Vietnam Airlines has inaugurated the Mumbai – Hanoi route, the second route of Vietnam Airlines connecting Vietnam and India, after the capital New Delhi. Trinh Ngoc Thanh, Deputy CEO, of Vietnam Airlines, said, “Vietnam Airlines demonstrates its commitment to constantly expanding its network, giving passengers better flexibility and connectivity when traveling for business as well as tourism. We hope this new route will help to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and the economies.”

Arun Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K, has said that the change in Jammu & Kashmir is evident on the ground with the arrival of the highest number of tourists (18.8 million) in 2022. He added, “300 new tourist destinations will come up in J&K seeing the influx of tourists with each destination providing enough to the tourists.”

Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa India, addressed the delegates at the side event on Film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation at the 3rd TWG meeting in Srinagar, where he highlighted that the pristine beauty of Jammu and Kashmir has the potential to pose itself as a film tourism destination.

Jamie McDonald, a British “Adventureman” announced a new insane world record: took 6 days, 16 hours, and 14 minutes to visit the Seven Wonders of the World confirmed by World Guinness Records. He traveled to 4 continents and 9 countries. From the Great Wall of China to Chichén Itzá, he covered each Wonder. He flew on 13 flights and rode in 16 taxis, 9 buses, 4 trains, and 1 toboggan to cover 22,856 miles. The Adventureman accepted the challenge given by Travelport+, a company that wanted to test whether it could make the world’s most complex trip simple. Jamie McDonald mentioned, “With travel, there are just so many variables – weather, restrictions, delays, customs, traffic, cancellations, you name it. When you’re attempting to set a world record, speed and agility are key. Without Travelport, it could not have been possible”. Jamie McDonald, a British Adventurer better known as “Adventureman”, traveled to the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, using only public transport: The Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal, Petra, the Colosseum, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Pichu and Chichén Itzá.  The trip was booked by the travel agency, Travelbag, a partner of Travelport, who has been utilizing Travelport since its inception        

Miral has announced that its SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is set to open its doors to the public on May 23, 2023. The next-generation Marine Life Theme Park will tell a captivating ‘One Ocean’ story that uncovers the interconnectivity between life on Earth and the ocean. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will deliver immersive family-friendly experiences through eight of its uniquely themed realms, featuring up-close animal encounters, exciting rides, inspiring entertainment, as well as unmatched dining and shopping experiences.

According to a report by SITA, 7.6 bags per 1,000 passengers were mishandled in 2022, up from 4.35 per 1,000 passengers the previous year. In total, 26 million bags were mishandled last year, compared to 9.9 million in 2021, as the number of travelers neared pre-Covid levels

Based on a survey of 4700 travelers in 11 countries, IATA reported high levels of confidence among travelers for the 2023 summer season. Forward booking data from 1Q2023 for travel between May-2023 and Sep-2023 is tracking at 35% above 2022 levels.

The third G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting will be held in Srinagar from May 22 to 24, which will help in boosting tourist footfalls in Jammu and Kashmir. Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, has said that the Ministry of Tourism will be releasing a National Strategy on Film Tourism during the meet.

STIC Travel Group partners with Take-A-Break (TAB) Consulting to launch StepUP Xperiences – a one-stop shop for international all MICE requirements. The headquarters of the company is Cyber City, Gurgaon and it plans to offer services from travel logistics and accommodation to event planning and execution. Subhash Goyal, Chairman, of STIC Travel Group said, “As the demand for outbound MICE travel from India continues to soar, we recognized the need for a specialized brand that can cater to the unique requirements of Indian corporate clients. This company is the result of our vision to create a dedicated and independent brand that combines the rich experience of STIC Travel Group, and the dynamic team at TAB”. Isha Goyal, the CEO, of STIC Travel Group, speaking on mentioned that, “outbound MICE is one of the fastest-growing segments in India today and part of the growth is demand driven for new experiences. Abhimanyu Khanna, CEO of TAB showed excitement and said, “STIC has played a monumental role in driving trends in travel over the past fifty years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to outbound travel. We believe that our combined expertise and common corporate values will enable us to create truly unforgettable experiences.”

Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, is organizing an exclusive webinar titled, ‘The Ultimate Oman Leisure Itinerary’ on 24 May 2023 at 11:30 am. Register to get a chance to win a free trip to Oman. Contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com, 9560196532.