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Drones in Travel & Tourism Market - Rapid Growth at Deep Value Price

HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 45 pages on title 'Drones in Travel & Tourism - Thematic Research' with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions and important players such as Amazon, BAE Systems, Cisco etc. Unmanned aerial vehicles - UAVs or, more commonly, drones - have been a regular feature in military applications, especially surveillance, for some time. However, over the past three to four years, the rapid proliferation of consumer electronics, the emergence of cloud technologies, the declining cost of server and bandwidth usage, the improving price-to-performance ratio of hardware components, and a dramatic rise in demand for a "bird's-eye" view of the earth have steadily opened up the market for the civilian use of drones both as recreational devices, and in commercial applications for travel & tourism operators. Key Highlights - DJI is the dominant force in the civilian drones sector, both in commercial and consumer markets. - The nearest competitors to DJI include Parrot and Yuneec, which are driving technological improvements to their offerings, but are struggling to compete with DJI's aggressive pricing strategies. - Notable travel and tourism companies already making use of drones include Four Seasons, Hilton, Casa Madrona, and Seadust. Many more companies are likely to embrace the technology in the coming years. Scope - This report provides an overview of the global drones market. - It identifies the key trends driving growth in the drones industry. - It provides a global market size and growth forecasts and identifies the leading players in the drones market. - It includes analysis of the key technologies within drones, including discussion of major innovations. - It assesses key uses of drones within Travel & Tourism and looks at which companies are making use of the technology. Reasons to buy - This report highlights the key trends impacting the drones market. - It determines which companies are best positioned to succeed in a future filled with disruptive threats. - It provides a look into the growth potential of the sector, and identifies recent technological developments and upcoming areas of interest.

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Abu Dhabi's new stimulus package to help tourism sector

Tourism and entertainment sectors in Abu Dhabi will benefit from fee waivers this year as part of the new dynamic economic stimulus package that fast-tracks the implementation of key Ghadan 21 economic initiatives to support economic activity, reduce the costs of living, and facilitate business in the emirate, said a report. The newly launched stimulus package in Abu Dhabi and those launched recently by the UAE Central Bank and local governments provide a solid foundation to accelerate and advance the economy, as well as protect the UAE's economic stability, the Wam news agency said. It said up to 20 per cent rebate will be offered on rental value for restaurant, tourism and entertainment sectors, and tourism and municipality fees for the tourism and entertainment sectors will be suspended for this year. The stimulus measures include an allocation of Dh5 billion ($1.36 billion) for water and electricity subsidies for citizens and the commercial and industrial sectors, intended to reduce the cost of living and support businesses, as well as subsidising electricity connection fees for startups until the end of the year. For SMEs, an additional Dh3 billion ($816.5 million) has been allocated to the SME Credit Guarantee Scheme managed by Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to stimulate the ability of SMEs to navigate the current market environment. As for the financial markets, the Executive Council has allocated Dh1 billion ($272 million) to establish a market maker fund, to enhance liquidity and sustain balance between supply and demand for stocks. Other initiatives announced today include exemption of all commercial and industrial activities from Tawtheeq fees, as well as exempting individual and commercial real estate registration fees for this year, suspension of bid bonds, and exempting startups of performance guarantees for projects up to Dh50 million ($13.6 million). Further, there will be no annual vehicle registration fees for commercial vehicles and no traffic tariffs at toll gates in Abu Dhabi for all vehicles.

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How Houston Embraced Augmented Reality to Enhance the Visitor Experience

Many travelers look for any excuse to add the latest gadget or newest smartphone app to their daily routine. Tourism companies hoping to capitalize on this tech obsession have, in recent years, turned to augmented reality, wherein virtual objects are overlaid on real-world scenes observed through smartphone cameras, a la Pokémon Go. A number of travel providers have used augmented reality to improve discrete aspects of a traveler’s experience. For example, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has a mobile app feature that allows passengers to double-check baggage size, and The National Museum of Singapore and The Art Gallery of Ontario have both created AR-enhanced art installations. Meanwhile, Visit Houston has seized on the potential to harness augmented reality at the wider destination level. At Houston First Corporation, which oversees technology development for Visit Houston and 10 other brands, director of web development Sean Herbert and chief marketing officer Holly Clapham Rosenow saw an opportunity to leverage augmented reality to help Houston spring to life for the city’s visitors. In 2018, the company launched Houston AR, an augmented reality app that makes exploring Houston more engaging. “We took all of the flat data from our content management system and created an immersive experience for locals and visitors,” said Herbert. Here’s how it works: When a user opens the app and pans their smartphone’s camera over activated locations in the real world, they are presented with live wayfinding information about nearby restaurants, bars, and points of interest like museums, shopping venues, and other activities. Easy-to-follow directions to the locations are provided without leaving the app. “Visitors are responding very positively,” said Herbert. “We’ve seen the number of unique users increase following a series of print and digital campaigns.” After the successful launch of the Houston AR app, Houston First began working on its next milestone: Integrating augmented reality into Visit Houston’s advertising campaigns. One of the benefits of using augmented reality in advertising is that the immersive, sensory-driven interactions can help build an emotional connection with consumers. Houston First launched a national print campaign with augmented reality functionality in the Wall Street Journal in April 2019. “As far as we know, Houston was the first destination to deploy augmented reality in this way and the first-ever Wall Street Journal advertiser to do so,” said Herbert. The ads featured Houston’s dynamic mural walls, which are impressive in their own right, and highlighted the diverse culture and heritage of the city’s local communities. The ads came to life when users scanned them with the Houston AR app and were presented with a video or motion graphic in the digital space that was overlaid on the ad’s physical space. “With so many beautiful works to choose from, we first wanted to focus on the murals that would best tell our story and strongly represent the city of Houston,” said Rosenow. “Ultimately, our city is a very welcoming place. Houston is a tapestry of cultures. We want to deliver an experience that’s just as lively and colorful as we are.” Augmented reality experiences are now integrated into all of Visit Houston’s general consumer and meeting advertising campaigns. What’s Next? Using Technology to Amplify Houston’s Major Attractions In addition to viewing wayfinding information about nearby venues and immersive versions of local street art, users of the Houston AR app will soon be able to explore 360-degree views of major attractions in the city such as Space Center Houston and the Lone Star Flight Museum. With this new feature, expected to launch in the Summer 2020, users will be able to move their device around to take in a panoramic view of these spaces as if they’re actually there. Houston First plans to improve this new software in the months and years to come, adding an ever-expanding treasury of fresh content and useful features, including remote ticket purchasing for Houston’s top attractions and integration with rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. The development of this new technology coupled with its foray into augmented reality has helped Houston First move into yet another deployment of new technology that’s among the first of its kind for destination marketing organizations.

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Sri Lanka Tourism Fights Back After Civil War, a Tsunami and Terrorism

Tourism players in Sri Lanka often feel that the country — despite boasting a stunning diversity in landscapes and experiences within its small land mass — is still falling short of attaining its full potential. Decades-long civil war, tsunami, and terrorist attacks notwithstanding, the absence of adequate government funding and a strategy for tourism branding was a persistent hurdle that didn’t go away until recently. With a new tourism-friendly government in place, a palpable sense of optimism has emerged among Sri Lanka’s private sector players. The industry in collaboration with an agile national tourism organization is launching a cohesive, targeted marketing strategy. It’s a positive first step toward success, as this week’s featured story takes a closer look at. Elsewhere in Asia, strong public-private collaboration reflected in Singapore’s swift and transparent approach to coronavirus — including the formation of a tourism recovery task force comprising top industry minds from both the public and private sectors — has been lauded as a manifestation of the country’s branding. A strong sense of “We’re in this together” between all industry players will help Asia tourism navigate through complex times like this.

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Taj Mahal to close to visitors over coronavirus fears, says Tourism ministry

India will close the iconic Taj Mahal to visitors from Tuesday as part of measures to try and combat the coronavirus pandemic, the tourism ministry said on Monday. Most schools and entertainment facilities, including cinemas, have already been closed across India, the world’s second-most populous country with 1.3 billion people. India has reported 114 positive cases and two deaths from the virus. Worldwide, the number of deaths has passed 6,500 with more than 168,000 infections in 142 countries and territories. “All ticketed monuments and all other museums have been directed to be closed until March 31,” Tourism Minister Prahlad Patel tweeted late Monday. The UN cultural agency UNESCO calls the white marble Taj the “jewel of Muslim art”. US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania visited the site last month during his official visit to India. India has also suspended all incoming tourists, and will bar passengers of flights from the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom from Wednesday. Travellers coming from or transiting through the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine when they arrive in India, the government announced late Monday. Arrivals from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany are already subject to similar restrictions, while most border points with neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar have been shut. The closure of the Taj came as the central bank, after an emergency meeting, said Monday it would boost cash injections into financial markets by one trillion rupees ($13.5 billion) to address the economic impact of the pandemic. The Reserve Bank of India also announced another round of foreign-currency swap to inject $2 billion into the market to stabilise the rupee, which fell to record lows last week.

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Destination Orchha: Madhya Pradesh builds new tourism brand with Namaste Orchha festival

A sleepy town in Bundelkhand region may have just emerged as the key to unleashing the rich potential of tourism in Madhya Pradesh, a state that has remained for long in the shadow of Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa despite an abundance of history, heritage and nature. Orchha, a treasure trove of forts, rivers, forests and cultures and only a five-hour rail and road journey away from Delhi, is now projected as the next Khajuraho. Built on the banks of the Betwa River in early 16th century by Bundela chief Rudra Pratap Singh for his new kingdom, Orchha is a hidden gem of architectural wonders. With a population of only 11,000, the town boasts of a string of palaces, forts and monuments. Its centuries-old Ram Raja temple and Chaturbhuj temple draw tens of thousands of pilgrims every month to worship Lord Ram, both as a king and god. The majestic Jahangir Mahal situated in the Orchha fort complex tells the story of a curious friendship between Bundela chief Vir Singh Deo and Mughal emperor Jahangir. Orchha's rich history and heritage are at the forefront of an ambitious tourism campaign launched this month by Madhya Pradesh. Namaste Orchha, a new annual cultural festival organised by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board in the town during March 6-8, gathered famous musicians, dancers and chefs from India and abroad to signal a new thinking in tourism promotion in the state. "Madhya Pradesh is set to be one of the major growth drivers of Indian economy and tourism is a key sector with immense potential," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said in a statement on the opening day of the three-day festival held at different venues across the town. The state tourism board figures show that 80 million domestic tourists and 3.5 lakh foreign tourists visited Madhya Pradesh last year. Scheduling the new festival shortly after the big ticket Khajuraho Dance Festival (held during February 20-26 this year), the state government is hoping to maintain the spotlight on Madhya Pradesh in the spring season. The backdrop of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, Madhya Pradesh is known as the "Tiger state" and hosts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Khajuraho, Sanchi and Bhimbetka rock shelters. Its vast resources of other important historical sites like in Orchha, only 180 km from Khajuraho, are, however, little known. "Madhya Pradesh is a very underrated destination. While its wildlife is acknowledged, the state's vast historical and architectural heritage is not. The state represents what best India has to offer. Orchha is a part of these untold and undiscovered destinations in the state," says Namaste Orchha festival director Yasmin Kidwai. "We wanted to put Orchha on the tourism map and do it in a sustainable way, making people as part of the development," Kidwai adds. While celebrated singers such as the French musician Manu Chao, folk singers from Madhya Pradesh's Malwa region — Prahlad Tipaniya and Kaluram Bamaniya — Hindustani vocalist Shubha Mudgal, playback singer Shilpa Rao and Kathak dancer and choreographer Aditi Mangaldas ensured an electrifying beginning for Namaste Orchha, there were interesting interventions that could have lasting impact with the local community. Designer Anupamaa Dayal painted the walls lining the town's main thoroughfare with works inspired by the Malwa region's fabled Gond art. Dayal also went to the town's homestays, painting some of them with birds, the Gond art's leitmotif. "It is a repetitive motif albeit in completely different art styles in the frescos and the colourful Gond art," she says. "I also sense it to be a lovely leitmotif to Orchha. Light, beautiful... symbolising freedom and the link between earth (endless green fields and sense of space), the waters (Betwa river) and heaven (strong mythological element of Orchha)," adds Dayal. Last November, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's parents Stanley Johnson and Charlotte Johnson Wahl visited Orchha and expressed their appreciation of the forts and monuments to local authorities. State tourism officials believe Orchha's proximity to the Golden Triangle tourism circuit of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur would be an advantage. "Madhya Pradesh is like a set from an Indiana Jones movie," says Ajeet Bajaj, managing director of Snow Leopard Adventures, an adventure tourism company. "There are possibilities of nature trails, rafting, kayaking, canoeing and cycle tours," he adds. Madhya Pradesh's new tourism policy, which underlines private investment, too backs the Orchha campaign. The government says it wants to allow the private hospitality sector to convert heritage properties in the state to hotels for increasing the number of rooms and facilities for tourists. "The focus is on ease of doing business," says Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. Mohan Lal Rekhwal, a retired policeman in Orchha, hopes tourism will help in bringing jobs to the town. "The government is building new roads and other facilities for tourists in Orchha. It will help our people to get jobs," he adds. The villages around the town are also building new homestays to participate in the tourism development. At the Friends of Orchha (www.orcha.org) homestay owned by Mythla Kewat and husband Munna Lal, all its eight rooms have been occupied the entire month. "We receive domestic and foreign tourists," says Romi Samele, an Orchha tourism entrepreneur who manages Friends of Orchha homestay, which won the Best Community-run Homestay prize at the National Tourism Awards in 2018. "We feel part of the family. The owners have a natural way of welcoming guests," says Amandine Fastre, a visitor from the south of France. The Alliance Francaise in Bhopal has partnered with the state tourism board to train 19 tour guides in Orchha. "Seventeen of them completed the 80-hour course to develop French language skills," says Kidwai. "We want to enlarge the tour guide training," says Bertrand de Hartingh, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French embassy in Delhi and Country Director of Institut Francais. "It is very good when the guides come from the local community. It is a win-win situation," he adds. As Orchha and Madhya Pradesh move towards welcoming more tourists in the coming years, sustainable development has been mooted as a key component of tourism growth in the state.

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