950), who was the chief confidant of Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian Independence movement. About 116 houses across 22 villages have expressed interest in opening their homes to guests. Women travellers on the rise Cox & Kings recorded more than 30% year-on-year increase in women travellers opting for adventure. The growth is a cumulative reflection of both its domestic as well as international tours. Millennials are driving the growth. About 70% come from metro cities while the rest from tier-2 cities. Lawyers, doctors, managers, designers, writers and heads of organisations A tiger tale of great recovery India's tiger count now stands at 2,967, a 33% jump from 2,226 in 2014. Central India and Eastern Ghats have the highest number of tigers at 1,033. Madhya Pradesh has 526 tigers, the most in any state, while Maharashtra has 312. Madhya Pradesh has six tiger reserves — Kanha, Pench, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Satpura and Sanjay-Dubri. In the western ghats, Karnataka is home to 524 tigers, while Tamil Nadu has 264. The report "Status of Tigers in India – 2018", compiled by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, highlighted the importance of maintaining core habitats for breeding and providing rigorous protection from poaching. AGENT'S TAKE

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