SpiceJet announces the launch of daily flights to two of India’s most sought-after winter destinations – Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Udaipur, the city of lakes. The airline will operate daily flights to Port Blair from Kolkata and Delhi, and to Udaipur from Delhi and Mumbai, offering travellers the perfect opportunity to plan their winter getaways. As part of its ambitious winter expansion plan, SpiceJet is adding new routes, more flights, and a significantly larger fleet to meet soaring travel demand. The airline is set to more than double both its daily flights and operational fleet this winter, with several exciting new destinations on the horizon. Flights to Port Blair have already commenced, while daily non-stop flights to Udaipur from Delhi and Mumbai will begin November 6, 2025. Tickets are available for booking on SpiceJet’s official website and mobile app. Passengers flying to Port Blair from Kolkata will enjoy seamless, non-stop connectivity, while those travelling from Delhi will make a short stopover at Kolkata. The Delhi–Port Blair service is a direct connection with no aircraft change, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey. Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet, said, “As winter approaches, we are thrilled to offer travellers two of India’s most beautiful destinations – the Andamans and Udaipur – now easily accessible with our new direct and non-stop flights. Whether it’s a beachside escape or a royal retreat, SpiceJet is making your dream holiday closer than ever. This expansion is part of our larger commitment to strengthen our domestic network and provide seamless, affordable, and delightful travel experiences to our passengers.”

Embracing the spirit of World Tourism Day 2025 and its focus on inclusive and sustainable tourism, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, unveiled the OneConnect Meghalaya Tourism Helpline and the new Website for Meghalaya Tourism. The new revamped website is a one-click gateway, which serves as a unified platform for every traveller’s needs. These launches, complemented with the release of Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission Scheme and the Community-led Tourism Infrastructure Scheme, position Meghalaya as a hub of responsible travel, nurturing authentic, human-centred experiences for every visitor. Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister, presented a comprehensive vision for Meghalaya’s tourism sector, highlighting it as a top priority over the last seven and a half years. He showcased the impressive results of this focus, with domestic tourist arrivals growing to 1.6 million and a clear target to create 50,000 new jobs within the next three years. This growth is backed by a massive infrastructure push, with 210 ongoing projects valued at ₹3,625 crores and a recent sanction of an additional ₹260 crores from the DoNER Ministry specifically for developing the Sohra (Cherrapunji) destination. The centrepiece of his strategy is the new Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission, designed to address a critical accommodation shortage.

Pradeep Agrawal, General Manager (UK, Europe, USA, Australia and Bali), Worldwide DMC, received the Best DMC & MICE Operator award at the India Travel Awards 2025. “Winning this (award) motivates us to excel. This prestigious recognition boosts our business, validating our team’s hard work and dedication, driving us to innovate and deliver exceptional travel experiences,” he said.

Santosh Kumar, Regional Head, South Asia, Booking.com, shared that Indians will take nearly 5.2 billion trips by 2030, most of them domestic. The challenge, and the opportunity, is to meet that momentum with intent by adapting to evolving preferences, expanding relevant supply, strengthening physical and digital infrastructure, and placing the modern new Indian traveller at the heart of hospitality growth.

In Mumbai to meet the new Country Manager for India, Ritu Verma, and interact with the trade, Gary Robson, Director (Europe, Middle East & India), VisitBritain, says, “Indian visitors will spend nearly £1 billion while visiting the UK this year. The India-UK connectivity is strong and growing with 166 direct flights a week without including the recent Indigo’s Delhi-Manchester route.”

Effective 1st October 2025, SSR Reps, the representation vertical of SSRTS, is proud to welcome Safari Seekers Kenya as its new Destination Management Company (DMC) partner for Kenya. For over four decades, Safari Seekers has stood as one of Kenya’s most dynamic and trusted family-run destination management companies. Rooted in strong family values and deep local expertise, the company has been curating tailor-made safaris, luxury holidays, and bespoke travel experiences across East Africa with a personal touch and international standards of service. Through this partnership, SSR Reps will lead sales and business development for Safari Seekers in the India market, further strengthening Kenya’s positioning as a premier safari and leisure destination for Indian travellers. Commenting on the collaboration, Sapneal Rao, Founder & CEO of SSR Travel Solutions, said, “We are delighted to partner with Safari Seekers Kenya. Their innovative approach, operational excellence, and passion for showcasing the best of Kenya align perfectly with our vision of delivering unique and memorable experiences to Indian travellers.” Adding to this, Shivangi Thakker, Co-Partner / Director of Safari Seekers Kenya, said, “We are excited to join hands with SSR Reps for the India market. India is a fast-growing source market for Kenya, and with SSR’s strong trade relationships and deep market knowledge, we are confident of creating new opportunities and welcoming more Indian travellers to experience the magic of Kenya with Safari Seekers.”

His Excellency Josel F Ignacio, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to India, speaking after the resumption of direct flights between New Delhi and Manila, said that the country has been trying to recover its pre-pandemic tourism numbers. “With visa-free entry for Indian tourists and Air India reviving this route, we are confident of surpassing pre-COVID arrivals and welcoming more Indian friends to our shores.” In 2019, the Philippines welcomed 130,000 Indian tourists annually, a number that was steadily rising before the pandemic. “We were optimistic that the number would double in the coming years, but COVID happened. From 57,000 arrivals two years ago, we grew to about 78,000 last year, showing significant recovery,” he noted. His Excellency Ignacio expressed optimism about faster growth ahead. “Now we feel the increase will not just be incremental. We will reach the pre-COVID number sooner because of two enabling factors. First, the Philippines grant of 14-day visa-free entry to Indian tourists. And secondly, thanks to Air India for reviving the New Delhi–Manila route. With these two elements, we are confident we will be welcoming more Indian friends to our shores.”

Air India inaugurated India’s first non-stop flight to the Philippines. The inaugural flight to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, departed from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport per schedule. H.E. Josel F. Ignacio, Ambassador of the Philippines to India, and Maria Cynthia P. Pelayo, Minister and Consul General, Embassy of the Philippines in India, joined P. Balaji, Group Head – Government, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, and other senior officials from the Embassy and Air India at Delhi airport for the inauguration of Air India’s new services to Manila. With the launch of services to Manila, Air India further strengthens its presence in Southeast Asia, now operating to eight destinations across seven countries in the region. In addition to providing non-stop connectivity to an increasing number of travellers between India and the Philippines, the new flights also open new connections for Filipino travellers to access Air India’s robust network across Europe and North America via Delhi. Air India’s flights between Delhi and Manila are operated by the airline’s Airbus A321LR aircraft, featuring a three-class cabin configuration to offer a choice of Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class to travellers. Air India is one of the few airlines in Southeast Asia to offer fully flat beds in Business Class in the single-aisle A321 aircraft. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “The launch of non-stop flights to Manila unlocks the immense potential for tourism to the Philippines, as Indian travellers, with their growing appetite for leisure travel and increasing spending power, seek new and exciting destinations. These new services will help showcase the Philippines’ vibrant culture and stunning landscapes to many Indian travellers, while …

IndiGo announced the launch of direct flights between Kolkata and Siem Reap, Cambodia from 13 November 2025. IndiGo will operate these flights three times a week using its Airbus A320neo aircraft. This makes IndiGo the first Indian carrier to offer direct connectivity between the two countries, as the airline further enhances its network in Southeast Asia.  Bookings are now open across authorised travel partners. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “In line with our commitment to connecting India to key global destinations, we are delighted to be the first Indian carrier to offer direct flights to Cambodia. This service not only enhances international connectivity from Kolkata but also provides convenient connection from the rest of India to Cambodia via Kolkata, leveraging IndiGo’s extensive domestic network. With Kolkata’s strategic location, and Siem Reap as our 7th international destination from the city, the route is a natural fit for our expanding network. With rising travel demand between the two countries fuelled by convenient Visa rules and growing trade, we are confident that these flights will not only boost tourism but also open new avenues for cultural exchange and economic cooperation.”

Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, has appointed AVIAREPS India as its official GSA for South India, reinforcing its commitment to the Indian market and strengthening trade partnerships in a region that serves as a major gateway to the Maldives. Until August 2025, the Maldives welcomed 85,306 Indian visitors, a 4.7% increase year-on-year. India now ranks 6th among source markets with a 5.7% share of total arrivals, reaffirming its strategic significance. With projections indicating a further 20% growth in 2025, Maldivian is poised to capture a larger share of the outbound segment, particularly from South India where proximity and connectivity make the Maldives one of the most convenient international getaways. According to the airline’s 2025 schedule, Maldivian has been operating: Kochi–Malé (COK–MLE): 4 weekly services on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Trivandrum–Malé (TRV–MLE): 4 weekly services on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays With this schedule, Maldivian ensures convenient departures and arrivals for Indian travellers, while also offering seamless domestic inter-island connections—the largest in the Maldives—allowing visitors to access luxury resorts, adventure hubs, cultural experiences, and wellness retreats across the archipelago. “We are greatly encouraged by the growing interest from the Indian market, and the event in South India further reaffirmed the importance of this region for us,” said Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director of Maldivian. “With the support of AVIAREPS, we look forward to building stronger trade partnerships and welcoming even more Indian travellers to experience the Maldives and its diverse offerings.” Marcelo Kaiser, COO Aviation at AVIAREPS: “We are proud to partner with Maldivian as their General Sales Agent in South India, one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the region. India is not only a key source market for the …