Highlighting India’s SAF potential at IATA AGM, Amitabh Khosla, Country Director India, Nepal & Bhutan, IATA, said, “There is likelihood of domestically produced SAF in India for airlines from 2026. Air India & Indian Oil have joined global SAF registry. An MoU between NABCB & ISCC will enable certification, clearing rollout hurdles.”

Skål International India officially launched its Jammu & Kashmir Chapter with a special ceremony in Srinagar. This marks a proud moment for the sector as Skål becomes the first tourism association to enter J&K post Operation Sindoor, reinforcing confidence in the region and opening new avenues for tourism growth.

Virgin Atlantic celebrates 25 years of flying in India Virgin Atlantic celebrates 25 years of flying to India and its ongoing commitment to growth in the region. Since first launching flights between London Heathrow and Delhi in July 2000, India is now the airline’s third largest market and has grown from zero to one million seats each year, with five flights daily from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Growth of 350% since 2019. Alongside options for customers, the increase in flying is also a huge boost for cargo operations with additional capacity to support the movement of goods from the fashion, pharmaceuticals and tech sectors. With five daily services, Virgin Atlantic Cargo offers over 53.4 million kg of space to and from India, a 356% increase in capacity versus 2019. Shai Weiss, CEO and Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer, Virgin Atlantic marked the occasion this morning, alongside local crew in front of India Gate. Virgin Atlantic’s services offer seamless connectivity and a premium long-haul experience onboard one of the airline’s latest products, the Airbus A350, with 40% of Indian customers choosing to connect via London Heathrow to destinations throughout North America, including the airline’s new service to Toronto, as well as Seattle, San Francisco and New York JFK. In addition, Virgin Atlantic’s partnership with IndiGo, India’s largest airline, offers connections to 34 destinations across India including Varanasi, Amritsar, Srinagar, Goa and Lucknow. Since the launch of the partnership in September 2023, the airlines have connected more than 200,000 customers across codeshare services. Virgin Atlantic continues to invest in its onboard experience for Indian customers. A recent recruitment of Indian based crew ensures that each flight to India will now average three …

“We have seen a 25% increase in ITTA membership so far this year and expect the number to grow further with the target to reach 500 members by the end of this year,” said Satish Sehrawat, President, ITTA. New members from Delhi NCR and Agra have recently joined, reflecting the growing trust in our association, he added.

According to a Thomas Cook India report, Indians from tier-II cities are driving faster growth in the travel industry, exploring both domestic and international destinations. It credits this trend to rising discretionary spending and improved connectivity. Indian travellers’ holiday budgets have surged by 20-50 per cent compared to previous years, it added.

Monish Shah, Founder & CEO, DreamSetGo, said that 80% of their travellers opt for customised packages. “Over the last few years, we’ve built a robust playbook for delivering world-class service at every event. We forge ties with global sports federations, top clubs, hotel providers to offer our fans official & premium access,” he said.

According to Skyscanner report, nearly 47 per cent of Indian travellers are choosing to experience live cricket matches over watching them on screens both domestically and internationally While 50 per cent are extending their match-day plans into short getaways, transforming their cricket pilgrimage into a perfect mix of sport and sightseeing.

The EEMA Spotlight Awards 2025, held at the vibrant Club Riviera, Gurugram on Saturday, 24 May 2025, was a resounding success, bringing together the crème de la crème of the event and experiential industry to celebrate the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to turn dreams into reality. The evening kicked off on a powerful note with the soul-stirring rhythms of The Mangal Naad Band, setting the tone for a celebration rooted in emotion and excellence. This was followed by a deeply moving original poem by Aditya Malik, emcee & scriptwriter, reflecting on the Spotlight journey and evoking heartfelt nostalgia across the audience. With finesse and energy, Sahithya and Mitin, the emcees for the evening, seamlessly hosted the awards while weaving in spectacular performances and moments of celebration. A power-packed opening act by Laadi Maa and her troupe left the audience awe-struck, setting the stage for an unforgettable night. Viraf Sarkari, esteemed Jury Chair and Co-founder of Wizcraft International Entertainment, addressed the audience and provided insights into the robust and transparent judging process, conducted under the esteemed supervision of Ernst & Young. The true spotlight of the evening remained steadfastly on the vendor partners—the backbone of the experiential industry. Samit Garg, President, EEMA, in a heartfelt address, emphasised, “The Spotlight Awards are not about glitz or glamour. They are about the people who make the stage possible. Our vendor partners are the true heroes—without them, there is no spotlight.” The night’s most emotional moment came with the Lifetime Achievement Award conferred upon Vijay Batra, Director of Rama Tent House. Celebrated for his decades-long contribution to the industry, Batra has helped shape the success of countless event agencies. “Batra …

PATA Nepal Chapter and Nepal Tourism Board, in collaboration with Nepal Airlines, are all set to host the 5th edition of Nepal’s premier international travel and tourism trade show—the Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM)—scheduled to take place from 3 to 5 June, 2025, at The Soaltee, Kathmandu, Nepal. This year’s edition of HTM holds special significance as it coincides with the Golden Jubilee year of the PATA Nepal Chapter, celebrating 50 years of impactful contributions to Nepal’s tourism development and global connectivity. Additionally, the inauguration day marks a historic milestone—the 75th Anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Annapurna by the legendary French mountaineer Maurice Herzog, whose family is visiting Nepal to honour this legacy. Held annually in June in Kathmandu, HTM is Nepal’s flagship international tourism trade show, fostering unparalleled networking, business opportunities, and valuable industry insights among global tourism and hospitality organisations, professionals, and individuals engaged in diverse sectors of the industry. Now in its 5th edition, HTM 2025 will bring together a remarkable gathering of global buyers, diverse sellers, travel bloggers, influencers, thought leaders, high-profile speakers, national and international media, travel professionals, and delegates from around the world. Narendra Deo Bhatta, Convener, HTM 2025 Organising Committee and General Secretary, PATA Nepal Chapter said, “We are expecting over 700 delegates from 30+ countries, including more than 100 international guests, and a large representation from Nepal’s public and private tourism sectors.” With the overarching theme and vision of positioning ‘Nepal: Gateway to the Himalayas,’ HTM aims to establish Nepal as a premier, year-round travel destination while creating value for all stakeholders through a dynamic platform for promotion, dialogue, and partnership. This year, our focus is on enhancing insightful conference sessions, …

Viva Voyages announced its partnership with Haritou Travel Group (HTG), Greece, to promote Greece as a top travel destination for the Indian outbound market. With this partnership, Viva Voyages becomes the official marketing arm of HTG in India, aimed at strengthening the presence of Greece as a preferred travel destination for leisure, series departures, and customised travel experiences. Vikas Khanduri, Director, Viva Voyages, expressed his excitement about this collaboration, “Greece is the next big opportunity for the Indian market to consolidate. The destination offers a seamless blend of vibrant city life, ancient history, iconic monuments, and beach escapes. From the marvels of Athens to the serenity of the islands, Greece is an all-round destination that resonates with Indian travellers.” Dimitri Haritos, Head, India Operations, HTG commented, “Our goal has always been to offer meaningful experiences with exceptional customer service. With 24/7 support, highly trained local teams, and a deep-rooted passion for Greece, we are confident that Indian travel agents and their clients will find a trusted partner in HTG.” The partnership also highlights the newly launched blog initiative: https://greece.vivavoyages.com, curated to provide instant itineraries and updates to Indian travel partners. As the Indian market continues to evolve post-pandemic, Viva Voyages and HTG look forward to creating memorable travel experiences in Greece and opening new horizons for travel agencies across India.