Travel observer

India has blocked a bid by the UN World Tourism Organisation to "evaluate" destinations, an effort intended to upgrade tourism product development but which critics saw as being yet another thinly disguised "beauty contest".
The Indian Minister of Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni, took up the matter in her capacity as chairwoman of a UNWTO executive council session in Madrid on Oct 14-15. One agenda item was about "co-operation" between the UNWTO Read the rest of this entry »

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In times like this, predictability is very important, and the comfort of companies with India is very high. – Mr S. Gopalakrishnan, CEO, Infosys
Bangalore, Nov. 2 Contrary to expectations, the economic downturn could actually help the Indian IT industry in the short term. The industry is not only under pressure from a slowing business environment but also due to rising competition from other emerging IT destinations.
Crisis-hit customers Read the rest of this entry »

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J. Venkatesan
When cases drag on for years, people will lose faith in courts
New Delhi: The parliamentary standing committee attached to the Law and Justice Ministry has asked the Supreme Court to cut vacations and holidays to reduce the huge backlog of cases.
The committee, headed by E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan (Congress), in its 28th report placed in Parliament last week, said: “The system of vacations is a colonial legacy that has no Read the rest of this entry »

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Srinagar, Nov 2: Secretary tourism, Nayeem Akhter said on Sunday that his department is launching a vigorous publicity campaign across the world this year to promote winter tourism in Kashmir and Ladakh division.
“The winter season in Kashmir and Ladakh has remained understated and the department of tourism wants to introduce these places as genuine claimant for winter tourism,” Nayeem said on the onset of Kashmir Polo match-2008 played in valley Read the rest of this entry »

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for dealing with trips during these bleak economic times.
The list contains some fairly logical tips like wisely picking a destination based on the driving distance, but also some pretty savvy ones like how to haggle with the hotel manager for some free perks.
The site also does some homework for you, listing some of the best travel deals available, with the emphasis on family friendly hotels and free activities around the country.
What impressed Read the rest of this entry »

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Selling hard themselves as favourite tourist destinations, five domestic centres and four countries are here to woo leisure travellers at a three-day exhibition at the SGS Magnum Mall in Pune Camp. The exhibition is being organised by the India International Travel Exhibition (IITE) and will conclude on November 3.
Vying with Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands to woo tourists from the city are Malaysia, Read the rest of this entry »

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No video games. No cell phones or Internet. No TV, swimming pools, souvenir shopping, or even a bed. And no one's complaining. In fact, parents and kids say they don't miss any of it.
"Great family time," promises Josh Lewis, a dad from Westchester, New York, who takes more friends along every year.
"There are no distractions. It's just you and your family and nature," adds Dr. Ken Jacobsen, a veterinarian from suburban Seattle.
"Absolutely Read the rest of this entry »

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Vacations for Votes? Lindsey Graham Makes an Offer
HANOVERTON, Ohio -- With just four days left until the election, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is trying a novel approach to help his friend John McCain win the presidency: free vacations in South Carolina for swing state voters.
At a rally this morning at United High School, Graham posed a simple question to the audience.
"Anybody been to South Carolina?" Graham asked, as the crowd applauded. Read the rest of this entry »

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To start the discussion, an excerpt from
Not really a question, but I wanted to add to your answer last week about Notre Dame's Gator Bowl chances given that the Cotton Bowl can select Notre Dame once every four years to replace an SEC team, according to
. I don't know if they would get to jump over the Gator Bowl to do so but I think an 8-4 ND team is playing on New Year's Day somewhere.
-- Sean, Hartford, Conn.
You are correct. As much as Read the rest of this entry »

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Nov 02, 2008
– The credit crunch is having little effect on romantic city break travellers, according to a top European travel website. UK tourists are still flocking to taste the romance of Venice despite the big money squeeze back home. Editors at the European city break website TravelSavvy Venice report no drop in demand for short city breaks to the popular holiday destination.
"If anything the demand is even greater this year," said Read the rest of this entry »

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