Holiday CRush
Supposing a song, book, movie pulls a tourist to India, how might this journey go?
Perhaps nothing gladdens an ersatz desi heart more than a Western ode to Indian beauty. All the complexities of that EM Forster novel about that cave are nothing in comparison to how it continues to send the odd traveller our way. That one Odissi dancer in one Michael Jackson video is never to be forgotten. More current examples of course result in convulsions of joy. Wes Anderson to Coldplay, we scan any India-ish creation with a Sherlock magnifying glass. Did you spot Jodhpur's Mehrangarh fort or this spice bazaar or jhumka gali or that Varanasi ghat or Worli gaon? Ed Sheeran's new song Sapphire has also sent the socials on this look, don't miss, hunt.
As a solidly underperforming tourist destination, India can really do with this kind of free advertising. It's one thing to be totally overshadowed by France, quite another by petite Dubai with nary a world heritage site. Even domestic tourists have begun switching their Goa bookings to Hanoi, Phuket, Bali and Siem Reap. Hence any global song, book, movie pitching Destination India sparking a national amour propre is logical. But supposing tourists far and near do hark the invite and do hoof over, it still may not, sadly, make for a fairy tale.
As Abhijit Banerjee has written in TOI, we may be a very big country, but most tourists don't seem to know that. Crowds gravitate to the same historical ports of call, the same hill stations, the same beaches. For the most part, authorities don't even try to moderate the overcrowding, whether it means pollution turning ancient marble to grey or stacked monstrosities destabilising Himalayan mountains, which means tourists having a poor to dangerous experience. Full circle then, the tourist will curse the song, book, movie that made the nightmare look like a dream.
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email
This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Brigade Hotels signs agreement to build 6 new Marriott hotels by FY30
Bengaluru-based Brigade Hotel Ventures (BHV), which recently listed on the bourses, on Wednesday signed a multi-deal agreement with global hotel chain Marriott International to develop six hotels for the company. Coming up in four key southern cities — Chennai, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi — the move will add about 940 keys to BHV's portfolio in the country, taking it to 3,300 keys. The new hotels will be classified under the Fairfield by Marriott, JW Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton brands. 'With this signing, Brigade reinforces its nearly 15-year partnership with Marriott, further strengthening a successful relationship and bringing the total to eight hotels with Marriott, totalling 1,388 keys,' the company stated in a release. While the Courtyard by Marriott offering at Chennai World Trade Center with 45 keys is expected to open in financial year 2027 (FY27), the Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru International Airport (224 keys) and Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Brigade Valencia (151 keys) are set to open in FY28. Additionally, the JW Marriott at OMR Chennai with 250 keys, the 70-key all-villa Ritz-Carlton Vaikom Island in Kerala, and the mixed-use Thiruvananthapuram Marriott Hotel World Trade Center with 200 keys are set to open in FY30. 'Our growth strategy focuses on being present where our guests want us to be. Today's signed agreement underscores our long-standing relationship with Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited, and leveraging the strength of our diverse brand portfolio, we are confident these new developments will meet the needs of travellers, for every trip purpose,' said Rajeev Menon, president, Asia Pacific excluding China at Marriott International. Last month, the NASDAQ-listed global hospitality major had signed an agreement with Blackstone-backed Ventive Hospitality for six new hotels — at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Mundra in Gujarat, and Pune and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra — by 2030. The American hospitality chain currently has over 155 hotels and over 29,000 rooms in more than 40 Indian cities. Earlier this year, Anthony Capuano, president and chief executive officer of Marriott International, had stated that he expects India to become its third-largest market within five years. "We will continue the momentum we enjoy in the upper, upscale, and luxury segment. We will also look at the lower end of the chain scales and create more opportunities for the value-conscious inbound international traveller and the domestic traveller," Capuano had said.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Adani Digital Labs Unveils Key Initiatives To Elevate Airport, Travel Experience
Adani Digital Labs (ADL), the technology arm of Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), on Wednesday announced a series of transformative initiatives aimed at redefining the travel and airport experience for passengers across Adani-managed airports in India. The strategic moves enhance convenience, comfort, and engagement at Adani Airports, solidifying its position as a leader in digital innovation within the aviation sector. "The new ADL aims to infuse energy, diverse ideas, and unparalleled expertise into its operations. This marks the first phase of a broader strategy to deliver an exclusive digital-first experience to passengers. In every project we undertake, our objective is to diminish and alleviate travel-related anxiety for passengers," said Srushti Adani, Director, Adani Digital Labs. "Offerings will include up-to-the-minute information, exciting rewards and special tiered lounge services, moving beyond standard aggregator offerings to create a truly personalised digital experience, making it a delight for passengers to journey through our airports," Srushti Adani added. Demonstrating its commitment to growth and innovation, ADL inaugurated a 150-seater office in Ahmedabad, from where the team will continue to develop customer-centric solutions for the airport environment. These solutions will address common travel challenges such as time constraints, limited awareness of amenities, and long queues. By bringing all airport services onto a single digital platform, Adani OneApp transforms the journey from transactional to experiential, enhancing personalisation, convenience, and efficiency for every traveller. Serving as a digital companion, the app will empower passengers to plan, navigate, and enjoy their airport experience with several features. Adani Rewards is a groundbreaking loyalty initiative designed exclusively for airport travellers. This is the first of its kind loyalty programmes in the Indian airport ecosystem, focused on delivering exceptional value and unforgettable experiences. The programme seamlessly spans F&B, retail, car parking, duty-free shopping, and meet & greet services, offering unmatched flexibility and ease of use. A cutting-edge digital platform now streamlines lounge access at Adani Airports. Travellers can now easily pre-book lounges, check card eligibility, and enjoy hassle-free entry-eliminating queues and delays. The users can browse and shop from an extensive catalogue of F&B, duty-free, and retail stores. Convenient airport services such as Delivery at Gate, Multi-cart Orders, group orders for Duty-Free, and Park & Fly for seamless parking, according to the company.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
H-1B visa expiring? Indian chose Jamaica for visa slots, smooth process
An Indian H-1B visa holder renewed his visa in Jamaica instead of India and shared the full process, documents, costs, and interview details in a detailed Reddit post New Delhi Trying to get visa slots in India to renew your expiring H-1B visa? An Indian national opted for Jamaica instead, and has shared the complete process, documents, and costs in a detailed Reddit post to help others. The user, who goes by the handle 'noobvorld' on Reddit's H-1B community, titled his post 'My H-1B visa stamping experience in Jamaica'. 'I recently completed H1B visa stamping in Jamaica and wanted to share my experience to help others considering this option. My H-1B was expiring in September, and I needed to get it renewed without the hassle of booking appointments in India,' he wrote. Why Jamaica? He said he had explored several third-country national (TCN) options before deciding on Jamaica. Canada was fully booked through 2026, but Jamaica offered 'plenty of availability'. 'I used to check wait times across different countries – this website was incredibly helpful for comparing options,' he said. The process began with filling out and submitting the DS-160 form, followed by booking an appointment for early July. 'Your DS-160 must match your appointment location. You can only update your DS-160 in your application for appointment ONCE, so be careful. If you initially filled it for a different location, you can change it to Jamaica later, but you only get one update,' he advised. His document checklist included: Current passport Old visa DS-160 confirmation page Appointment confirmation and instructions Photo Offer letter Original I-797 LCA copy Employment verification letter Travel and stay He flew from New York's JFK to Kingston on July 27 and returned from Montego Bay on August 2. Indians do not need a visa to enter Jamaica, but must complete a C5 immigration form online before arrival. Describing his entry experience, he wrote: 'When asked by the officer about the purpose of my visit, I mentioned the visa appointment and was quickly allowed entry. The entire process took about 10 minutes.' At the consulate, there were 'about 40 people ahead of me in line for the interview, but the line moved relatively quickly. Was out of the consulate about an hour after entering. If you've experienced US Embassy interviews in Mumbai/Delhi, this will feel much smoother and better organised.' Is it safe to book from a third country? According to the US Department of State, each consulate or embassy has different procedures and timelines for visa applications. Applicants should first confirm that the location accepts third-country applications, review its process, and check appointment availability before booking travel. Piyush Kumar, regional director for South Asia, Canada and Latin America at IDP Education, said, 'It's important to note that you may be asked to explain why you chose to apply from a country other than your home country. This could lead to additional scrutiny during the interview process. Therefore, while it is an option, it is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.' Risks of the third-country option 'One of the primary challenges of applying from another country is that many locations may also have limited or no appointment slots available,' said Kumar. 'Additionally, applying from outside one's home country could result in more detailed questioning during the visa interview. It is important for students to assess these factors carefully and seek guidance from authorised advisors to make an informed decision.'
