Rajasthan welcomed 15.04 crore domestic tourists from January to August this year, up 11% from last year, driven by festivals, heritage circuits, and improved air connectivity. However, foreign visitors dropped 5% to 11.9 lakh, reflecting global uncertainties. Rajesh Yadav, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, said, “The drop in foreign tourists is being felt across the country due to global factors beyond our control. What we can do is continue promoting Rajasthan globally, which we are doing aggressively through international travel fairs.”

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According to HVS ANAROCK, Average Room Rates (ARR) in August showed strong year-on-year growth across major Indian markets. Bengaluru topped with 25-27% growth, boosted by conferences like NASSCOM Future Forge. Mumbai maintained premium ARR above ₹10,000 despite slower growth. Hyderabad and Pune posted double-digit increases, while Goa bucked the trend with a decline in ARRs.

Arshdeep Anand, Vice President, ATOAI, emphasised that “expansion is not the problem — irresponsible expansion is.” She urged the industry to prioritise strengthening existing destinations with robust safety infrastructure, certified operators, and regulated practices before exploring new frontiers. “Emergency response systems, public liability insurance, and certified equipment must be non-negotiable,” she added, stressing the need for safety over speed in growth.

GRNconnect has revamped its platform, introducing a modern interface, fast search, smart dashboard, and online Eurail bookings. “The new system, with unified mid-office, sub-agent management, seamless payments, and consistent margin support, allows agents to manage bookings, cancellations, and vouchers easily,” said Deepak Narural, MD, GRNconnect. Onboarding incentives, including triple booking rewards, help smaller Indian agents grow sales.

The World Travel & Tourism Council warns of a looming labour gap, with India projected to face an 11 million shortfall in sector jobs by 2035. Globally, demand will outpace supply by 43 million workers. Despite challenges, Travel & Tourism remains a powerhouse, set to generate 91 million new roles this decade.

To mark the Festival of Lights, Printemps Haussmann invites international visitors to celebrate Diwali with an exclusive luxury shopping experience in the heart of Paris. From October 15 to November 30, 2025, guests will enjoy special benefits, refined hospitality and a festive atmosphere inspired by the traditions of India. As part of this celebration, shoppers will be treated to exclusive offers, personalized services, and a refined gift with purchases above €1,500 – a tribute to the spirit of generosity that defines Diwali. About Printemps Haussmann Founded in 1865, Printemps Haussmann is Paris’s landmark luxury department store, renowned for its spectacular architecture and curated selection of the world’s most prestigious brands. Spanning three buildings, the store offers fashion, beauty, accessories, homeware, fine jewelry and watches, as well as 18 restaurants. Premium services include 50 personal shoppers, private salons, the exclusive Suite Augustine, and unique event spaces overlooking the Paris skyline – making Printemps Haussmann a must-visit destination for international visitors.

As Saudi continues to expand its global outreach of tourism, the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) held its latest three-city India roadshow from 15th to 19th September 2025 across Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Delhi. The effort highlights STA’s growing focus on the Indian market and shows a strong push in its ongoing effort to build strong trade ties and promote Saudi as a top choice for Indian leisure, GIT, MICE, and Wedding tourism segments.   The roadshows were well received by Indian trade and Saudi partners, providing a dynamic platform for 15 leading Saudi suppliers, including DMCs, DMOs, and airlines, to engage with over 500 top-tier Indian travel buyers. These interactions fostered strategic business relationships, enhanced product knowledge, and allowed Saudi partners to exchange insights, explore collaborations, and highlight Saudi’s diverse tourism offerings, from UNESCO sites and cultural landmarks to natural attractions and an exciting roster of events.   During the roadshow, Winter Season tourism products were launched, introducing new developments in leisure tourism, GIT packages, and showcasing Saudi’s rising appeal in MICE and destination weddings. These launches were enthusiastically received, reflecting the Indian market’s strong demand for authentic, high-quality travel. As highlighted by participating DMCs, Saudi is redefining luxury travel with world-class resorts, private desert retreats, and immersive cultural experiences. From the pristine Saudi Red Sea coast to Riyadh’s fine dining and designer boutiques, Saudi invites discerning travellers to enjoy unmatched hospitality.   The roadshow also amplified STA’s latest international campaign, “I Came for Football, I Stayed for More.” The campaign, featuring football icon Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7), brings to life a Saudi that offers visitors an extended season of high stakes sports, rousing entertainment, and breathtaking film, fashion and cultural events. …

Supported by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, the “2025 Taiwan Indigenous Music Night” will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 8:30 PM at The Piano Man Jazz Club, one of Delhi’s most renowned music venues. The event will feature Usay Kawlu, winner of the 35th Golden Melody Award for Best Indigenous Language Singer, alongside internationally acclaimed musician Musa. Together, they will present a powerful performance that blends tradition and modernity, offering Indian audiences a fresh experience of the strength and beauty of Taiwan’s Indigenous music. Usay Kawlu, an Amis singer from Hualien, is one of the leading figures in contemporary Taiwanese Indigenous music. Known for her powerful and emotive voice, profound interpretation of songs in her native language, and passion for cultural preservation, she has been widely praised as a rare all-round Indigenous talent. Drawing inspiration from her hometown, her works skillfully fuse traditional and popular elements. With her striking stage presence and a voice that is both warm and ethereal yet full of explosive power, she was honored with the Best Indigenous Language Singer Award at the 35th Golden Melody Awards in 2024, further establishing her as an important voice in Taiwan’s Indigenous music scene. Sharing the stage with her will be Musa, who won the Golden Indie Music Award for Best Jazz Single in 2018 with Dreamer’s Blues. He has also been nominated multiple times for both the Golden Melody Awards and the Golden Indie Music Awards, including for Best Composer, Album, and Producer. Having performed extensively across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, Musa is celebrated for his ability to blend jazz, Latin, and …

LOT Polish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, is further expanding its route network in Europe providing guests from India a new and highly attractive travel option when touring Europe. From 24 November 2025, the Polish airline will fly four times a week from its global hub at Chopin Airport in Warsaw to Stavanger in south-west Norway. The city is known as the gateway to Norway’s world-famous fjords, but it is also the heart of the Norwegian oil business. The new year-round flights of LOT Polish Airlines will be operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with two service classes on board. LO489 departs from Warsaw every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. “Norway is known for two things above all: the unique fjord landscapes, which can be explored brilliantly on land or by cruise ship, and the oil industry with the drilling fields in the sea, around 300 kilometres off the Norwegian coast. Stavanger is the perfect location for exploring both,” underlines Amit Ray, Director India, DACH Markets, Italy and Malta and Head of Global Corporate and Strategic Sales at LOT Polish Airlines. “We are therefore more than happy adding this city to our global route network.” With its new service to Stavanger, LOT Polish Airlines continues to expand its route network. The airline recently launched new flights to Lisbon (Portugal), Malta, Reykjavik (Iceland), and Thessaloniki (Greece). Travellers from India can fly daily with LOT Polish Airlines to Warsaw, with nonstop services on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Delhi and on Sundays and Wednesdays from Mumbai with many options for seamlessly connecting services within Poland and Europe and even to North America.