Going the Extra Kilometre with Shine Gold Tours

“When we were in Agra with you last month my wife saw a pair of earrings. She now wishes that she had bought them. Do you think that you could get them for us?” When a customer makes an unusual request the immediate response of Shine Gold Tours India is to do everything possible to make it happen. After a little more clarification and an e-mailed diagram the shop was located and next time Asif was in Agra he called in. Unfortunately the earrings were one-off hand crafted items but the craftsman agreed to make another pair as near as possible to the originals and let Shine Gold Tours India know when they were ready. This he did and now the earrings are on their way to the customer in time to be a surprise August birthday present.

Shine Gold Tours India is big enough to ensure that customer tours are organized and delivered with maximum efficiency but also small and flexible enough to go that extra kilometer in making the unexpected request exceed the customers’ expectations. Like the solo traveller who wanted to enjoy a game of cricket on his Golden Triangle tour. Asif rounded up some locals and the game was on!

Currently Shine Gold Tours India is working with a group of customers from the USA to arrange for a Buddhist wedding blessing to be arranged for 2 of their group when they are in Bodh Gaya later in the year. This will involve 11 monks at a wedding ceremony in Sujata where one of their party will help with the proceedings and a later blessing in Mahabodi Temple in Bodh Gaya. 

 Shine Gold Tours India offers tours in Rajasthan, Golden Triangle, Delhi sightseeing, Agra and Goa all of which can be tailored to the time available and the special interests of the customers requesting the tour. In addition Shine Gold Tours India organizes individual Wildlife and Bird watching tours in Northern India and Goa. Like all the tours these are exclusive to the party booking so that maximum flexibility can be assured – and, if any of the party has a particular request whether it is a pair of earrings, a game of cricket or getting married Shine Gold Tours India will do its very best to ensure that it happens.

Steps Taken by Indian Government in Budget 2014 to Boost Tourism in India

Finally there is a Government in India who is taking steps to boost tour and travel industry like no other Government did in the past. In the union budget 2014, various initiatives have been announced by the Finance Minister for the welfare of tourism industry.

The facility of issuing electronic visa will be introduced in next six months at 9 major airports of India for countries like United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Russia. The e-visa facility will be extended to other Indian airports in a phased manner. The government sources say India could receive an additional more than one million tourists with $2.5 billion extra income. Union tourism minister Shripad Naik also wants to reduce visa fees significantly (to $25 from current fees of $100). Details of countries being offered e-Tourist Visa, eligibility and application process.

 The new Indian government is also looking to lower the air fares to encourage foreign tourists visiting India and to stop the travelers getting diverted to countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka and Malaysia which offer cheaper air fares than India.

 Another major step announced by the Finance Minister is to spend Rs 500 Crores to develop five tourism circuits based on specific themes. There is also a special scheme called National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive to promote heritage tourism with a total fund of Rs 100 Crores. A total sum of Rs 200 Crores has been allocated for the conservation of pilgrimage cities like Gaya, Mathura, Amritsar, Kanchipuram, Ajmer and Vellankani under the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana.

The famous Buddhist circuit that includes Sarnath, Gaya and Varanasi cities will be developed with world class tourist amenities. Efforts will be made to preserve these archaeological sites with a fund of Rs 100 Crore. If interested see details of 13 nights/ 14 days Buddhist Tour in India offered by Shine Gold Tours.

Spiritual Tourism in India

All these steps must improve India's global ranking in tourism competitiveness, India's current ranking is 65 out of 140 countries according to a survey conducted by World Economic Forum.