The Adventure

The Adventure Travel Trade Association recently surveyed 281 inbound and outbound tour operators and travel agents from 54 countries (80% were tour operators) who served an average of 3,300 travelers per year. The survey found that 50% of travelers would enjoy incorporating a food experience outside of traditional meals into a physically active style of adventure travel. As the following charts depict, 51% of these tour operators said their tours incorporating food experiences are more popular than itineraries without food.

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It's becoming more difficult for tour operators to ignore the impact food has on tourism and traveler intent to take a trip to their dream destination. Many adventure travel thrills can be replicated in several parts of the world, but native food experiences make certain destinations unique and cannot be mass produced across continents. Tour operators are beginning to better understand that food is one of the last non-digitized experiences that travelers must be physically present for to digest and take in.

Food can also be baked into each kind of tour an operator leads giving travelers an incentive to buy more packages and tour operators a way to differentiate themselves from competitors offering the same activities.

Travel India and Tours

As the summer heats up, Intrepid Travel has decided to announce their top trips to India. Tour India in style and absorb the rich culture on one of Intrepid's top trips. India is vibrant, intoxicating, inspiring and dramatic. Intrepid Travel's top India trip, Unforgettable India, takes travelers from the Mughal splendor of Delhi and Agra to the reminders of the Hindu epics in Khajuraho. From tiger-spotting in Panna National Park to seeing the pilgrims undertake their daily rituals on the banks of the Ganges, this top India trip is truly unforgettable. Travelers will uncover the secrets of freedom fighters in Allahabad and soak up the spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi. Unforgettable IndiaExplorers will wander the streets of Delhi before experiencing rural life in tiny Chanderi. They will explore the peaceful countryside of Orchha and marvel at Kama Sutra carvings in Khajuraho. Travelers will track tigers in Panna National Park and will witness pilgrim traditions in Chitrakoot. $905 for 15 days (plus local payment INR Rs10000).http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/HSUThe Golden Triangle is a perfect introduction to India's three most popular destinations - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Explore both the icons and secrets of India on this exciting and compact trip.The starting point for an adventure, Delhi, is a chaotic medley of bazaars, museums, temples, mosques and colonial buildings. Travelers then take a fast train to Agra. This former Mughal capital is home to the romantic Taj Mahal and massive Red Fort, which dominate the skyline. After a search for silk, hand painted textiles or folk art in the Jaipur bazaars, explorers then head back to Delhi for a final taste of the bustling city. Pehaps they will indulge in a traditional aloo gobi, or will seek out some of India's famous sweet treats from a food stall. Golden TriangleTravelers will experience Indian culture on this top trip. They will see the sights of Old Delhi and will explore the Red Fort of Agra. They will go bird watching in a rickshaw and will discover a ghost town in Bharatpur before taking a stroll through the streets of pink Jaipur. $665 for 7 days (plus local payment INR Rs5000). http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/HSNIntrepid Travel's top India trips are a chance to have real life experiences in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. To learn more about Intrepid Travel's top India trips please visit: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/About Intrepid TravelWith over 19 years of experience, Intrepid Travel is one of the world's leading small group adventure tour operators. Intrepid offers over 400 adventure itineraries in more than 90 destinations worldwide. Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way, joining locals on their transport, in their

PUSHKAR CAMEL FAIR

For travelers with a desire to feel the sun on their face and the sand beneath their feet, Intrepid Travel is announcing their India adventure trips that take passengers to the Pushkar Camel Fair. The Pushkar Camel Fair is one of the biggest livestock fairs in India. Featuring thousands of people, camels, horses, and shops full of handmade items, buyers and sellers come from all over India to purchase and sell their animals. Held in Pushkar, a town surrounded by myths and legends, visitors of the fair can also enjoy the only Brahma Temple in the world. The festival lasts from November 10th to the 13th, 2008.One of Intrepid's India adventure trips visiting the Pushkar Camel Fair takes passengers from Delhi to Kathmandu. From reminders of the Mughal dynasty to the snow-capped Himalayas of Nepal, this journey will inspire travelers. They will witness the color and contrast from the plains of central India to the sacred River Ganges. From across the grasslands of the Terai to the foothills of the Himalayas, Intrepid's India adventure brings travelers face to face with pilgrims, villagers, sadhus and shopkeepers.Delhi to KathmanduTravelers will see the sights of Old Delhi, and will be romanced by the beauty of the Taj Mahal. They will explore ruins in Orchha, sail down the River Ganges, and will see the pilgrims of Varanasi. Explorers will go on safari in Chitwan National Park, and experience Himalayan panoramas, before they discover the sights and sounds of Kathmandu. $995 for 15 days (plus a local payment INR Rs10000.)http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/HSK/USPR

Medical Tourism

RNCOS has released a report on the Asian medical tourism industry – “Asian Medical Tourism Analysis (2008-2012)”- which says that Asia represents the world’s most potential medical tourism market. The region accounted for nearly 12.7% of the global market and generated US$ 3.4 Billion revenues in 2007. The market is anticipated to remain strong in future too, registering a CAGR growth of 17.6% during 2007-2012.According to the report, the medical tourism market has been hitting it big due to improving healthcare infrastructure in the region. Countries, particularly India, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, are successfully meeting the demand for quality healthcare through world-class medical infrastructure and trained medical professionals, including tertiary hospital care. Most of the medical professionals in these countries are trained in world-class institutions abroad. Hence, hospitals provide foreign patients highly qualified, board-certified physicians, medical technicians, and top-tier nursing staff, together with highly personalized care. As a result, the success rate of complicated surgeries and patient satisfaction is very high.

Morden India

The modern India got its independence from Britain in 1947 after a long struggle led mostly by Mahatma Gandhi. However, the country was divided into two countries,in the process of becoming independent। Post independence, India has made huge progress inspite of great problems, and has developed its industry and its agriculture, and has maintained a system of government which makes it the largest democracy in the world.