A group of investors from the United States today evinced interest in participating in eco-friendly tourist projects in Assam. This was disclosed by the investors when they called on state Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi here. The group, which included Ms Christina Neyniger, Shams Tabriz Habib and Ms Natasha Martin, have shown interests in exploring potential opportunities in some organic products for export.

The products for export range from spices, exotic fruits, vegetables to tea. “Our focus is on developing the adventure and eco-friendly tourism markets and develop Assam as the base of these activities”, Heyniger said after their discussion with Gogoi. “We are looking forward to develop and market the appropriate products and services to attract key clients in the West, Heyniger, who has vast expertise in this sector having worked globally in areas with enormous bio-diversity as Madagascar and central America, said, Gogoi while assuring the investors of government’s help and support said the climate in the state was conducive for investments.

Nepal is home to the Himalaya’s and the world’s highest mountain. Rapid rivers flow through the country and wilderness areas abound. Experience the ultimate adventure travel in Nepal. Join us as we explore the various adventure travel options in Nepal.

TrekkingWith the great diversity of landscapes in Nepal, trekking has truly grown in popularity and will always be a fantastic adventure in Nepal. Most treks take place through the Middle Hills region where areas lie between 500m and 3000m above sea level. Excellent trails in this region will lead you across mountains and through quaint Nepalese villages. Trails can be traversed without the use of ropes or other mountaineering equipment. At certain times and on certain paths you may experience snow, but it is usually not a major hazard. Trekking in Nepal doesn’t require any special skills, just stamina and good health. Various companies offer guided treks through Nepal some featuring a trek up one of the impressive peaks of the country. Treks through Nepal are very physically demanding as long trails take in a several ascents and descents. People who are interested in trekking in Nepal should have some hiking experience and be comfortable with living outdoors. To find out more about trekking in Nepal, visit our page on “Trekking”.

MountaineeringOf course Nepal’s grand mountains offer the ultimate in mountaineering and expeditions can be organized to most of the peaks. Such expeditions require special arrangements and are best done through a company offering such a service along with guides and other staff. Technical mountaineering equipment and experience is required for this amazing adventure. As these hikes, especially those up the high peaks of the Himalaya’s require extensive organization, it is best to contact an adventure company to find out exactly what is required.

Mountain BikingMountain biking through Nepal, though challenging at some stages, is a great way to explore the natural wonders of this lovely country. Riding over mountain passes, through small towns and settlements and past monasteries is a truly unique and exciting experience, well worth the effort. Friendly locals will great you as you go along, what better way to familiarize yourself with the great diversity of Nepal.

Most manufacturers in Malaysia and India are bullish on globalization making new markets accessible and offering cost savings by outsourcing, a study said Friday.Malaysia’s percentage balance, the difference between the proportions of businesses indicating an opportunity rather than a threat was 73 percent, with India right behind at 72 percent. Grant Thornton accounting firm’s International Business Report 2007 ranked Singapore third at 64 percent.

Manufacturers in Thailand, Australia and New Zealand viewed globalization as a threat, with their respective percentage balances negative 13 percent, negative six percent, and negative five percent. Global manufacturing businesses were most concerned about the impact of raw materials and energy on cost pressures.

It’s a travel agency that thousands of Indian tourists swear by. For almost a generation of outbound tourists in Western India, exotically named packaged tours like European Discovery and Dazzling Dubai were the first introduction to foreign travel. Holding their hand through the rough and tumble of the experience were familiar tour guides and Indian cooks dishing out vegetarian food from a travel agency called Shree Raj Travels and Tours, or more simply Raj Travels. The company which started three decades ago by Lalit Sheth from a small tour operator, offering trips to Kashmir, now has a national presence with several business streams. Raj travels is best known for its outbound tours, comprising 85% of its business.

The company’s latest initiative is the Raj National Express, a Volvo bus service operating in 39 cities countrywide. The buses offer fast and comfortable service on metro and non-metro routes all over the country. The transportation business will gradually form a much higher chunk as operations increase, says Mr Sheth. The company operates 51 buses with hubs in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bangalore and Chennai.

What began as a hunt for timber to build log houses at an upcoming 350 million euro ski resort in the Himalayan slopes of India has blossomed into a vibrant partnership involving the Finnish government, a municipality in the north of the country and a semi-government body supported by the European Union. This collaboration has brought in Finnish experts in the fields of environmentally sustainable tourism, ecological snow management, resort development and best operational practices.

The Himalayan Ski Village (HSV) aims to create world-class infrastructure at Manali in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh to position it amongst the world’s best tourism destinations, the project’s promoters say. Even as HSV prepares for its groundbreaking ceremony later this year, the collaboration has already begun showing results. A group of 40 skiers from Manali have just completed a three-week training schedule at three slopes in the Lapland area of northern Finland to become instructors.

With its scenic beauty and rich cultural and natural diversity, southern Spain’s Andalucia region is positioning itself as a dream destination for Indian tourists seeking a holiday with a difference. “Nowhere else in the world can you drive in two and a half hours from perpetually snow-clad mountains to wide beaches, to vast biosphere reserves and to deserts of volcanic ash,” Gaspar Zarrias, vice president of the Andalucia autonomous region, said at a presentation for the media and the travel trade here.

Andalucia is the land of flamenco and bullfights. Its 800 km of Mediterranean coastline hosts a staggering 42 pleasure marinas. It boasts of 104 golf courses - many of them by the sea - five modern airports, 24 nature parks and 32 nature reserves. The region is home to the historic cities of Seville, Cadiz, Cordoba, Malaga, Granada and Almeria. It counts among its proud son’s painter Pablo Piccaso, author Gabriel Garcia Marquez and actor Antonio Banderas.

In fact, it was from the Andalucian port of Palos that Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492 on his voyage that culminated in the discovery of America. “We have a good product to offer and this is reflected in the fact that we received 25.1 million tourists. This number has already been exceeded by one million this year,” said Zarrias, who is the number two in the regional government that has a considerable amount of functional autonomy. “Four out of every 10 visitors is a repeat traveler. This is obviously due to that something special to offer,” Zarrias contended.

Mahindra Holidays and Resorts, has launched ‘Zest’ a short break option for young metropolitans who want frequent holiday breaks. As a part of the exercise, the first two Zest signature resorts will be operational by the year end in Ooty and Kodaikanal. Over the next 18 months, resorts are also being planned at Puducherry, Coorg, Chikmagalur and other locations across the country. “Zest resorts will be unique in that they will cater to a ‘my kind of break — a holiday the way I like it, when I like it and at the pace I like it to be’,” Mahindra Holidays and Resorts chairman Arun Nanda told newspersons on Wednesday.

The product concept has been co-developed with San Francisco based consumer design organizations IDEO. Observing that travel and leisure industry is witnessing a boomtime, MHRIL managing director Ramesh Ramanathan said the zest is primarily aimed at the young metropolitan family who desires a getaway. It will offer a bouquet of resorts at destinations close to all principal metros. The national roll-out if Zest resorts and service network will be phased over the next three years. At present it will be launched in Chennai and Bangalore, he added. Located at drivable distance from metro cities, Zest gives you six nights every year for ten years thus allowing members to take multiple breaks a year.

Recently, a man travelled to one of the EUmember states on an official visit. Of course many people have done so onnumerous occasions but it wouldn’t be worth mentioning if it didn’t have atwist to it. Before he left, he had to obtain a visa with a rare condition -all successful visa applicants had to get comprehensive travel insurance(including health cover).He met all the conditions, obtained the visa and leftfor the trip. That was the expected and simpler side of the story.

Two dayslater, and after dinner, he was struck by food poisoning and had to be rushedto hospital shortly after mid-night when less-costly options - including acall-in at a pharmacy - where beyond reach. But before the medical staff wouldtouch him, they asked whether the patient was covered by a health insurance policy.Through “procedural coercion,” he had gotten the cover. The insurerwas the American Insurance Group (AIG), probably the only internationalinsurance service provider of its kind in Uganda. But if he had not hadinsurance cover, the money he had on him would have perhaps cleared only thedoctor’s consultation costs. At the hospital, the patient was x-rayed and hisblood tested for a number of factors, including analysis of the functioning ofseveral internal body organs.

Done any cross-border gambling lately? Forget casinos. When you zip across the border to do some shopping, you’re gambling unless you have travel emergency medical insurance. Unless they enjoy risking financial ruin, most people have the good sense to get travel medical insurance when they vacation in the United States and other destinations. But it’s easy to forget about coverage when you cross the border for a day or even a few hours.

CAMS offers a comprehensive Personal Accident Insurance scheme which is available to competitors, crew members and officials who may be injured as a result of an incident during a motor sport event in which they are participating. It is worthwhile however touching on the basics of the cover on offer and the manner in which those compensatory amounts identified may be able to be accessed. Firstly, it is important to identify who is covered under the policy. The policy provides benefits to drivers and co-drivers in any CAMS sanctioned event in which they are competing, irrespective of the type of event or the status, provided that a permit has been issued for that event.

This also includes CAMS authorized private practice and test sessions at race circuits and for practice activities in which a CAMS permit has been issued - for example, rally practice sessions. Likewise, members of pit crews and service crews are included in the policy. It is important for all pit and service crews to be registered with the event organizer before the commencement of the competition.

Competitors are registered through their completion of the entry form for the event. Insurance cover also extends to authorize officials of any event for which a CAMS permit has been issued. Once more, in order that all officials are registered, they must be either noted in the Supplementary or Further Regulations for an event or must be registered with the organizers and ’sign on’ before their duties for the event have commenced.