Strengthening its footprint in the Indian market, Vietnam Airlines launched direct flight from Hyderabad to Hanoi. The new nonstop service will operate three times a week, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager – India, Vietnam Airlines, said, “India continues to be a key growth region for us.”

Chairing a meeting, PA Mohamed Riyas, Tourism Minister, Kerala decided to complete around 100 tourism projects at the initiative of the Tourism Dept this year. He directed the officials to complete the current projects in a systematic and timely manner. Discussions were held on the ongoing projects and those in the pipeline.

To support tourists stranded due to the ongoing disruption of flights from Ladakh, the All Ladakh Hotel & Guest House Association has decided to provide complimentary stays to guests at the hotels where they have been staying. It calls upon its member hotels and guest houses to support the measure.

Vietnam Airlines launched direct flights from Hyderabad to Hanoi, starting 7th May 2025. This marks the airline’s fourth gateway in India — following Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The new nonstop service will operate three times a week, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. To commemorate the inaugural flight, a celebratory event was held at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, featuring traditional welcome ceremonies and a ribbon-cutting to mark the arrival of the maiden Vietnam Airlines flight. Passengers were greeted with souvenirs and a warm reception. The airline also organised a special networking luncheon at ITC Kohenur, for key travel agents and industry stakeholders from Hyderabad. Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager, India, Vietnam Airlines, said, “India continues to be a key growth region for Vietnam Airlines, and we are excited to commence direct flights from Hyderabad. Hyderabad serves as an important gateway to southern India. Following our growing presence in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, this launch further reinforces our network expansion across the country and strengthens our commitment to enhancing connectivity between Vietnam and India.” With this launch, Vietnam Airlines continues to build lasting bridges between India and Vietnam, boosting bilateral tourism and providing travellers with world-class connectivity and comfort. “As the GSA of Vietnam Airlines in India, we are proud to support their expansion plans across Indian cities, with Hyderabad being one of the newest additions to our growing network. We are confident that this route will create new opportunities for business, tourism, and cultural exchange between India and Vietnam,” said Abhishek Goyal, CEO & Executive Director, Aeroprime Group. Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital serves as an excellent gateway to explore the country’s natural wonders such as Ha Long Bay, Sapa, and Ninh …

Maldivian announced the launch of direct flights from Bangalore to Hanimaadhoo, commencing 15th May 2025. This new connection offers Indian travellers’ direct access to the pristine islands of the northern Maldives—an untouched paradise waiting to be explored. With return fares starting from just USD 337, this direct route makes it easier and more affordable than ever for Indian tourists, honeymooners, and adventure seekers to discover the Maldives beyond the traditional resorts. The northern atolls, known for their serene lagoons, local island charm, and diving hotspots, offer a more authentic and peaceful Maldivian experience. Hanimaadhoo, located in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, is home to some of the most beautiful and unspoiled islands in the country. The region is perfect for those seeking a quiet island escape, community-based tourism, and sustainable travel experiences. This direct service eliminates the need for a domestic transfer from Malé, allowing travellers to reach their destination faster and more conveniently. Whether it is a weekend getaway or a longer tropical retreat, the new route offers a convenient connection from the heart of South India to one of the Maldives’ best-kept secrets. Bookings are now open and available via Maldivian’s official website, mobile app, and travel partners across India.

According to Tourism Economics, global cruise deployment increased by 25% from 2019-2024, with a 5% expansion in 2025. The Caribbean, Europe, and Asia-Pacific lead in deployment, while the Middle East has seen a significant 125% rise in average cruise days spent in the region. This growth highlights the ongoing expansion and popularity of global cruise markets.

Samual Machado, MD, India & South Asia, Sabre Travel Solutions, has said that Sabre brings a lot of value for their customers. “Going forward, our focus will be to become a multi-source platform, which has everything available for travel consumer ecosystem like OTAs or agencies on one side and on the other side, there are enough layers of artificial intelligence which allows customers to consume the content in the most efficient manner,” he said.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General of Tourism, said, “A unified national strategy, skilled talent, digital tools and strong state-led promotion can propel us into the top five MICE markets by 2025.” While India already has the necessary infrastructure and market demand, he pointed out that the real challenge lies in coordination. Billa emphasised the need for city-level convention promotion bureaus, a strong national MICE brand, skill development academies and a seamless digital portal.

The Abu Dhabi Stopover Programme, launched by DCT Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways, has experienced significant growth. With 25,000 bookings and 44,000 visitors between January to April 2025, bookings have surged by 47%, while visitors increased by 76% compared to the previous year. The programme continues to attract repeat travellers, with Etihad aiming for 130,000 stopover guests in 2025.

CII, EHL and ITC Hotels launched Industry–Academia Connect 2025 from New Delhi—a flagship multi-city initiative designed to spark nationwide dialogue and action toward a future-ready education ecosystem. Designed as a high-engagement, nine-city series, this initiative will bring together leading corporations and academic institutions to co-create an ecosystem of innovation and workforce readiness. The initiative is aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2025 and will cover cities including Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The Delhi leg of the series brought together a distinguished cohort of principals, career counsellors, and institutional heads from across the capital region, with over 70 leaders from industry and academia. The event saw educators from varied institutions in attendance. The educators were joined by senior representatives from industry across sectors like IT, Hospitality, Animation, Healthcare, BFSI and Gaming, building a confluence of thought leadership across the education and industry spectrum. The engagement featured high-impact panel discussions, sectoral insights, and a strong emphasis on aligning curriculum frameworks with dynamic industry demands. The opening session was headlined by Sougata Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, CII, who set the tone by highlighting the urgency of building a future-ready workforce through integrated, industry-informed learning models. He was joined on the panel by Praveen Roy, Advisor to CII; Nilesh Mitra, Vice President – Talent Management at ITC Hotels; Aman Aditya Sachdev, Non-Executive Director, EHL, Rohit Shenoy, Global Head of Talent Development at DXC Technology, Dr. Partha Bose MD, DTCD, FISD, FBPI, MBA, Senior Pulmonologist, Healthcare Skilling Specialist; and Anish Dhiman, Programme Head at CII Institute of Hospitality (CIIIH). Nilesh Mitra, Vice President, Talent Management, ITC Hotels, said, “For hospitality and service-driven sectors, skills are …