Online Travel Shopping: 4.8 Million And Counting

Click, Search, Book!!

Sounds familiar? Online Travel, which was considered the domain of the Internet ?geeks? a decade back, is the new mantra for the Internet savvy generation of today. Logging on to the Internet and accessing the vast pool of resources has become the norm of the day.

Today, the fastest growing category for B2C e-commerce in India is Travel. From railways to airlines, hotels to travel packages- virtually every segment of the travel industry is seeing a surge in online bookings.

With the global increase in popularity for Online Travel, Online Travel sales worldwide increased by as much as 34% from 2004 to 2005 and reached $62 billion in the US markets and $31.1 billion in the European markets. Online travel in Asia too, is on a roll, estimated to reach $16 billion by 2006 more than double that in 2003.

The exploding globalisation in India has catalysed the rapid expansion of Internet connectivity and e-commerce activities throughout the country. Today, India boasts of an ever-increasing user base whose understanding of the Internet is at par with that of any developed country, boosted by the fact that 68% of the users lie between the age group 15-30 years.

The emergence of low-cost airlines and online ticket booking along with growth in online railway reservation is the key in this Internet booking boom in India. With the increased trust in security of credit card transactions and online payment options, of the 90 percent of the Indians who planned and researched travel options via the internet, 15-20 percent actually booked using the Internet.

The travel industry is cashing on this growth with dedicated e-commerce portals that enable customers to make online bookings and payments for hotel rooms, air tickets, car rentals as well as holiday packages.

Interactive techniques like search tools targeting multiple airlines and variable airfares allow travellers to zero in on the perfect flight, coupled with search engines for sifting through the large array of hotels and booking options, are a perfect lure for the users, along with the last minute bargains and tempting discounts that have become an integral part of the internet shopping.

The online travel today, brings together the best of technology and interactivity, and extensive industry network in a one-stop solution that drives down costs- all just a few clicks away.

Of the 38.5 million people logged-on in India, the Travel industry accounts for over 23% of internet shopping in India, which translates into a whopping 4.8 million Indian users who venture for the Online Travel.

This acceleration accentuates the travellers? preference to directly involve themselves and control their travel choices, making Online Travel Shopping in India the most desired pre-departure tool of the day.

Copyright (C) Manoj Gursahani

Manoj Gursahani is the Director of India's first ecommerce travel portal- TravelMartIndia. Visit the blog for more travel tips and destinations.

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Mexico's Mayan Riviera Has Something For Everyone

Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera have an exceptional variety of attractions and activities from the Mayan ruins at Tulum to the Playa del Carmen nightlife. You will love your Mexico vacation. Here is a listing of some of the popular attractions:

Beaches and sport activities

This area has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Most of the beaches have been manicured and have fine white sand. The water is a turquoise blue of the Caribbean Sea.

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Just off the coast is the world's fifth-longest barrier reef. The reef, home to hundreds of species of marine life, is perfect for snorkeling. Scuba dive and snorkel in the magnificent Caribbean waters. Scuba lessons for beginners and diving tours for the pros are available. Most resorts offer scuba and snorkel tours and/or lessons. Most of the ecological parks have great areas for snorkeling. For more information: www.sealifedivers.com

Cozumel - Only 45 minutes from Playa del Carmen by ferry, this diver's haven is well worth the trip across the ocean. Considered among the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world, Cozumel offers magnificent coral reefs, underwater caves, and shipwrecks sites to explore. There are over 30 kilometres of coral reef, including the world's second largest reef called the Gama Reef.

Golf Courses

Playacar Golf Club - This is an 18 hole, par 72-championship golf course designed by Robert Von Hagge. This course is carved through the lush Mayan jungle where it challenges any golfer to come and enjoy it. Also features a putting green.

Puerto Aventuras - Marina, Tennis and Golf Club. Features a par 36, 9 hole course designed by Thomas Leeman. Maximum length 3,236 yards. Also features a putting green. Rental clubs and carts are available. Located on the Cancun to Chetumal highway at Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen.

Puerto Aventuras also has swimming with dolphins. You can relax and watch the dolphin show while having lunch at the marina and restaurant. For more information: www.dolphindiscovery.com

Mayan Jungle

Take a trip out of the ordinary and explore the wild exotic jungles of the Mexican Riviera. The ATV Explorer Jungle Tour is the original Playa del Carmen jungle tour. Ride an ATV through jungle paths, swim in a clear 60 foot deep cenote, explore caves, and climb ancient Mayan ruins on this 2 hour tour.

Located right next to Playa del Carmen and Playacar, just an hour south of Cancun. For more information: www.atvexplorer.com

Mayan Ruins

Tulum - The smallest Mayan ruin site among the big three, Tulum only needs a day. These ruins overlook the ocean and are right on a beautiful beach. This is a perfect spot for a picnic, a short swim and sun bathing. Don't forget your camera!

Coba - Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and prepare for an hour and a half drive into the jungle before reaching these ruins. Well worth the drive as there are beautiful temples and pyramids to see.

Chichen Itza - This is the most famous and grandiose pyramid of them all. Bring plenty of film and enjoy the beautifully kept grounds and the new restoration work on the pyramid. A must see Mayan ruin for culture enthusiasts. There are also restaurants, a small museum, and tourist shops on the site. Plan for a day excursion.

Eco-Parks

Xcaret - An eco-Mayan theme park for the whole family. A must see if you visit the Mayan Riviera. Prepare to spend your entire day at Xcaret as there are a million and one things to do and see. You can swim with the dolphins, snorkel, tour underground rivers, do sea trekking, visit a butterfly park, a Mayan village, and much more. The is also an excellent light and sound show in the evening. For more information: www.xcaret.net

Xel-Ha - Xel Ha is an eco-park with a large lagoon for snorkeling. It is a great place for first time snorkellers. Inner tubes and life vests are free, and you can rent snorkel gear or bring your own. There is an amazing cave system, cenotes, lagoon, and great snorkeling with thousands of tropical fish. For more information: www.xel-ha.com

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve - The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of Mexico's largest parks, covers more than 1 million acres of coastal jungle or about 20 percent of the state of Quintana Roo's land. This virgin wilderness is home and sanctuary to wide number of species of tropical flora and fauna, of which, the jaguar found here is counted as one of the many protected species. Offers eco-trekking through mangroves, lagoons and rivers. Get a close-up look of the wildlife in the reserve in their natural habitat.

Aktun Chen - Witness spectacular geological formations and swim in crystal clear fresh water in the underground caves. Spider monkeys and a serpentarium (snakes) can be seen. For more information: www.aktunchen.com

Xaman-Ha Aviary - Located in Playacar, this exotic bird sanctuary is a wonderful natural habitat for some 60 species of tropical birds that populate the jungles of the Yucatan peninsula. Scarlet macaws, flamingos, herons and may other beautiful feathered creatures can be found here.

Jardin Botanico del Dr. Alfredo Barrera - Beautiful botanical gardens sprawling with exotic species of tropical fauna in the lush Mayan rainforest. The gardens sit on 60 hectares of jungle and mangrove. A groomed loop trail provides easy walking to various collections of plants, all beautifully displayed in their natural environment. A scenic lookout tower is a bit of a challenge to climb but rewards the brave with a panoramic view from the mangrove to the sea, and out over the jungle.

Shopping

Playa del Carmen Shopping - Play del Carmen is a must for the best shopping in this area. The pedestrian street 5th Avenida in the heart of Playa del Carmen is lined with boutiques filled with goods from all over Mexico and the world. With handicrafts such as fine silver jewellery to hammocks there are shops that cater to every budget.

The stores that cater to tourists typically carry items such as carved wood and stone, hammocks, leather goods, paintings and sculptures. However, there are also high-end galleries featuring artworks from San Cristobal and Oaxaca for the serious Mexican art shopper.

If you'd prefer to venture off the main strip, there are interesting treasures to be found in the small plaza between 6th and 8th Ave.

Jolana Klobouk is a former travel agent who has traveled extensively for work and vacations with her family. For more travel information, visit her travel websites: http://www.best-family-beach-vacations.com and http://www.FlyFromCanada.com

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Best Kept Secret in the Florida Keys?Key Largo

Would you die for a romantic getaway where your boss can?t find you? Less than two hours south from Ft. Lauderdale International Airport, or an hour closer from Miami, is the laid back community of Key Largo. With a reputation for die-hard beer guzzling fishermen and no frills accommodations, most travelers pass it by on their way to Key West. Don't be fooled by what you see and don't see from the roadside.

There are secluded millionaire homes, as well as reasonably priced secluded Bed and Breakfasts that will welcome you with everything from eclectic air conditioned private suites to your own private sandy cove for watching the awesome sunsets you'll only see in the Florida Keys. No I do not work for their Chamber of Commerce.

Hidden behind trees and down winding gravel roads to the sea, if you miss the Mile Markers on the road, you?ll pass these hideaways and never know they're there. Some B&Bs will provide full kitchens stocked for breakfasts, with Jacuzzis and the use of their boats and bikes at no extra charge. After a rest stop at the worst possible looking broken down shack (I couldn't wait), I asked an old geezer sitting at the pitch black bar for directions to a decent restaurant. To my surprise, and with an irrestibile smile and a light step, the old fellow politely took my arm and very politely directed me to what turned out to be one of the best fresh fish restaurants on the East Coast with the unruly name of Hobos. It was my first lesson in understanding the natives. From fishermen, explorers and X-husbands to artists and wannabe writers, you might be talking to the next Ernest Hemingway.

I stayed at a B&B owned by a young descendent of architect John Roebling and engineer Washington Roebling, renowned builders of the Brooklyn Bridge. As Innkeeper, she specializes in packages for Weddings, Honeymoons and Anniversaries, with music, flowers, wedding cake, champagne and all the trimmings.

Key Largo is not only famous for Bogey and Bacall, but the spectacular underwater John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park. Here you can snorkel and swim with the Dolphins as I did, or just enjoy the natural beauty of this tropical paradise from a glass bottom boat, as I did.

If you?re looking for nightlife Duval Street, Key West rocks. It's about two hours south on the Overseas Highway and it has terrific restaurants from cheap to expensive. I always warn friends who've never been that Key West is noisy, colorful, and crowded all year. But strolling the back streets and side streets of old town Key West will transport you back a hundred years to the seafaring town with the gingerbread houses. Tours of The Hemingway House run all day long and cost a lot more than when I first saw it. But if you're looking for the shack Tennessee Williams rented, be prepared with a map and good shoes .

When you return to sleepy Key Largo you'll probably want to fall into your hammock to watch the awesome red sunset on the water. But don't forget to listen for that whistle on the wind. You know the one where Bogart says ? You know how to whistle don't you? Then it's time to retreat inside, kick back and drink a toast to Humphrey and Lauren and that venerable Brooklyn Bridge.

?Simplicity-Courage-Humor-Soul??

A writer/editor, I work with one client at a time, beginner or pro, for a cost effective solution to your writing and editing needs. Visit me at http://www.susanscharfman.com

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