Moscow worst city for visitors, Mumbai for overall experience: TripAdvisor

It may have a rich history but Moscow has received the unwelcome honor of being voted the worst city in the world for visitors. Travelers planning a break to the Russian capital should expect locals to be unfriendly, hotels to be awful, a scarcity of shops and everything wildly overpriced, says TripAdvisor.

According to its annual 'Cities Survey', which collates the opinions of more than 54,000 travelers on the top 37 urban tourist destinations around the world, Moscow came in last.

Though on the topic of “best overall experience” it only came third-last, the city was second-last for family-friendliness, restaurants and shopping, and rock bottom for helpful locals, taxi services and drivers, value for money and hotels.

Mumbai was voted the worst city for overall experience and came in last on clean streets and ease of getting around.

The survey also ranked the cities that came out top in each category, with Tokyo as the best destination for tourists overall and New York being number two.

London missed out overall, coming 11th, but achieved second place for nightlife and third for shopping, coming behind New York, and Dubai and New York, respectively. London’s worst performance was in value for money – visitors voted it 34th in terms of how far a pound will stretch.

Other high ranking cities included:
Singapore: Number one for comfort traveling alone and second for taxi service, cleanliness of streets, ease of getting around and family-friendliness
Rome: Topped the list of things to do and culture
Dubai: First for shopping and hotels

At leisure in Germany

Note: This article appeared in the June 2009 issue of Express TravelWorld. For more read here: http://www.expresstravelworld.com/20090630/management04.shtml

Germany is popular for MICE the world over, and the recent German Travel Mart 2009 was proof enough. However, the main agenda of the B2B exhibition was to promote leisure tourism. By Hazel Jain

Some are of the opinion that Germans are very organised - almost to the point of being mechanical. Whether there is any truth in that, I cannot say, but this year's German Travel Mart (GTM 2009) did impress me. It not only exemplified a well-organised trade event, but also showcased the region's MICE capabilities while actively promoting leisure tourism.

According to German National Tourist Board (GNTB), there were 379 suppliers showcasing their products to about 650 representatives of the international travel market. Held in the little-known Hanseatic city of Rostock (on the Baltic coast) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from May 10-12, the 35th edition of GTM was clear on its agenda - to reach out to the international markets and promote its other side of tourism: leisure. For this, Germany will push itself as a mono destination instead of just being part of a European package.

These well-defined objectives are important to Germany, especially at a time when the global economy threatens to weaken its firm grounding. The destination had so far concentrated on its domestic market (which obviously earned it huge returns) and the rest of Europe. If the international market was mentioned, it was in the same breath as MICE. Not anymore. Germany wants to diversify its markets and is now eager to show its leeward side to the rest of the world. It has therefore chosen 'Active Holidays - Hiking, Cycling and Lifestyle' as its main theme this year.

India Pool

After a disorderly run in the Chinese market, Germany is approaching its Asian cousin with more caution and better planning. Hence the India Pool. The GNTB created an Indian pool with 14 German partners in 2008 through which it promotes campaigns in India. The partners intend to invest an additional 1.5 millioneuros in it over the next three to five years.

The GNTB has already started different marketing campaigns with a few Indian operators. One of them is a new image film that will be shown at all events staged by the partners. Petra Hedorfer, CEO of GNTB, says, "The use of endorsements, advertising and poster campaigns will further increase awareness of Germany in India as a leisure destination. The planned market-specific GNTB extranet and the new sales folder will provide in-depth information about German regions for the Indian trade as well as details of Indian restaurants and service providers in Germany. We have also launched 'activity weeks' with our partners this year in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Delhi."

The India Pool consists of Bavaria Tourism Marketing, Munich Tourism, Munich Airport, Tourism Marketing Company of Saxony, Berlin Tourism Marketing, Berlin Airports, Magic Cities Germany, Fraport AG, Accor Germany Smard, Stuttgart Marketing, Tourism and Congress Company Frankfurt am Main, Cologne Tourism, Top of Germany - Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze as well as tour operator Alpha Travel.

Roadmap for agents

According to Hedorfer, GNTB has a budget of 36.4 million euros for 2009 internationally. She, however, refuses to specify the size for India, indicating only that "our investments there are pretty high". She adds, "The focus of all our activities worldwide is on B2B and this also applies for the Indian market. Our most important partners are the trade and we are in steady contact with them through our Delhi office. India ranks number five among all our overseas markets with 4,22,000 overnight stays in 2008. We expect about 7,50,000 overnights from India for the near future as it is a very young market."

China isn't too far behind. "In Asia, China is growing fast and is one of the future markets. We expect it to get to the lead position in 2015 with 20,00,000 overnights," she reveals. For the B2C segment, it has 35 different websites in 22 languages worldwide with extensive information.

The biggest challenge in the Indian market, according to Hedorfer, is to position Germany as a mono destination. And here is where the agents come in. This year's GTM saw the largest-ever contingent from India with 17 operators. Agents will not only have to bring in more leisure tourists, but also convert business travellers. "A tool for this is already in place. Our e-book (www.germany-ebook.de), developed especially for the Indian market, shows the many sides of Germany in a very enjoyable way and is available in English, Hindi, Bengali and Punjabi," she reveals. GNTB isn't leaving out social networking sites in India either and is already present on Facebook in Austria.

So, apart from the little issue of direct connectivity (with direct flights only to Munich and Frankfurt from India), Germany seems to be all set to woo India - it even has the affordability angle in place. Germany has always been among the more cheaper destinations in Europe and it is now being promoted as 'Affordable Hospitality: Destination Germany. Great deals. Easy booking.' Let's see if India takes the bait.

Supplier Speak

Kai-Michael Stybel Wismar Tourism How was GTM 2009 for you? It was very successful indeed. Wismar Tourism attends the GTM every year but this year was special as it took place in our home state, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This is the former East of Germany, which means it has been in existence only since the reunification of Germany in 1990. It is popular among domestic tourists but the international market does not know it as a tourist destination in Germany. It will therefore be a challenge for us to gain international publicity. But its title as UNESCO World Heritage site will obviously help.   Did you meet any Indian buyers? Yes I did. The Indian buyers appeared very interested as all of them had made prior appointments for the workshop. Of course they hadn't heard of Wismar before but they showed a lot of enthusiasm. I am already negotiating tours with a few of them. What can Indian travellers looks for in Wismar? As a UNESCO World Heritage site by the sea, we can offer guided city tours, harbour cruises, presentations on sparkling wine or beer with tastings with more than 200 old breweries in Wismar. Vegetarian food is a precondition, I suppose. The German cuisine might not be famous for its vegetarian food, but this could definitely be worked out. What interested me a lot was understanding vegetarianism as a religious fact. Do you have specific plans for the Indian market? Yes I do. Wismar would definitely be too small as a single destination for somebody coming all the way from India. And accessibility is a crucial precondition for tourism. Therefore it would be important to promote it together with neighbouring destination like Hamburg, Berlin and Schwerin. Rostock itself is the most metropolitan place in Meckleburg-Western Pomerania and less than an hour’s drive from Wismar. It is also the gateway to Denmark, which is just two hours away by ferry. To promote this kind of product, we would need partners in India. How will you sell your product in India? I am unaware of the preferences of Indian travellers. So we will need our partners in India who, first of all, need to be convinced enough to promote Wismar. They will have to educate us about the basics we would have to achieve to meet the expectations of Indian travellers. Therefore, I cannot describe Wismar to Indian travellers. But I am willing to find out how. We can offer perfect accommodation, products for leisure activities, culture, impressive architecture of Red-Brick-Gothic, which is something unique in the Baltic region and the authenticity of a medieval township in northern Europe. How much will be achieved is anybody's guess but at least we will have paved the way.

 

Macau: A safe bet

The landscape of this former Portuguese colony has undergone a massive transformation, and although it has retained a portion of its colonial flavour, the attire these days is more blingy and grand.

Macau has had the reputation of being a mini Las Vegas far too long for it to change its image overnight to a cultural destination, especially when it is the only place in China where casinos are legal. The present landscape doesn't help either, with acres and acres of land (a lot of it reclaimed) quivering under the weight of humungous five- to seven-star deluxe hotels, some still under construction.

Yet, the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is sparing no effort to bring about that change. So while its gambling industry still flourishes, Macau is trying to take on a new identity - that of a destination steeped in history and culture. The superimposition is already in process (see box below).

But why look for a different personality when the original one has worked well - exceptionally well in fact. While Las Vegas was well represented on this year's list of winners for the best Four and Five Star awards by Mobil Travel Guide, Macau (along with Hong Kong) already has more five-star rated hotels and spas than any other city. In this first year of rating international destinations, each of Macau's three Las Vegas-owned casinos received Mobil honours - Wynn Macau and the property's spa received five stars while MGM Grand and the Sands Macau received Four Stars. The Six Senses Spa at MGM Grand Macau and the V Spa at Venetian Macau received Four Stars.

A possible reason for wanting this change is that Macau has perhaps realised that putting all its eggs in one basket may not be wise. Reports show that its gambling industry began showing signs of cooling after Beijing began limiting the frequency and duration of travel by mainland residents. The global financial and economic crisis is also taking a toll. Revenues declined even as the number of licensed casinos rose to 31 at the end of last year, from 28 at the end of 2007.

Nevertheless, the history and culture of Macau promises to be as big a hit as the heady and intoxicating mix of its casinos and a lively night life. And this combination will continue to fuel high occupancies in its hotels which compete with each other in terms of opulence, flamboyance and grandness. The increasing number of direct flights from other countries (there have been talks of directly connecting India and Macau by budget airline, Viva Macau) will no doubt fuel this.

The superimposition

Joao Manuel Costa Antunes MGTO's director, Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, has ensured that its development strategy this year is diversification (not only in products offered but also source markets) with 'World Heritage' as the focus to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Macau Special Administration Region or SAR. (Portuguese traders administered the region until the handover to China on December 20, 1999. Macau now operates under the 'one country, two systems' policy with a high degree of autonomy and will do so until 2049 that will mark 50 years of the transfer.) Under the new strategy, MGTO will develop new thematic tour routes and explore multi-destination itineraries to build a regional tourism brand. New tourism products such as hop on 'Heritage Bus' and free docent service at World Heritage sites will also be introduced in addition to cultural performances at tourist spots. The SAR government is also putting efforts in developing MICE tourism with MGTO setting up a co-operation mechanism with the trade. The network will be consolidated through the 'Industry Partner Programme' and promotional events focusing on MICE will be implemented and professional training programmes set up. Promotional tools such as the Macau Convention Brochure, Macau Incentive Travel Guide, second edition of Macau Meeting Planners Guide and MICE video footage will also be introduced. Antunes added that MGTO will host a number of MICE activities, including the PATA Annual Meeting 2009 to be held in Macau this April. He expressed that while continuing to promote the theme 'Experience Macau' under the slogan 'A World of Difference, the Difference is Macau', it will organise themed itineraries in the Pearl River Delta, family tours, world heritage tours, student tours, 'silver hair' tours, gala dinners and travel marts. MGTO will launch various promotional activities with focus on the 'Historic Centre of Macau' and organise familiarisation trips to showcase Macau's heritage. Other activities include photo exhibitions, gala dinners and tourism briefings. MGTO will continue to implement its 'Performance Pledge' undertaken to improve efficiency and operate the 24-hour Tourism Hotline 28333000, re-inforce tourist education to promote quality travel practices as well as educate tourists of their rights. For the travellers, it will also launch a number of e-services such as online booking system, online application status enquiry, website version of Macau Meeting Planners Guide, online referral service for RFP, e-MICE survey as well as e-publications. Another area that the tourism office is looking into is training the hospitality and tourism players for fluency in English since Macau has a majority of Chinese-speaking population.

 Note: This article was published in the February 16-28, 2009 issue of Express TravelWorld. For more read here: http://www.expresstravelworld.com/20090228/edge02.shtml 

Amar shonar bangla

As children, we are always eager to grow up. But it is only as adults that we realize that the icing from the cake has been licked and the best part is probably over.

So has it been with me. I came into this world, on a day when folks on the other side of the world were busy enjoying fireworks to celebrate Independence Day, in a not-so-snazzy part of Kolkata – the north. I grew up in Mumbai and it is the only place I call home. But the city where I was born – where my maternal home is - holds a special place in my heart. It is where I have spent every single summer vacation, with or without my family.

For me, ‘quaint’ will always bring to mind the bottle green doors and green shuttered windows on each and every house dating back to the British Raj nestled comfortably alongside narrow lanes. It is a neighbourhood of now-crumbling 18^th and 19^th century buildings that are painted either yellow with green doors and windows or in a white-and-light blue combination.

I still remember the times when my maternal grandfather in his trademark white starched dhoti and kurta took me to buy either milk or sondesh every morning holding my tiny hands and declare with unmistakable pride to acquaintances as we passed by ‘aamar may’r may’ (my daughter’s daughter).

North Kolkata has a beauty of its own that often goes unrecognized and therefore unacknowledged. It is still largely populated with Bengalis and Marwari families that settled many generations ago to set up businesses here. One can still spot Tant saris – cotton embroidered saris that are so characteristic of Bengal - drying from pretty wrought-iron balconies, the controversial hand-pulled rickshaws and the lazy trams.

This kind of beauty may as well be an acquired taste for I know many south Calcuttans who remain unaware of this side of the city. It is of little surprise then that most tourists who are looking for a typical Kolkata experience rarely go beyond British-style buildings in Park Street and elsewhere in South Kolkata. Even the guide books have yet to discover it.

But there are a few to whom this kind of heritage matters. A foundation called Cruta – Conservation & Research of Urban Traditional Architecture – founded by a tiny group of conservationists has started organizing heritage walks through streets to educate people about the eclectic architecture at hand.

It is of course difficult to lure the youngsters from all the malls that have sprouted up in the south (that is leading to a whole new mall culture among Bengalis) to get them to walk through filth and impromptu public baths near the water mains. But it is a start.

For me though, the after-effects of spending a large part of my early childhood in Kolkata will never wear out. I remember as a second grader at the age of eight or so I dressed up in a white dhoti-and-kurta for a fancy dress competition at school looking every bit like a true Bengali Babu. I even sang an epoch-making poem by Rabindranath Tagore which was later made popular by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose - 'Ekla Chalo Re' (Walk alone).