With a whirring sound, the blades of the rotor began moving. At first, slowly, but soon they were moving so fast that all I could see was a blur. Even though I was sitting inside the cabin and the door was shut, the noise was simply deafening.
Within a couple of minutes, we were airborne, as the helicopter took off, first with its nose down, and then as we gained more height, it levelled off and after a few more minutes we had reached our cruising altitude.
All this while, my eyes were glued to the views outside and I was relishing every moment of the first-ever helicopter ride in my life. I was in Jamaica to attend Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2023 being held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in the northern part of the Caribbean Island.
Along with a handful of Indian travel agents specialised in outbound luxury travel from India, I was fortunate enough to be the sole media person from India to be invited by Jamaica Tourist Board to attend JAPEX 2023. The invitations were part of the strategy of the tourist board to boost the number of Indian travellers to the island nation, which has traditionally been favoured by well-heeled Indians, for organising destination weddings, anniversary celebrations or simply to enjoy a cruise in the Caribbean.
With a booming economy and the sharply rising number of millionaires in India, Jamaica has fixed its sights on promoting itself as an exclusive luxury destination in India.
And how better to promote it than by giving a taste of luxury? This was one of the primary reasons why we were in the bright-red coloured helicopter that had taken off moments earlier from a helipad at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, where JAPEX 2023 was taking place.
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Denne historien er fra November - December 2023-utgaven av India Outbound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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La Mamounia is an oasis for travellers
In order to cement its foothold in the Indian market, Moroccan luxury resort La Mamounia, located in the picturesque town of Marrakech, recently organised a visit to Mumbai and Delhi, engaging with top-tier travel industry partners from India. General Manager Pierre Jochem tells India Outbound that the resort, which recently completed 100 years, is targetting the Indian visitors seeking to explore Morrocan art, culture and heritage, besides its captivating beauty.
Africa has come a long way as travel destination for Indians
The perception of Africa as a tourism destination has come a long way in India as travellers from India have gone beyond safaris to discover other elements that make travel to Africa attractive. The change is not just amongst Indian tourists, but destinations have also learnt more about their Indian clients and are taking steps to customise their offer to the Indian visitors, writes Alpa Jani, Founder, Ace Connect, a tourism marketing company.
ASCENIC RAIL TRIP ACROSS BALKANS
A rail journey through the Western Balkans, from Serbia's vibrant capital Belgrade to the culturally rich Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a more tranquil, scenic way to explore the region's breathtaking mountains, lakes and historical towns at a leisurely pace.
Shahnaz Husain's cool tips for skincare during travel
Celebrity beautician and hair care expert Shahnaz Husain tells India Outbound on her secrets for skin-care and hair-care while travelling.
Plovdiv: Timeless jewel in Bulgarian crown
With a history spanning over two millennia, Plovdiv is not only one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, but also a vibrant conduit linking Bulgaria's past and its present.
Navigating Natural Wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
For us city dwellers, even the sound of a cuckoo might seem exotic. So now imagine discovering a vastness filled with shifting dunes and interlaced emerald lagoons.
Explore the Jewel of Southern Spain, Seville
Home to one of the largest historic centres of Europe and three world heritage sites, the stunning city of Seville, located by the picturesque Guadalquivir River in southern Spain, offers tourists an experience rich in history, culture, art, gastronomy and much more.
UPI IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A GAME CHANGER FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS
Having revolutionised digital transactions in India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now expanding globally. After tepid beginnings in the immediate neighbourhood, UPI is gaining acceptance in many countries making a win-win for Indian tourists and businesses overseas that are increasingly eager to tap the burgeoning Indian outbound travel market.
Debuting at COP29, can tourism lead march towards curbing carbon emissions?
Tourism will make its debut in global climate change negotiations in the next round of discussions, COP29, that opens in Baku later this month. So far, the discussions have spectacularly failed to produce any notable outcome, besides platitudes and numerous missed commitments. The global tourism industry has a golden opportunity to lead the way and show the world the true path to curbing carbon emissions. But the sector's own record in this aspect is hardly blemishless.
Bintan Island: SEESE
A haven of nature, with thriving flora and fauna, the Indonesian island of Bintan, that is barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry and comes with easy visa regimes, is an ideal extension for any Indian visitor to Singapore, looking to add a touch of wilderness to the experience.
