Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head – Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook India, highlighted that technology is now reshaping travel planning and personalisation, with corporates seeking smarter, more flexible solutions. “Being just a ticketing agent is no longer enough — travellers expect customised, seamless experiences,” he said.

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, announced that the airline will soon launch operations from India to Sharjah. “We are currently evaluating two or three markets for Sharjah,” he said, adding that destinations such as Tashkent, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam are also being explored keeping in view the growth opportunities.

Shaikha Al Nowais will be the first woman to lead the United Nations Specialised Agency for tourism in its 50-year history. She will assume office in early 2026. In her address, the Secretary-General-elect emphasised, “Responsible tourism, capacity building, technology for good, innovative financing, and smart governance — each designed to make our sector more inclusive, resilient, and human.”

India’s hospitality sector is poised for a record year-end, driven by 4.5 million weddings, strong business travel, and robust MICE demand expected in November and December. Hotel rates and occupancy are projected to surpass 2024’s highs. Rikant Pittie, CEO & Co-founder, EaseMyTrip, said bookings are nearly 14% higher than last year, with strong advance demand for group and long-stay itineraries.

Paytm has introduced Paytm Checkin, a new interactive travel platform offering zero convenience fees and transparent pricing. Users can enjoy free flight cancellation at ₹99, and a special Travel Pass priced at ₹249 for exclusive savings. With features like Paytm Assured for buses and Ticket Assure for trains, it ensures timely refunds and confirmed seat assistance, providing seamless, stress-free travel experience.

India recorded its highest foreign tourist arrival (FTA) growth from Somalia, with a 144% surge between 2019 and 2024, according to Ministry of Tourism data. Somalia’s arrivals rose from 5,044 in 2019 to 12,320 in 2024, marking the only triple-digit growth. The other top growth markets included Cambodia (81%), Kazakhstan (72%), Vietnam (61%), and Bhutan (47%).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Uttarakhand’s rapid tourism growth during the state’s Silver Jubilee celebration in Dehradun, noting the surge from 4,000 tourists in six months to the same number daily. He encouraged the state to position itself as India’s “Spiritual Capital” in the coming years and inaugurated or laid foundation stones for development projects worth over ₹8,140 crore.

Global Aviation Services was honoured with the Best Passenger GSSA – Excellence in Service award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Accepting the accolade, Jalpa H Vithalani, Group Managing Director, dedicated it to her father, HK Vithalani, Founder Chairman, and the team, saying such recognitions continue to inspire and uphold their legacy of excellence.

Deepak Arora, Director, Leading Hotels of the World – India, has shared that India is the fastest growing office for Leading Hotels of the World globally. He revealed that they have recorded 50 per cent growth in the last one year. In fact, the growth has doubled since 2023, when they first started the Leading Experience India event.

According to a new World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) report, smart border management (SBM) could boost the global economy by adding $401 billion in GDP and create 14 million jobs across G20, EU, and African Union nations by 2035. With Travel & Tourism projected to reach $16.5 trillion in global GDP, WTTC and SITA stress border modernisation as crucial.