Some important tips for FIT (Foreign Independent Traveler) in India

India is a vast country with a population size of more than 1 billion and comprising all experiences in geography with mountains in North, deep valleys in East, desert in West and beautiful beaches in South. The 28 states of India are 28 countries in reality, with varied culture, language and people.

Most travelers from foreign countries prefer to book an organized tour, but of late, there has been a rise in independent travelers as well. Some feel that one can experience the real flavor of India at his own pace in the tranquility of solitude.  Some guided support may be sought as and when desired, which essentially means that one can be among the real people instead of know-all tour operators and guides all the time. There would be no air-conditioned bus from one place to other; but he can explore things himself.

In such cases, a traveler needs to plan well in advance and prepare of checklist of do’s and don’ts. A little pre-planning can make the trip a lot smooth. Our current blog series is primarily targetted to provide some key information to travelers from foreign countries.

General Important Things

• At least a week or two before your trip, make a list of what you’ll need to take with you. Make sure your passports are current and that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip.

Tourist Visa on Arrival

• Government of India launched a scheme of Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) in January 2010. Currently, it is single entry visa for a short period with a validity of 30 days strictly for the purpose of tourism and a tourist can come to India only twice a year on this visa. Citizens from 15 countries are cover under the TVOA scheme – Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia. The fee for the visa on arrival is $ 60 (Sixty USD) or equivalent amount in Indian Rupees per passenger (including children). It is important to note that persons holding diplomatic or official passports are not eligible to avail this facility.
• All other visitors will need a valid visa beforehand. A Tourist Visa, generally valid up to 6 months,  is given to those visiting India for tourism or other non-business related purposes. Plan your visa application in advance. Although a tourist visa for up to six months is usually easy to obtain, you still need to be aware that there are certain bureaucratic requirements which you should check before you apply – and remember that they get updated continuously. A very unusual condition that has been introduced recently is that your photo must be 2” by 2” in size – sending a photo with different dimensions would lead to rejection. It is best to apply via a professional visa agency that will sort out the documentation and submit the application on your behalf.

Pet in the Flight and Hotel

• Unfortunately, India is not a particularly pet-sensitive country. Pets are not generally allowed in domestic planes, trains, public transport and hotels. In case of domestic travels via air, it is best to check in advance whether your pet is permitted on board. In domestic flights of Jet Airways,Air India and Jet Lite, your pet (dogs, cats, household birds and other pets) can travel in the cargo hold, when properly crated and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates. The pilot should be informed in writing prior to the flight that there is a live animal in the cargo hold and he would adjust the temperature suitably. Pets below 10 weeks of age are not allowed to travel by flight. The charge for your pet traveling on the aircraft depends on the weight of your pet and differs from airline to airline. If your flight doesn’t allow your pets with you, you would need to send it through cargo to the port nearest to your destination.
• Similarly, in hotels too, guests are not usually allowed to bring in their pets.  It is always better to check with hotel agents about their policies towards pets. The best option is to book your stay in vacation homes or homestays in India, which are more caring approach towards pets.

Local Culture

• India can be viewed as a conglomerate of 28 countries and 7 union territories, so different is one region from the other in terms of geography, climate, culture, food habits, festivals and rituals or anything that you can think of. India is the world’s largest democracy with a population of more than 1 billion people and still there is large divide between urban and rural centres. Hindi is widely spoken in most of the states. English is the only widely spoken foreign language in India.
• In southern part of India, the literacy rate is quite high and most people can speak English including drivers, local guide or operators and hotel staff. However, it is difficult for people to communicate in other languages like French, Spanish, Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese etc.
• Local people love to offer greeting with folded hand and say NAMASTE (Hello). They sayDHANYAVAD or SHUKRIYA (Thank You) and MAAF KIJIYEGA (I am sorry). However, shaking hand is not a problem now, except with women in rural areas. Indian Business Culture is quite different from the west. You can get information from the presentation:

Importance of Religion

• Indians are very attached and sentimental about their religion. There are 6 prominent religious creeds in India – Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. Foreign visitors always receive a warm welcome at religious places and get local assistance from the tourist centres in the respective premises. It is important to show respect to the religious orientation and beliefs. It is also easy to make some good friends through this. Foreign Independent Travellers (FIT) can learn local culture and customs, taste local food and can get exposure to the true India.
• Each religion has some key important centres like Akshardham (Hinduism), Jama Masjid(Muslims), Basilica of Bom Jesus (Christianity), Golden Temple (Sikhism), Dilwara Temple(Jainism) and Lumbini (Buddhism).

Indian Currency (Rupees)

• Foreign exchange is easily available in most big cities. Visitors can exchange foreign currency at airports and hotels too. However, it is better to check with a couple of banks or financial institutions to make sure that you get the best rate. Foreign currency (dollars, pounds, euros, etc) is accepted in most upmarket places and tourist spots but it is better not to rely on them. Remember that exchanging money is very bureaucratic and requires your passport. Also, if you have any surplus at the end of your trip, it may be costly and difficult to exchange back to your home currency – so don’t go around with much more than you need, and try to spend your rupees before you go.
• One good option is to withdraw money from an ATM. India has a big network of ATMs now –MasterCard and Visa. State Bank of India (Largest Public Bank) and ICICI Bank (Largest Private Bank) have the largest spread of ATMs in the country. Visa, Visa Electron, Master, Cirrus and Maestro cards can be used in all the SBI and ICICI Bank ATMs. Many other ATMs operate with international credit cards. They are available 24Hrs. For local currency, the maximum withdrawal limit is Rs. 25,000 ($550) a day using international silver card and Rs. 50,000 ($1,100) a day for the international gold cards. It is possible not to get caught in small towns without adequate cash, as the ATM network is quite good in most cities.

Mobile SIM and Internet

• International travelers used to face numerous problems due to lack of reasonably priced connectivity options.  The availability of international SIM cards has resolved the concerns for making long distance calls from foreign base. On the other hand, global data cards have provided a cost-effective option for accessing internet with a pocket-sized device. Both postpaid and prepaid data cards are available in the Indian market. Traveler can buy a prepaid internet data card (data traveler) and can enjoy a seamless internet connection throughout India, except Jammu & Kashmir state, enjoying high speed connection everywhere, except big cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai where the speed could be marginally low due to congestion. 
• There are three key options for pan India connection – Reliance Netconnect, Tata Indicom Photon and Airtel Wireless. Normally, a data card costs around Rs. 2,000 ($45) and has several different tariff plans, ranging from Rs. 100 ($2.5) to Rs. 1500 ($35) (unlimited).
• A mobile phone connection is one of the cheapest options in India. An Indian prepaid SIM Card, together with a tri-bandunlocked GSM cell phone, will allow you not only to have a local cell phone number for India but enjoy local rates – that too, without a contract. You can purchase a prepaid SIM card by submitting photocopy of passport. There are many cell operators in India. Incoming calls are free in the city where you buy the number. However, one need to pay roaming charges in the other cities for both outgoing and incoming services. It is advisable to purchase a SIM card from the city where you are planning to stay for a longer time. Traveler can also use calling cards, such as Matrix.

Bargaining for Souvenirs in India

• You may have heard about bargaining for souvenirs in India. This is reasonable, and in some ways, expected. If you visit an upmarket tourist shop, for expensive items, it is fair to bargain as much as is possible. However if you visit a small store or street trader, whereas they may be willing to bargain with you, please remember many exist on poor pay, some around $15 a day, and every penny saved represents lesser money for them, so don’t bargain them out of existence. A rough guideline is that a fair price is about half the price you’d pay in more affluent countries. If you are pushing them beyond, perhaps you are being unfair.
• In Delhi, you can buy handicraft and arts materials from Delhi Haat or from States Emporium at Connaught Place.

Eating and Travelling in India

• The Indians generally use their hands for eating, and at best, may use a spoon. Use of knives and forks is not common. Most authentic restaurants have hand washing rooms. If you want such cutlery, and are in such a restaurant, ask for two spoons. It is not a bad sign to visit a restaurant without knives and forks – some of the best and most authentic restaurants with the most elite food are primarily for the inhabitants of the region, who are familiar with the taste of high standard local food. Of course, hotels and restaurants with western cuisine will have full cutlery, and most places will find a knife and fork for you.

Allow time for traffic

• Car ownership is on the rise in most Indian cities. However, due to the limited expansion of road network, congestion is common. If you want to travel in urban centres, avoid the rush hours. Try to start early (7:00 – 7:30 AM), or in the late morning (11:00 AM onwards) or in the evening (7:00 PM onwards) or go on weekends, if you want a fast ride. If you are not fussed then of course, it does not matter, but budget the extra time (sometimes hours) to reach your destination. Do not plan a mad dash to an airport or train station. Keep in mind that if on Sunday afternoon it took half an hour, it could take two hours on Monday morning.

Precautions for the Traveler to India

• In India, especially the South, insects such as mosquitoes can be very irritating if you are not careful. Don’t sleep with windows open. Close windows at around 6:00 PM, and keep them closed all night. Otherwise, even if there is insect repellent, you may be kept awake all night with insect bites.
• Remember not to keep sweet food out too long as it may get invaded by ants. Instead of opening your window, use air conditioning, if available, or fans in your room. When you pack, it is advisable to keep some toilet tissue, and carry this with you, as it is slightly unpopular in India.
• Bring your medicines in case you are on some medical regime. Most other necessities, if required, can be obtained by visiting an appropriate store. Of course top class and expensive western style hotels will have most of these facilities, but it is always better to be prepared when you are staying elsewhere.

Emergency Numbers in India

• Indians are very hospitable and if you ask for something, they will take great trouble to help you, but it may be time consuming. Just be patient, help will be on hand. Calm down and remember that not everything can be done immediately.
• It is important to note key numbers – Police (100), Fire Brigade (101), Ambulances (102), National Toll Free Trauma Care number (108) and Railways Inquiry (139). To call police from GSM mobile phone, people need to call 112.

Registration with Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO)

• A foreign national, especially in case of FIT, visiting India should register himself withImmigration Cell, New Delhi. Foreigners visiting India on long term (more than 180 days) Student visa (S) (including those coming for study of Yoga, Vedic Culture, Indian system of dance and Music), Research Visa (R), Employment Visa (E), Missionary Visa (M), Medical Visa (M) or Medical Attendant (MX) Visa are required to get themselves registered with concerned FRRO/FRO within 14 days of his/her first arrival, irrespective of the duration of their stay.
• It is mandatory for all properties for accommodation in the state to submit a Form C to the Registration Officer (Copies of Form C can be obtained, from any FRO on application) for each foreign national staying with them within24 hours of their arrival. The Commissioner / Superintendent of Police of Cities / Districts are the Foreigners Registration Officer.
• If the passport of the foreigner is irrecoverably lost, he should report the same to the nearest police station, and obtain a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) in the case of theft or a certificate if it is lost otherwise. The foreigners should obtain new passport/emergency certificate from their embassies in India. Before leaving India, the foreigner should seek an exit permit from the Chief Immigration Officer or from the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Officers and produce the same at the point of embarkation.

Electricity

• In India electricity voltage is 220. You will not find adaptor very easily at all the places. It is advisable to carry the convertor if you want to use 110 or 240 voltage equipment.

We, at The Other Home, endeavor to making your stay in India a memorable and convenient one. Do get in touch with us and allow us to design your travel plan for you.

Foreign Independent Traveler (FIT) – An increasing trend in India

FIT, although a common term in the travel industry, is not popular among people, including those for whom it has been coined. FIT is acronym for ‘Foreign Independent Traveler’, which means lone travellers as opposed to groups, whose origin is other than India.

Increasingly, there has been an increase in the inflow of FIT in India as more people realized its benefits over group travel:

• In the internet age, one does not need the help of others to plan out things. Sitting in the comfort of a hotel room, he can plan a city tour, book tickets online, call a cab or whatever he wants.
• Travelling in a group of strangers isn’t always an appealing idea. Personality traits, preferences, etc vary from individual to individual. For example, if one wishes to spend some extra time at a particular location, and his tour party wants him back after a stipulated time, it becomes very disturbing. Being alone also offers a lot of privacy.
• Nowadays, travel has come to mean a lot beyond being away from the work. People want to spend quality time on their own or with their close friends or pets. Like Ms. Emilie Chatel (French national) was in India with her dog (Lola) for a vacation in Mumbai and Goa.
• There is hardly much difference in the charges of tour operators between self-guided and guided tours.
• Preference for accommodation has also shifted to homestays and vacation homes, instead of conventional hotels. At these locations, the host can be the guide, companion or facilitator.

Above all, being independent is always economical compared to travelling in groups. A solitary traveler needs to pay according to his consumption, unlike group travel where everyone needs to bear the equal cost.

Most people think that FIT and self guided travel is synonymous. However, these terms can be used interchangeably but not everywhere. Self guided travel means that traveler designs his own itinerary and plans his trip instead of having an escort for the trip. The traveler would hire local guides at specific locations only, being on his own for most of his trip. This would reduce the travel expenses, provided the proper homework is done before embarking on the journey.

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Leave Travel Concession – How to Get the Maximum Advantage

Who doesn’t like to travel, especially when travelling could be fruitful? One of the many facilities that employees enjoy in India are the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) and Leave Travel Allowance (LTA). Using your LTA effectively could actually help you save up on a lot of money.

Leave Travel Allowance is basically the cost of travel that is granted to an employee to travel in India. LTA exemption can be claimed by an employee where the employer provides LTA to employee for a leave to anywhere in India, while on a leave. This cost of travel includes only the cost of travel. The mode of travel could be by air, by rail or any other means of transport with certain regulations. The amount of exemption varies according to the mode of transport.

It is important to clearly understand what qualifies as the amount available for exemption. If one is travelling by air, the exemption available is the economy fare on the national carrier on the shortest route. If one is travelling to a destination connected by rail then the exemption allowed is the first class AC fare by train on the shortest route. For destinations that are not connected by rail, an exemption of first class or deluxe class fare on a recognized public transport can be availed.

If you travel by car then LTA is permitted only if the car is owned by a central government organisation, the local body or the state government. If you resort to private transport options like renting a car, you could simply get a bill issued from the rental company. If the bill is not accepted by your employer you could file and income tax return and get a refund by claiming an exemption.

Family members directly dependent on the assessee can also avail the exemption. By family it means Spouse and children as well as parents and siblings directly dependent on the assessee. Exemption is not available for two or more children of an individual born after October 01, 1998. For children born before this date there is no such restriction, the term child also includes step children and adopted children of an individual. If your spouse is also granted LTA allowance, you could both claim the LTA allowance independently from your respective companies.  If say in a given holiday you travel allowance have been more than the LTA allowance granted to you by your company, your spouse could get a ticket for the remaining amount from their company.

If you switch your job you could get LTA not only from your present employer but also the unutilized LTA concession from your former employer. The Travel expenses more than the LTA allowance granted to you will be subject to Tax deduction.

Every individual is entitled to this LTA twice in a period of 4 years. The exemption allowed is either the LTA that an individual is entitled to or the amount incurred during the travel that is eligible for exemption, whichever is the lesser of the two amounts. Leave Travel Allowance is allowed to your hometown once in a block of two years. The LTA is a great way to get an exemption from the hefty TDS that eats up half your salary.

The LTA is granted twice in a period of 4 years. These four years are called a block of four years for the reference of people applying for LTA. The Current block is 2010- 2013. If one does not use their LTA in the present block, they could carry forward their LTA to the first year of the next block, while making use of the next 2 LTA allowance in the last 3 years of the next block. The LTA allowance can be claimed just once every year. You cannot make a claim for two LTA allowance in one year.

While claiming the LTA it is important that the assessee has all the documents of the amount spent to allow exemption. Mere certificate that is received from the employee of the amount spent is not enough to claim an exemption. The proof of travel that should be documented includes the tickets, boarding passes, and the likes. If the booking is done through a travel agent it is important to also document the invoice of the Travel Agent. Such documents come handy during the audit of the tax return of the individual.

The employee does not necessarily have to submit his travel bills to his employer. Sometimes employers insist on having a copy of the travel bills of the employee, but it is the employees call. If one forgets to claim LTA and the employer has deducted tax on the amount paid, this money can be claimed in the income tax return and the tax that was previously deducted could be refunded back.

It is also important to note that you are eligible for exemption if you are travelling with your family. Also only the to and fro cost of travelling is only eligible for exemption. Other expenses like food, boarding, lodging, conveyance charges do not qualify for exemption. The Other Home, would help you find a Vacation Rental, Homestay or an Outdoor Adventure properties so that you could make the best of your vacation having an added benefit of having an LTA offer as well as a getting a customized vacation rental or homestay according to your preferences. Choose from numerous vacation rental or homestay options in the breath taking scenic locations like Goa,Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

After the elimination of the Fringe Benefit Tax that was more beneficial to an employee, Employees are now extensively trying to use the LTA as much as possible. Travel agencies are also banking on such schemes to make the best and reliable packages that could attract a lot of customers.

LTA packages are now available in all parts of India. With such attractive offers, all the tourist destinations being covered under the LTA, as well as the TDS saved on your salary, using LTA effectively could prove to be very fruitful to an employee. It is important to plan your trip smartly and make use of your LTA allowance in the best possible way.

Write to us to design an itinerary special designed to suit the way you define a perfect holiday.  You could write to us at support@theotherhome.com.

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Athithi Devo Bhava (The guest is God): Spirit of India

India has for long been known as the land of mysteries, snake charmers, magic tricks and for its enriched cultural variety. Not many people came to India thinking it was unsafe or due to the lack of amenities for comfortable stay. Gone are the days when tourists felt that way as today people from across the globe throng to various parts of India completely enjoying every bit of the experience.

Incredible India – Tourist Destinations

India clearly has marked its position as one of the most sought after tourist destination of the world. The wide variety of choices available in the country is attracting more and more tourists. There are beautiful valleys, beaches, hill stations, rivers, monuments and many other captivating spots in the country. India has turned out to be a place where people come for spiritual salvation and get rejuvenated. The whole of India could be termed as different segments of tourist spots. There is the beautiful valley of Kashmirat the top of the country holding the head high with pride. Then comes the hill stations of Shimla andManali that will make you fall in love with nature. The parts of Delhi and Madhya Pradesh are home to various historical monuments like the Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar, Ajanta and Ellora caves. Coming further south, there is the magnificent partying zone of Goa. Towards the tip lies the most beautiful state of Kerala, where God has bestowed greenery and all things beautiful. Delhi, the capital city of the country, is home to various monuments. The Taj Mahal, situated in Agra is the symbolic representation of love through exotic architecture carved by hand. The Birla Mandir, Azad Hind Gram, Akshardham temple, Garden of Five Senses, the Red Fort and much more make the city captivating. Varanasi is yet another city that acts a mirror of the civilization of the yesteryears. The archeological museums, the stupas and various other temples in Varanasi are a great treat to watch. 

India receives tourists from all countries. The peak months are from October to February. Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia are amongst major countries who have tourism co-ordinations with India. Among these countries, Australia has turned out to be a major contributor to the Indian tourism. According to statistics, more and more Aussies are visiting India for sight seeing, relaxation and vacation.The Australian commercial sector has recognized this trend and is providing services for easy travel to India. There are some very efficient flight operators who are providing flights to India from Australia.

The Other Home is proud to be providing comfortable, convenient and safe stay for the tourists visiting India. If you want to be notified next time, subscribe to the RSS feed or say hello via Twitter@theotherhome.

Make this Holi a ‘Barsana’ Special

Mohe Tu Rang De Basanti….Rang De….. It is that time of the year when the VIBGYOR colors dazzle the air, shrieks of joy fills the atmosphere ,when folks greet each other with colored water and mouth watering sweets. Holi, popularly known as the festival of colors is celebrated in March announcing the arrival of spring. This year Holi will be celebrated during 7th and 8th March, 2012.

Holi, irrespective of caste or creed is an opportunity for people to get together and have some fun. Bonfires are lit and people dance around it. The pot with butter hung from a distance from the ground is broken as a team game. People climb on top of each other, forming a specific pattern like that of a human ladder to reach the pot. Variety of sweet dishes are made like the Puran Poli, Gujiya, Dahi Bhalle, Kanji Vade, Bhang ke Pakore, Malpua and much more.

History of holi

The origin of the festival of Holi dates back to the Puranas. Prahlad was punished by his father for worshipping Lord Vishnu. So he was taken to the fire by demoness Holika who ultimately got killed while Prahlad escaped miraculously. The burning of Holika symbolizes the destruction of evil and all things bad. So during Holi people cleanse their homes by burning what they feel is bad for them. Another story goes by the concept of Lord Krishna teasing Gopikas by throwing colors at them. Yet another story is that of Kamadeva getting reunited with his wife Rati spiritually after Lord Shiva cursed him into death.

Lathmar Holi

Different parts of the country celebrate Holi in their own ways. The most interesting of the different celebrations is the one in Barsana, Uttar Pradesh. The famous Lath Mar Holi is their way of celebrating it. The women and men indulge themselves in a wonderful interactive game; the women beat the men with sticks while the men taunt them. The audience encourages this and has great fun watching this. In Mathura and Vrindavan, there are special pujas on this occasion. In Delhi also the festival is celebrated with zeal and zest.

Hola Mohalla is the Holi that is celebrated by the Sikh community. Started by the tenth Guru Gobind Singh, Hola Mohalla displays the military power of the Sikhs. The three day festival mocks battles and has a variety of competitions that involves in the get together of the community. Display of swordsmanship and horse riding marks the famous procession which happens at Anandpur Sahib inPunjab, a day after the Holi.

Enjoy this season’s Holi like never before. Feel the water splash across your face, try ‘pichkarying’ your friend and dress in colors like never before. We at The Other Home want to make your experience memorable by arranging comfortable and safe stay for you and your family. Choose from numerous homestay options in Delhi, Punjab and Uttarakhand. For more details call us at +91-11-65028027.

If you want to be notified next time, subscribe to the RSS feed or say hello via Twitter @theotherhome. You can plan your dream holiday with us, visit The Other Home.

Tourism Sector in India: Implication of Union Budget 2011-12

Rahul was excited about a gift voucher he had received: it offered free air tickets to any destination in India for two. To his dismay, at the time of booking, he realized the amount he had to pay as ‘fuel surcharges and taxes’ was actually more than six times the amount he had been waivered off. He could not disappoint his wife, as this was a long-looked-forward-to getaway. So he started looking up websites of hotels to check out room tariffs and packages offered. The packages were indeed attractive, but all came with a fine print: a huge chunk of service tax to be levied over the otherwise- reasonable charges.

If you relate with Rahul’s disappointment while you read this, this could be your story too: in the Union Budget 2011-12, the service taxes have been increased for air conditioned restaurants possessing licenses to serve alcoholic beverages and hotel accommodation, in excess of declared tariff of Rs. 1,000 per day.  Moreover, service taxes on air travel have been hiked in domestic and international travel (economy class) by Rs. 50 and Rs. 250 respectively, and on domestic air travel (other than economy) at standard rate of 10% (in line with international travel).

Needless to say, in this situation, the elasticity is strongly negative. This may have been declared to incentivise cashflow to the government, but would act as a major deterrent to air travel and demand of hotels and restaurants. The consumer becomes the ultimate scapegoat.

Although a land of rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural beauty, India ranks 41^st among the top global destinations for international travel. There’s still a long way to go for India to feature among the top ten destinations. The domestic tourist volume in India is also booming, reaching 705 million in 2010. The scope is immense, and the onus is now on the country’s administration to take the correct policy measures.

Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has made concerted efforts under similar campaigns as ‘Incredible India’ in overseas and domestic markets and through Mega Tourism Projects, a judicious mix of cultural, heritage, spiritual, and eco tourism in order to give tourists a holistic experience.

Till date, the Government has identified 38 projects out of which 23 have been sanctioned.

MoT, in coordinating with other ministries such as Railways, Civil Aviation, Road Transport & Highways, Food Processing and Urban Development as well as the concerned State Governments, is looking to maximize the returns from investments in the tourist destinations. In order to meet the huge skill gap in the hospitality industry, the Government has put in place a multipronged strategy which includes strengthening and expanding the institutional infrastructure for training and education. Besides, steps are being taken for skill training of youth in the hospitality sector and providing skill certification.

Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) scheme was launched in January 2010 on pilot basis covering 11 countries: Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia.

The Government has announced various financial and fiscal incentives for the hospitality sector, including a five-year tax holiday under the Income Tax Act for two, three, and four star category hotels located in all United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites (except Mumbai and Delhi) for hotels starting operations from 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2013.

Other incentives include:

• Relaxation of external commercial borrowings (ECB) to reduce the liquidity crunch being faced by the hotel industry for setting up new hotel projects
• Allowing FDI up to 100% under the automatic route for the hotel and tourism-related industry
• Delinking credit for hotel projects from real estate by The Reserve Bank of India , thereby enabling hotel projects to avail of credit at relaxed norms and reduced interest rates.

The government has also launched a voluntary scheme of granting approval to bonafide tour operators, travel agents, tourist transport operators, and adventure tour operators who satisfy certain criteria specified in terms of turnover, infrastructure, and manpower.

International travelers tend to book their stay as well as plan their entire trip online while domestic people are often dependent on travel agencies and tour operators. We, at The Other Home, aim to address the needs of our customers as per their requirements. Our packages and services are designed to suit everyone.

Come, discover India!!

For more details, please see this presentation:

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Will ‘Maximum India’ will replace the slogan ‘Incredible India’

Mesmerizing music and dance performances on the Potomac river, incredible and unimaginable crafts from exquisite collections, jewels from the Mughals and Maharajas era and much more at “Maximum India”, the twenty days cultural extravaganza.In 2002, Government of India launched an integrated marketing campaign – “Incredible India” to promote India as a tourist destination. Nevertheless, the Incredible India campaign has been really effective and able to attract lots of foreign tourists in India. But still, considering the size of the country, diversity and tourist attraction, there is lot of potential to increase the number of foreign tourists in India. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) increased to 5.58 million in 2010 from 5.11 million in 2009 in India, as per Ministry of Tourism. India is a vast country with 1.2 billion people in 28 states, speaks 24 official languages, has 1,600 dialects, more than 330,000,000 gods and goddesses and above all savors many cuisines.

With the aim to showcase the brand “India”, similar campaigns like Incredible India are needed. Kennedy Center and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) have planned a 20-day festival “Maximum India” from March 1^st to 20^th, 2011 in Washington DC, USA for this same purpose. The festivals will highlight the many wonderful and unusual aspects of the country’s diverse arts and culture, from folk to classical and contemporary.

For last 5 years, USA is the leading country for foreign tourist arrivals in India, according to Bureau of Immigration. In 2009, it contributed more than 15% share of total tourist arrivals in India. Moreover, according to Gallup’s annual World Affairs survey (February 2010), India is among the top six nations which are favored by the Americans. Interestingly, three in four young American adults view India as a favorable country.  Thus, an event showcasing Indian culture and heritage is likely to attract large number of tourists from American continents.

At Maximum India festival, famous artists from India will delight audience with dance, music, and theater perfomrance. The key motive is to startle the auidence with the majesty and mystery of its culture. Other key activities will include screening of famous bollywood movies, interaction with authors, and exhibitions of crafts, sarees, the gem palace collection. There is also special exhibition of fans collected from all over the world (Pankha-s) and a guided tour of ‘The Crafts of India.’

There will performances by world famous artistes, Anushka Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Piano prodigy Utsav Lal, rock band Parikrama, and the Bollywood singer Kailash Kher, Washington DC’s own ghazal queen Vatsala Mehra, and US based bhangra-rap DJ Punjabi MC. Other performances include Sharmila Biswas’s group of Odissi choreographic work from Kolkata, Tanushree Shankar’s choreographic work ‘The Child’ the poem of Tagore in English from Kolkata, Kerala Kalamandalam’s Kathakali, Classical vocal music by Rajan and Sajan Mishra from New Delhi, Manganiyar Rajasthani Folk Music from Jodhpur.

No festival can be completed without the taste of local cuisine and food. There will be sepcial arrangement for feasts of Indian food prepared by 12 award-winning Indian chefs, including Hemant Oberoi and Ananda Solomon, representing the four corners of the country to provide diners with a gastronomic journey through Indian cuisine for the entire three-week period of the festival.

“Maximum India may not be on the same scale as the Festival of India, but it is a major effort to display the creativity, fervor, and dynamism that characterizes Indian arts.”

Ms. Meera Shankar, India’s ambassador to the US.

It is going to be one of the major Festivals of Indian Arts in recent times. Not only Indian Diaspora, but the American audiences are eagerly waiting to relish the Indian arts. There are many free events along with ticketed performances, ranging from $10 – $100.

If this article brings a twinkle in your eyes, contact The Other Home immediately. We shall not only take care of your travel requirements, but shall provide you options of comfortable stay and extend warm hospitality in our homestays; organize short but enriching trips to beautiful places nearby. If you are visiting from India, we shall ensure a home atmosphere for you.

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