Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, projected that the hospitality industry will contribute US $250 bn to India’s GDP by 2030, supporting 137 million jobs. He stressed on the role of long-term financing and regulatory reforms to achieve this vision, aiming for a US $3 tn contribution by 2047.

While receiving the ‘Best Travel Brand – South India’ award on the behalf of GT Holidays, Yamini Karthik, Co-Founder, Director, Operations, GT Holidays, said, “India Travel Awards is one of the most prestigious travel awards and today we are honoured to receive this accolade.”

To highlight Goa as an international tourist destination, the state is planning to conduct roadshows in Poland, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. The state’s tourism department is expected to spend ₹2 crore on the roadshows to enhance the foreign tourist influx attracting visitors of all segments and ages.

Maharashtra government released ₹72.45 crore for the development of eco-tourism in the state recently. Out of ₹273 crore allotted by the state for the period 2024-25 to develop tourism sites, ₹101.31 was released between May to September. Overall, 30 eco-tourism sites will benefit under this.

The Indian hospitality industry is primed to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy, according to Pradeep Shetty, President, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). Addressing the 54th FHRAI Annual Convention on Day 1, Shetty projected that the sector will contribute a substantial $250 billion to India’s GDP by 2030, supporting 137 million jobs. To achieve this ambitious target, Shetty emphasised the need for long-term financing and regulatory reforms. The industry aims to contribute $3 trillion to the GDP by 2047. FHRAI Calls for Regulatory Reforms Shetty highlighted the critical need for long-term financing in the sector, noting that current funding options are limited to 7-8 years. He urged the government to implement regulatory reforms, such as streamlined licensing procedures and single-window systems, to unlock the industry’s full potential. Hospitality Sector Outperforms Other Industries The Indian hospitality industry is already making a substantial impact on the economy, contributing 12-13 per cent to the GDP and employing over 12 per cent of the workforce. These figures surpass those of the automobile and IT sectors, highlighting the industry’s economic significance. Sector to Add 50,000-60,000 Rooms in Next Five Years The President announced that the hospitality sector is set to expand significantly, with plans to add between 50,000 and 60,000 new hotel rooms over the next five years. This expansion will further boost employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic growth. FHRAI Submits Ease of Doing Business Report To address the challenges faced by the industry, FHRAI has submitted a comprehensive report on the ease of doing business in hospitality to the government. The report focuses on critical areas for reform, including simplifying regulatory compliance, reducing licensing burdens, …

ITA Airways continues to offer its new direct flight between Rome Fiumicino and Bangkok through the 2025 summer season. This route will be operational from 16 November, 2024. The new Rome-Bangkok flight is available for purchase through all ITA Airways’ channels also for the summer season, beginning 30 March, 2025. During the winter season 2024/2025, the flight will operate with five weekly frequencies from Rome Fiumicino every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and from Bangkok every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. In the 2025 summer season, flights from Rome Fiumicino will operate with three weekly frequencies on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, while departures from Bangkok will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Accepting the ‘Best International Group Tour Operator’ on behalf of Kesari Tours, Zelam Chaubal, Executive Director at Kesari MICE, said, “This recognition is inspiring. India Travel Awards have become an integral part of our industry. Receiving this motivates us to strive for even better performances.”

To empower the travel fraternity through knowledge sharing, engagement, and exchange via business networking, a two-day GPS event was held in Kochi. The GPS iConnect app was also launched for ease of doing business. Over 500 buyers and 40 exhibitors participated in the event.

At the grand reveal of Disney Cruise Line in Singapore, it was announced that the cruise liner will set sail on 15 Dec 2025 and bookings will start from 10 Dec 2024. Details on pricing and sailing dates will be released on 14 Nov, 2024. It will have experiences specially created for guests in Asia.

Uttar Pradesh’s upcoming airport Noida International Airport (DXN) will commence commercial flights to domestic and international destinations on 17 April 2025. Airlines have submitted applications for international destinations, with route approvals contingent on bilateral licensing agreements.