Sharing his views on trends for 2024, Rajeev Kale – President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India), says, “Event-based travel is emerging as a significant trend, driven by the enthusiasm of Young India’s millennials, young professionals, and Gen Z. Their keen interest in the thrill of live concerts, events, and cultural immersion is poised to be a driving force for travel in the upcoming year. This demographic seeks immersive experiences that go beyond traditional tourism, reflecting a desire for dynamic and culturally rich journeys.”

The guidance for overall airline industry financials remains unchanged as per CAPA India’s latest report. However, full-service carriers are expected to see a relative deterioration in performance compared with earlier results. Softer yields are expected to result in higher losses for the FSCs.

Nearly eight out of ten surveyed passengers have faced one or more issues while flying with Indian carriers over the past two years, a survey by LocalCircles reveals. Major challenges identified include issues with in-flight services, boarding, check-in, baggage procedures, and poor aircraft interiors, including seats.

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has awarded VFS Global the global tender to provide visa and residence permit services in 52 countries across the globe. Under this new agreement, VFS Global will continue to operate on behalf of the Government of Norway in all regions worldwide – Americas, Australasia, China & Hong Kong, Europe & CIS, Middle East & North Africa, Russia, Belarus & Armenia, and South Asia, including India. VFS Global has worked with the Government of Norway since 2014 and has successfully handled nearly 1.5 million applications on their behalf. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “We look forward to a continued smooth and professional cooperation with VFS Global on provision of visa and residence permit services. The cooperation we have developed has proven to be effective and fruitful, with both our organizations working well together in performing their respective responsibilities and tasks.” Chris Dix, Head of Business Development, VFS Global, said: “VFS Global is delighted that we will continue to serve the Government of Norway as their sole service provider. We have enjoyed a strong partnership and welcome the opportunity to renew our services in the existing locations where we operate. We look forward to offering best-in-class visa solutions, and a seamless application process across all regions globally with an annual estimated customer count of 220,000. This is the eighth global contract win this year and is a testament to our dedicated efforts to provide all our client governments with top quality services.”

In order to provide impetus to the development of adventure tourism in the country, MOT has set up a National Board for Adventure Tourism under Secretary (Tourism) and comprising Central Ministries, states and industry stakeholders to provide guidance for the development of the sector. Seven strategic pillars have been identified for development of sustainable tourism, adventure tourism and ecotourism. These include state assessment, skills, marketing, strengthening safety framework, national and state level rescue grid, destination and product development, and governance and institutional framework.

India’s Delhi International Airport is likely to emerge as the second largest airport in the world after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl Airport, with an estimated passenger capacity of 109 million passengers by 2024, according to MoCA Jyotiraditya Scindia. He added that efforts are being undertaken to make Indian airports emerge as international hubs for commercial aviation, with the Delhi Airport being the first candidate to become an international hub.

Skyscanner’s Travel Trends and Destination Expert, Mohit Joshi, says, “The value of experiences and cultural exploration will be key considerations, with price no longer solely ruling decision-making for Indian travellers. We expect this momentum to only grow next year as the 2024 report also highlights that 86% of Indian travellers plan to take the same number, if not more, trips abroad in 2024 compared to 2023. We also predict Nice in France to be a great-value destination for Indian travellers in 2024, with airfares having dropped by over a third over the past 12 months. 2024 will also see Indian travellers heading abroad to see their favourite artists play, with a third of fans saying they would travel to short-haul destinations to hear their favourite artists live, while 20% would fly long-haul.”

According to CAPA’s Outlook 2024, the Indian market is set for some major consolidation in 2024, through takeovers, and possibly by the exit of financially struggling airlines. The Tata Group is a major driver of this due to its efforts to consolidate its multiple airline brands. Tata intends to merge Air India with Vistara, which is a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines. Indian competition authorities approved the merger in Sep-2023, but more clearances are needed from agencies inside and outside India. Tata is also planning to merge its LCC brands, with AirAsia India to become part of Air India Express. A combined Air India and Vistara will account for 18.4% of India’s domestic capacity, and AirAsia India and Air India Express another 8%. The four airlines combined would contribute more than 23% of the country’s international capacity. Some other names may also disappear in the Indian airline industry.

In a bid to showcase the unparalleled beauty of Vietnam, Jandec Travel JSC emerges as the go-to travel companion for global explorers. With its focus on renowned destinations, Jandec Travel JSC is here to turn your travel dreams to Vietnam into reality! Jandec Travel JSC prides itself on offering top-notch tours, expert guides, and impeccable event management services. The company ensures every traveler experiences Vietnam’s charm in its entirety, from the vibrant streets of Hanoi to the awe-inspiring Halong Bay—a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The expertly designed tours focus on delivering indigenous experiences that allow you to deeply connect with Vietnam’s rich heritage. Whether it’s exploring the well-preserved ancient architecture of Hoi An or taking part in vibrant lantern festivals, you’ll have the opportunity to truly embrace the unique traditions and customs of Vietnam. Being a strategic partner with leading service companies throughout Vietnam, such as Ambassador Cruise Halong, renowned restaurants like Sajang, Ngon, and Home, and notably Ambassador Club Nha Trang – served as a venue for M.I.C.E events accommodating up to 700 – 800 pax, Jandec Travel JSC ensures that every aspect of your journey is of the highest quality. Beyond holiday experiences, Jandec Travel JSC excels in event management, specializing in M-I-C-E services, weddings, and other events. The comprehensive M-I-C-E solutions encompass expert event planning, versatile venue selection, meticulous logistics coordination, immersive team-building activities, and flawless execution of conferences, seminars, incentive trips, and corporate events. A wedding in Halong Bay is an enchanting and memorable celebration due to the cruise’s well-appointed facilities and attentive staff ensuring that every aspect of your special day is executed with grace and precision. Recognizing cultural parallels, Jandec Travel JSC aims …

Speaking about the success of the 5th edition of Emirates Travel Agents Cricket Tournament 2023, Sunil Kallyat, Regional Manager, WI at Emirates, says, “We saw a desire to participate in this tournament from other cities as well, so we decided to hold matches in Delhi and Chennai as well. In future we may look at replicating this in Hyderabad and Bengaluru too to engage the travel trade in these cities too. We are trying to accommodate everyone since the registrations are quite high. We had over 32 teams and 600+ players registering this year for the tournament in Mumbai alone.”