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. 

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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.” 

Anoop Tewari, CCO, ITQ Technologies, said, “Our global survey found that 56% of travellers believe travel has become more complex over the last decade, and 75% expressed the need for a single platform addressing all their travel needs. We are focused on multi-source content that is optimised and authenticated to make bookings seamless for agents.” 

Rohit Khosla. Executive Vice President – Operations, North and West India, IHCL said that tigers are Madhya Pradesh’s specialty and a key driver of tourism. The company currently operates nine hotels in MP, including Bhopal and Indore, has signed an MoU for six more, and plans to add 11 more hotels while preserving the state’s history, nature, and wildlife. 

Tripura Tourism will receive an additional ₹150 crore from the Central government for tourism development, announced Sushanta Chowdhury, Tourism Minister. The funding will support projects like beautifying tourist spots, establishing rural homestays, and upgrading heritage site amenities. The state government is actively seeking investments to boost tourism and enhance visitor experiences. 

Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager for India, Bangladesh, and Nepal- SriLankan Airlines, called Ramayana Trail a game changer. The airline curated an authentic Ramayana experience, attracting strong interest. A recent Chennai-Colombo group had 190 passengers, with numbers expected to grow significantly between April and June, reflecting rising demand for religious tourism.

India’s industrial output, growing at 5.7% to 7%, will drive the expansion of the MICE sector, said Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, Ebix Travel Group. “Higher industrial output enhances manpower quality, leading to more rewards and recognition programmes, which will in turn fuel outbound MICE travel. As industrial output rises, so will MICE travel overseas. Meetings and incentives from India are set to become the world’s largest market,” he added.