Commenting on India’s outbound, KD Singh, Founder & President, TravelBullz.com, said, “India’s outbound market is going to grow by at least 10-12%, minimum, if not more. We are issuing a million passports a month. That is the base for the future travel people. Indians who have seen it all will go out but they are wanting to go to Kenya or Egypt. They are going to make walking tours. Overall, their way to look at a holiday is changing.” 

Dr Jyotsna Suri, CMD, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, revealed plans to develop a mid-segment hotel in Chitrakoot as part of a broader focus on religious tourism. “We also have an interest in developing the religious circuit. We’re not really keen to do more hotels in the metros. I now want to move to offbeat locations,” she said. Suri emphasised a shift from metro cities to emerging destinations.

Willie Walsh, DG, IATA, said India is committed to addressing environmental challenges in aviation. He highlighted that India’s fleet is very young compared to the global average. With new aircraft orders, the average age of planes operating in India is expected to remain one of the youngest fleets worldwide, supporting greener air travel.

According to Skyscanner, 96% of Indian travellers plan to travel the same or more this summer, with 95% prioritising maximising their summer vacations. A notable trend is the growing preference for quieter, less-crowded destinations, chosen by over 52% of Indians. This shift, along with rising interest in off-season travel, reflects a move towards more mindful and crowd-free holiday experiences. 

In a joint visit led by MTOA, key travel associations including ADTOI, TAAI, TAFI, OTOAI and IATO met Farooq and Omar Abdullah in Kashmir to discuss tourism revival. “The situation is normal with most experiences open,” said Dharmendra Singh, Chairman-Maharashtra Chapter, ADTOI. “Inquiries have started, and I believe things will improve by June-July,” he added. 

Julia Simpson, President and CEO, WTTC, revealed India’s travel sector reached ₹21 trillion in 2024, driven by ₹3.1 trillion international and ₹15.5 trillion domestic spending. For 2025, spending is forecast at ₹3.2 trillion international and ₹16.8 trillion domestic, with overall contribution expected to hit ₹22 trillion. By 2035, the sector may nearly double to ₹42 trillion. 

Shalini Nair, Founding Member and Director – Product Development, Marketing and Hotels Operations, TravelBullz.com, said, “Over the past year, we’ve seen phenomenal growth in our global hotels business, driven by strategic partnerships and robust demand. Our goal is to scale this success tenfold within the next two years. To achieve this, we’re doubling down on technology-driven solutions, enhancing efficiency and user experience.”  

René de Monchy, Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand, said, “Visitor numbers from India is experiencing double digit growth and the travel trade has been integral in shaping this. We are focused on enhancing these commercial partnerships and through improved connectivity and strategically targeted high-impact marketing campaigns, we are keen to convert this interest into bookings and visitation.” 

Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, said, “There must be a synergy between all associations working in tourism. When inbound and outbound tour operators collaborate and exchange insights, it benefits the entire tourism ecosystem.” Gosain highlighted that countries like France and Spain have successfully leveraged a balanced mix of inbound and outbound tourism. “We need to adopt similar strategies to strengthen India’s position in the global tourism market.” 

Ministry of Heritage & Tourism, Oman, invites travel partners to an exclusive webinar on 28 May at 3 pm (IST) to discover its incredible destinations. From ancient forts to breathtaking wadis, gain insights about their tourism offerings for your clients and win exciting prizes. For more information or to register, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 96501 96532.