First individual Chinese tourists visit Japan

Japan on Wednesday welcomed the first Chinese tourists travelling individually rather than on tours, under visa changes that aim to lure more wealthy foreigners amid the recession. Until now, Chinese tourists had to travel in groups escorted by tour guides from both countries, a rule meant to prevent illegal immigration. But in response to growing demand, Tokyo started issuing visas to individual Chinese tourists this month. At Tokyo's Narita Airport, Japan Airlines arranged a warm welcome for the 19 tourists from Beijing and Shanghai. They were greeted by a person dressed as Hello Kitty wearing a traditional Japanese kimono. Several children arriving from China were given stuffed toys of the cartoon cat, which Japan has chosen as a "friendship ambassador" to promote tourism, especially from the Hong Kong and China markets. "Welcome to Japan," said Yoshiaki Hompo, head of the Japan Tourism Agency. "There are no more worries about swine flu. Please enjoy your travels in Japan." Japan expected 65 individual tourist arrivals from China on Wednesday, flying in on JAL, All Nippon Airways and Air China to several airports throughout the country, the tourist agency said. "The Chinese market has great potential for tourism, especially for wealthy people to come here and boost consumption," said Hompo. "Japan and China have had a complex history, but the exchanges of people could enhance mutual understanding," he added. "I want them to enjoy shopping and walking around freely in Japan." Fan Chengyan, a 51-year-old businesswoman who arrived with her four children, said she would spend five days travelling around Japan. "If I had time, I would like to see Kyoto, Mount Fuji and many areas of Tokyo. I heard Japan is a very environmentally friendly country. So I want to experience that," she said. Under the new visa rules for China, applicants for individual tourist visas need "good references in terms of occupation, financial resources and other factors," the government has said. The annual number of Chinese arrivals in Japan -- including both business visitors and tourists -- reached one million last year and is projected to hit 1.25 million in 2010.

Real recruits seen drawing more Asian tourists to Spain

MADRID (AFP) - – Real Madrid's recruitment of star players like Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil's Kaka will lead to in increase in visitors from Asia to Spain, a tourism trade body predicted Wednesday. Juan Melian, the head of the Tourism Panel which groups about 30 major tourism-related companies, said the arrival of players "with an extraordinary media impact in the Asian market would boost the appeal of Madrid and the rest of the country as a holiday destination to thousands of football fans." "Sports serves as a great promotional showcase for any country," he added in a statement. Last month Real signed Ronaldo from Manchester United for a record of around 94 million euros and Kaka from AC Milan for 65 million euros as the Spanish giants returned to the era of the "galacticos" or "superstars". Club president Florentino Perez, who was restored at the helm of Real in June elections, was also responsible for a similar policy from 2000-2006 and is splashing the cash again to restore the team's fortunes. During his first stint at the club Perez signed Portugal's Luis Figo, England's David Beckham, France's Zinedine Zidane and Brazil's Ronaldo who drew large crowds during the tours of Asia which Real carried out during the period. The museum at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium with its trophy room where all the club's championship cups are displayed is one of the Spanish capital's key attractions. About 700,000 people visit the museum each year, according to Real. Melian also predicted that the role which Spanish forward Pau Gasol played in helping the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA championship this season would help increase the number of visitors to Spain from the United States. Spain has slipped to third place in the ranking of most-visited countries in the world, behind the United States and France, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation. The country received 57.4 million tourists in 2008, a 2.6 percent decline over the previous year and the first fall in over a decade, according to national statistics institute INE. Europe accounts for the bulk of all visitors to Spain. The tourism sector accounts for about 11 percent of the country's jobs and gross domestic product.

Travel Tips

Arrival & Departure Formalities Information Arrival Formalities If the visa, for stay in India, is for more than 180 days, a Registration Certificate and Residential Permit should be obtained from the nearest Foreigners' Registration Office within 15 days of arrival. Four photographs are also required for registration. The foreigners registered at Foreigners' Registration Office are required to report change of their addresses. All persons including Indian nationals are required to fill in a Disembarkation Card, at the time of arrival. Departure from India All persons, except nationals of Bhutan & Nepal, leaving by air, road or rail have to fill in an Embarkation Card at the time of departure. Departure from India All persons, except nationals of Bhutan & Nepal, leaving by air, road or rail have to fill in an Embarkation Card at the time of departure. Exit Formalities Every foreigner who is about to depart finally from India must surrender his Certificate of Registration either to the Registration Officer of the place where he is registered or of the place from where he plans to depart or to the Immigration Officer at the Port/Checkpost of exit from India. Foreign Travel Tax Passengers embarking on trips to any place outside India from a Customs airport/seaport will have to pay a Foreign Travel Tax (FTT) of Rs. 500 and Rs. 150 on trips to Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Srilanka and Maldives. No tax is payable on trips performed by ship from Rameshwaram to Talaimanar and in case of transit passengers, provided they do not leave the customs barrier. Transit passengers travelling by air who have to leave the airport on accout of mechanical trouble but continue their jouney by the same aircraft and the same flight number by which they arrive are also exempt from FTT. Transit sea passengers leaving the ship for sightseeing, shopping etc. during the ships' call at any of the Indian ports will not be required to pay FTT. Customs Visitors are generally required to make an oral baggage declaration in respect of baggage and foreign currency in their possession. They are also required to obtain the Currency Declaration Form from the Customs. They should fill in the Disembarkation Card handed over to them by the airline during the course of the flight. There are two channels for clearance : Green Channel : For passengers not in possesion of any dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage. Red Channel : For passengers with dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high value articles to be entered on the tourist Baggage Re-Export Form. Dutiable articles or unaccompanied baggage or high-value articles must be entered on a Tourist Baggage Re-Export Form (TBRE). These articles must be reexported at the time of departure. A failure to re-export anything listed on the TBRE becomes a payable duty levied for each missing item. The following duty-free possessions are permissible- clothes and jewellery, cameras and up to five rolls of film; binoculars, a portable musical instrument, a radio or portable tape recorder, a tent and camping equipment, fishing rod, a pair of skis, two tennis rackets, 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars,.95 litres of liquor, and gifts not exceeding a value of Rs. 600 (about $20). Depending on the attitude of the customs' official, one may or may not have to enter a portable computer on a TBRE form. Currency Allowed In India There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency or travellers' cheques a tourist may bring into India provided he makes a declaration in the Currency Declaration Form given to him on arrival. This will enable him not only to exchange the currency bought in, but also to take the unspent currency out of India on departure. Cash, bank notes and travellers' cheques up to US$ 1,000 or equivalent, need not be declared at the time of entry. Any money in the form of travellers' cheques, drafts, bills, cheques, etc. in convertible currencies, which tourists wish to convert into Indian currency, should be exchanged only through authorised money changers and banks who will issue an encashment certificate that is required at the time of reconversion of any unspent money into foreign currency. Exchanging of foreign currency other than banks or authorised money changers is an offense under Foreign Exchange Regulations Act 1973 Leaving India Rupees are not allowed out of India. Exchanging them before you depart is the best option. Banking facilities, for the conversion of rupees into foreign currency are usually located in the same airport hall as the check-in counters.Its best to access these facilities before immigration as they are not available thereafter. All animal products, souvenirs, and trophies are subject to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The export of skins made from protected wildlife species is not allowed. Such items cannot be imported into many countries, including the United States. As a general rule, avoiding such souvenirs that could be made of animal skins (except crocodile-leather goods)is best. Generally, items more than 100 years old cannot be exported without a permit from the Archaeological Survey, which has an office in Delhi. Reputable shops will provide you with the required permit or help you procure it. Items without permits will be detained by Indian Customs if they are believed to be over 100 years old. Embassy Information The United States Embassy (Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6889033) is open weekdays 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM for consular services. The Canadian High Commission (7/8 Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6876500) is open Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM -12:45 PM and 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM for consular services. The British High Commission (Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, tel. 011-6872161) is open weekdays 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon and 2:00 PM -4:00 PM for consular services. For lost passports or emergencies, a duty officer is available 24 hours a day at each embassy. Time: GMT/UTC plus five hours 30 minutes Electricity: 230-240V, 50 HZ Weights & measures: Metric (see conversion table) Tourism: 2 million visitors per year Airports The international airports in the metrocities extend services ensuring that the traveller on business can continue working even during his wait for boarding an international connection, or when transferring between international flights. These facilities include restaurants, business centres, rest rooms and telephone booths. Business centres are furnished with state-of-the-art equipment including wordprocessors and telefax. Airports also offer tourist dutyfree & handicrafts shopping, snack bars, nursery and baby care rooms, and an art gallery too for art lovers. Dutyfree prices in the airport shops are very competitive, giving one bargains on international merchandise.

India Tourist Destinations

Like a rainbow that colours the infinite sky, India paints the world with her magical hues. India is a dream holiday that rewards every traveller with her endless tourist attractions. To explore India is to discover a land gifted with everything that makes up for a perfect travel package.

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JAIPUR HOTEL PACKAGES

Hotel Packages Cost of Packages TRIDENT HILTON Rs. 6500/- onwards

THE OBEROI RAJVILAS Rs. 26,000/- onwards

RAJPUTANA SHERATON Rs. 8999/- onwards

RAMBAGH PALACE Rs. 21,300/- onwards CHOKHI DHANI PACKAGE Rs. 4999/- onwards HOTEL MANSINGH Rs. 5000/- onwards MANSINGH TOWER Rs. 5500/- onwards

HOLIDAY INN Rs. 5499/- onwards