Another feather in Hyderabad’s cap

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad figures among the list of top 20 global sustainability centres by 2020 according to a report released by New York-based Ethisphere Institute’s magazine focusing on Business Ethics.

The news that Hyderabad (eighth) ranked ahead of London (ninth) will surely be music to the ears of tourism officials as it comes on the eve of the prestigious PATA Travel Mart-2008 that will get under way on Wednesday.

The evaluation was done on the basis of criteria like local economy, living standards, health, education, environment, recreation and public transport.

Melbourne topped the list, followed by New York, Toronto, Frankfurt, Singapore, Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, said APTDC Managing Director Jayesh Ranjan.

Hyderabad is the only city in India that figures in the Institute’s report that was released earlier this month.
Dinner hosted

Meanwhile, a reception-cum-dinner was hosted for PATA delegates at Falaknuma Palace by Union Minister for Tourism Ambika Soni and attended by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. A scintillating cultural show choreographed by Leela Samson was special attraction.

Notwithstanding the last minute confusion about media arrangements to cover the premier business to business trade travel event bringing together hundreds of top quality buyers and decision makers around the world, things opened on a right note for 900 delegates.
Agenda

The three-day event would open with a series of workshops on important and emerging outbound markets soon after the inauguration on Wednesday, including the ‘Nielsen India Outbound Workshop’ focusing latest research on Indian outbound travel preferences.

The delegates got a glimpse of the city, its modern edifices and historical monuments and cultural tapestry as they were taken on a city tour on Tuesday covering Golconda fort, Salar Jung Museum, Qutub Shahi tombs, Shilparamam.

“This should make them understand Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and India as an important tourist destination,” local organisers hoped.

APTDC and Emmar also organised a friendly golf tournament between 30 local players and 20 delegates at Gachi Bowli.