IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, announces new direct flights connecting the culturally vibrant city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu to Abu Dhabi, from June 13, 2025. Madurai will be the 16th Indian city with direct connectivity to Abu Dhabi and comes days after the airline announced direct flights from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The tri-weekly flights between Madurai and Abu Dhabi further strengthens IndiGo’s international connectivity and making global travel more seamless and affordable for Indian travellers.   By connecting tier-2 cities like Madurai to key global hubs, IndiGo is unlocking new across sectors. This direct flight will facilitate the seamless export of agricultural products, textiles, and other key commodities from the region to the UAE and beyond, boosting local businesses and fostering economic growth. The direct flight between the cities eliminates the need for connections, reducing travel time for business travelers, students, and families, and providing more convenient travel experience. This strategic addition reinforces IndiGo’s position as the preferred carrier, operating over 280 weekly flights to five destinations in the UAE from 20 Indian cities.    Madurai, one of India’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, is a cultural and historical gem in Tamil Nadu. Known as the “Athens of the East,” it is home to the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple, a marvel of Dravidian architecture that draws millions of pilgrims and tourists annually. Beyond its spiritual significance, Madurai is a thriving hub for textiles, education, and healthcare, with a growing footprint in technology and manufacturing. Its strategic location and economic diversity make it a key regional centre in southern India. With a rich legacy dating back over 2,500 years, Madurai blends tradition and progress, …

In a strategic move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a key review meeting focused on promoting India’s tourism sector. Emphasising tourism as a tool for socio-economic growth, he advocated continuous policy upgrades to make India a more reliable and traveler-friendly destination.

Christoph Schnellmann, CEO, Noida International Airport, said, “Noida International Airport is being designed and developed with a clear focus on minimising congestion and wait times for all travellers and particularly the time-sensitive business travellers. The potential for a high-speed rail link between Delhi and Varanasi with a station at Noida International Airport is being explored, which could significantly enhance connectivity and further reduce transit times in the future.” 

Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO- Asego, shared expert insights on the rise of big-ticket travel, from global sporting events to iconic concerts and cultural festivals. As travel becomes increasingly experience-driven, Asego is pioneering a new approach by curating exclusive global assistance and travel insurance for travellers attending large-scale, high-investment events globally. This capability stems from Asego’s core philosophy: Customised protection for all travellers, no matter where they are, ensuring complete peace of mind, irrespective of the destination or event. With the support of a strong partner network, Asego offers a one-stop solution to address every contingency related to event-based trips— from event cancellations and trip interruptions to medical emergencies and luggage delays.

Accor, a global hospitality group, and InterGlobe, India’s foremost travel conglomerate, are pleased to announce that Gaurav Bhushan will be Chairman of their proposed joint hospitality enterprise in India.   This new entity will bring together the development, operations, and management platforms of Accor and InterGlobe in India, and represents a bold step towards creating a market-leading player in one of the world’s most dynamic hospitality markets. The new entity will serve as the exclusive growth engine for Accor’s brands across the country.   As Co-CEO of Ennismore, CEO of Lifestyle & Leisure Brands and member of the Executive Committee at Accor, Gaurav Bhushan brings more than 30 years of strategic leadership and global experience in the hospitality industry. An Accor veteran, he previously served as Global Chief Development Officer at Accor, overseeing the expansion of the Group’s portfolio from 12 to over 45 brands, and spearheading more than 500 hotel signings annually.   “India’s hospitality sector is entering a transformative phase, and this new platform is perfectly positioned to capture its full potential,” said Gaurav Bhushan. “It will be an honour for me to chair this ambitious venture and work alongside exceptional partners and teams at both Accor and InterGlobe to deliver meaningful growth and innovation for the Indian traveler.”

Amadeus has acquired travel intelligence specialist ForwardKeys to enhance its data and analytics capabilities. The acquisition offers strong portfolio and customer synergy, supporting Amadeus’ growth in travel insights. With the deal recently finalised, Amadeus is prioritising communication with key stakeholders, including customers and partners. Further details on the integration and strategic direction will be shared in due course.

In immediate response to the recent situation in Jammu & Kashmir, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is launching the “Let’s Visit J&K” campaign—a strong Community-Tourism- Industry Connect initiative. TAAI, the oldest, largest, and nodal association representing the Travel, Tourism & Hospitality industry in India, is on the path to celebrating its 75th year in 2026. As a leader and custodian of India’s tourism sector, TAAI stands committed to supporting the people and the economy of Jammu & Kashmir, where tourism is a primary source of livelihood. The Need of the Hour: Reignite Tourism in J&K Jammu & Kashmir remains one of the most iconic, scenic, and culturally rich destinations in India and the world. While recent disturbances may have created concern, they cannot overshadow the timeless allure and glory of the region – an incident aimed to cause chaos & disturbance, cannot steal away the glory of J&K. Tourism has long been a harbinger of peace—a sentiment echoed by TAAI for decades. By encouraging people to travel to J&K, we are not only supporting livelihoods but also reinforcing a message of resilience, unity, and hope. A Call for Collective Support India, a beacon of secularism and one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, must stand together in solidarity when a region’s tourism potential is threatened by disruption. As a national industry leader, TAAI cannot stay silent. We are launching the “Let’s Visit J&K” campaign with urgency and commitment. At its meeting held on 16th May 2025, the Managing Committee and Chapter Chairpersons of TAAI unanimously resolved to actively promote travel to Jammu & Kashmir. We are mobilizing our network to reach targeted consumers—families, groups, and individuals—through widespread engagement and …

Subhash Goyal, Founder Chairman, STIC Travel Group, has called for a stronger synergy between aviation and tourism to drive inbound growth. Highlighting soaring airfares, he stressed the urgent need for increased airline capacity. “If we want the right numbers, we need more air seats and a move towards an open skies policy,” he said.  

Abhay Sinha, Director General, SEPC, said, “We are going to have a calendar of events in tourism, with more focus on MICE, maybe in a month or two. We already have a tentative calendar including WTM, IT Berlin, FITUR, and roadshows with embassies. Once funding support is confirmed, we will finalise and freeze the calendar.”  

The Delhi government is planning a ‘Branding Delhi’ campaign, announced Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra. The campaign aims to position Delhi as a prime tourist destination, not just a transit hub. Initiatives include an international film festival to attract filmmakers, an investment summit to draw investors and a new tourism circuit linking landmarks like the National War Memorial.