To boost tourism and streamline visa processing, South African Tourism has launched the Trusted Tour Operator (TTO) Scheme. This initiative accelerates visa approvals for Indian group and MICE travellers, ensuring processing within three days. With 14 Indian operators onboard, phase two aims to expand participation and provide agent training.  

Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group said, “We anticipate surpassing our FY24 targets in FY25, with a projected 1.3 million passengers from India, representing a 14% year-on-year growth. Our Indian routes have shown robust performance, recording an 88% load factor in metro cities and 86% in tier-two cities. Kolkata is expected to play a crucial role in driving this growth.”    

Los Angeles Tourism is hosting a series of webinars for the travel trade starting from 20 March at 3pm IST, showcasing latest tourism offerings. Participate in the quiz to gain valuable tourism insights and updates and stand a chance to win prizes. For more information or to register, please contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.  

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, is organising a special webinar for the Indian travel trade on 12 March 2025 at 3 pm IST. The session will feature insights into Oman’s latest offerings and unique experiences, designed to strengthen trade partnerships. Register and attend for a chance to win exciting prizes. For details, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Vualnam, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said, “The RCS UDAN has introduced 619 routes, transforming aviation from an exclusive to an inclusive mode of travel. India’s air passenger numbers have doubled in a decade to 22 crores and are projected to reach 40 crores in five years, making airport development a priority.”

India’s business travel sector is set to return to pre-2019 spending levels by 2025, as per the latest GBTA Business Travel Index report. Business travel spending in 2024 reached $38.3 billion, ranking India 8th globally and 4th in APAC. The report highlights India’s strong economic recovery, rising corporate earnings and growing demand for in-person business meetings as key growth drivers. 

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Tourism Minister, shared in a written reply in Lok Sabha that the Indian government has introduced Mudra Loans for homestays in the Union Budget to boost rural tourism. Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme, 1,000 tribal homestays will be developed with financial aid of up to ₹5 lakh per unit. 

Perfectly located amidst nature and mountains, Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. Its touristic offerings include multiple excursion options, shopping, gastronomic experiences and a vibrant nightlife. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2026. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. 

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, is organising a special webinar for the Indian travel trade on 12 March 2025 at 3 pm IST. The session will feature insights into Oman’s latest offerings and unique experiences, designed to strengthen trade partnerships. Register and attend for a chance to win exciting prizes. For details, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Manish Puri, Head of Sales, Air India, said, “Air India is one of the fastest airlines in the world to adopt NDC. As our content becomes available, the share of international business via NDC will increase significantly. With our fleet expected to grow to 400-500 aircraft in the next three years, the ratio of bookings through NDC will shift.”