The government plans to reduce operational costs for event venues in Delhi, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex. “We are committed to supporting Delhi as a global hub for live events and entertainment,” said Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Sports Minister, addressing a high-level meeting convened by the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA) and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) recently. Kapil Mishra, Tourism Minister, Delhi and Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, also attended the event, which aimed to extend support to the events industry. Mandaviya said, “By streamlining processes and reducing costs, we aim to foster a vibrant cultural scene that benefits both artists and audiences.” Addressing the event, Kapil Mishra said, “Our vision is to transform Delhi into a creative capital that celebrates art, music, and culture. This initiative will not only boost tourism but also generate large-scale employment opportunities.” Sabbas Joseph, Co-Founder & Director, Wizcraft International, said the Union minister’s support will help realise the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision to promote a concert-economy to help drive tourism and grassroots development.

Booking.com’s latest search trends reveal that 58 per cent Indian travellers opted for short domestic trips this year, while 36 per cent chose international trips. Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi were the top searched domestic destinations. Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok were the top searched international destinations on Booking.com by Indian travellers from 1 Jan–30 Jun 2025 for stay dates 1 Jan–30 Jun 2025.

West Bengal’s tourism sector attracted private investment worth ₹5,710 crore last year, driven by new luxury hotels, homestays and festival-driven growth, said Nandini Chakravorty, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism), GoI. In the same period, 42 new luxury hotels have opened in the state. She also added that Bengal ranked first in homestay registrations with 5,322 operational units and 3,755 more in the pipeline.

Skål International Delhi has announced its new executive committee for the 2025–2027 term, with all members elected unopposed. Homa Mistry, CEO, Trail Blazer Tours India, takes over as President, succeeding Ranjit Vig, who now serves as Immediate Past President. “I hope I’m able to add value to the Skål club in the coming future,” said Mistry, while the committee expressed confidence in driving Skål Delhi’s vision forward under his leadership.

The prestigious India Travel Awards 2025 is returning to Delhi on 9 September. The highly anticipated event will celebrate the tourism and hospitality industry’s biggest stars. The awardees will take home the golden trophy ‘Maya’. With its focus on celebrating excellence while paving the way for future growth, ITA 2025 promises to recognise achievement and inspire the industry at large.

Nikhil Jeet, Director, DDP Group, has been recognised as the ‘PATA Face of the Future in Leadership’ in Bangkok. He pioneered COVID eLearn, training over 2,000 travel agents, and India’s first digital travel conclaves. His initiatives evolved into sustainable digital ecosystems, fostering inclusivity while mentoring young professionals and supporting underrepresented communities.

Yousuf Khalaf Al Mujaizi, Assistant Director, Business Development Department, Ministry of Heritage & Tourism, Oman, said, “We are positioning Oman as a high-end destination. The country welcomed over 600,000 Indian arrivals in 2024, marking 40% growth over 2019, with ambitions to reach one million visitors through stakeholder collaboration in the coming years.”

The Hotel Association of India (HAI) welcomed the Prime Minister’s consideration of rationalising GST, calling it vital for global competitiveness. The association urged a 5% tax rate with input credit across hospitality and tourism. The reform, it said, will enhance India’s appeal and support the 2047 goal of 100 million foreign arrivals.

Speaking at the 40th IATO Convention in Odisha’s Puri, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, said, “India needs three times the current number of hotel rooms to meet future demand. Unless we are able to unlock that and push the needle, it is going to be a challenge.”

Airocity Visas has expanded its presence with the launch of a new branch in Chennai. Established in 2016, it has emerged as a trusted name in the travel industry for visa consultancy services. Headquartered in Delhi, the company also operates major branch offices in Mumbai and Chennai, India’s key metropolitan hubs.