South Star Rail won the ‘Best Domestic Tour Operator- Private Trains’ award at the India Travel Awards. Its Chariman, Jose Charles Martin received the award. Registered service provider under the ‘Bharat Gaurav Scheme’, South Star Rail is India’s first private train service provider where users can book and share their tickets through its mobile app.

Bobby KS Sawhney, General Secretary, Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA), said, “The theme for this year’s convention, scheduled for 20–21 December in New Delhi, is ‘Driving Excellence: Upgrading Transport for a Sustainable & Brighter Tomorrow’. The event aims to provide a platform for suppliers to showcase their products and services to tourist transport operators.”

Addressing the 12th ITM in Kaziranga, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, said, “Northeast region has welcomed over 125 lakh domestic tourists in 2023, a significant increase from 70 lakh tourists in 2014. He attributed this surge to rapid infrastructural development in the region, including improved transportation networks, enhanced tourism facilities, and the development of new tourist sites.”

Amadeus latest Travel Trend report highlighted that from nostalgia-driven vacations to personalised flying experiences, Asia is set to regain its position as a global tourism leader in 2025, with inbound and outbound travel predicted to match or exceed pre-pandemic levels. Countries in the region are leveraging their cultural appeal and relaxed travel regulations to attract international visitors.

Airocity visas won the ‘India’s Most Promising B2B Service Provider’ award at the India Travel Awards. Accepting the award, Lalit Rajput, Co-Founder and Director, Airocity Holidays, said, “It is a truly unique and innovative event that means a lot to us. We had a fantastic time here, and winning the award was like a dream come true.”

Pradeep Shetty, Vice President, FHRAI, said, “Delinking F&B rates from accommodation tariffs will empower the industry to adjust pricing based on market dynamics and customer demand, fostering growth across all segments. It will also streamline tax compliance, ensuring a win-win for both the industry and government revenues.”

Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), said, “We will be launching a tax cell which would be a kind of a handholding for our members on matters in the areas of GST and TCS. A committee has been formed and is already working towards launching this cell. Our efforts to build bridges and deepen relations with the airlines are also underway.”

Join an exclusive Impiana Private Villas, Seminyak, Bali webinar on 28 November at 3 pm and get insights about its authentic Indian restaurant Frangipaani and Impiana Private Pool Villas, presented by a three-member team. For more information, contact Jaspreet Kaur at +91 9650196532 or jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com.

Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C) for Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, GoI, inaugurated the prestigious VISA-THSC Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Project in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, on 19 November. The Minister, who endorsed the MoU signing between THSC and VISA, has been instrumental in championing this transformative initiative, which is set to recognize, certify, and upskill over 20,000 individuals across India’s tourism and hospitality sectors over the next three years. In his inaugural address, Chaudhary underscored the profound impact of this project, stating, “Through the RPL initiative, we are not merely certifying skills; we are acknowledging and validating the hard work, expertise, and experience of our people. This project is a powerful step toward recognizing and empowering the skilled workforce in Bharatpur and Rajasthan, especially in tourism and hospitality—sectors integral to India’s growth and cultural heritage. By certifying these skills, we are laying a strong foundation for economic upliftment and sustained job creation.” Targeting the certification of nearly 7,000 individuals in its first year alone across India, the project focuses on roles such as Tour Guide, Customer Service Executive, Food Server, Walk Tour Facilitator, and Paragliding Ground Crew Chief. Bharatpur’s Keoladeo National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site and major tourist attraction—offers an ideal setting for the project, enabling local residents to gain formal recognition and contribute as ambassadors of India’s heritage and hospitality. Rajan Bahadur, CEO of THSC, shared his vision for the VISA-THSC RPL Project, stating, “The Project aligns closely with THSC’s mission to bridge skill gaps in the tourism and hospitality sectors by providing individuals with industry-recognized certifications. This initiative will uplift livelihoods in Bharatpur and beyond, enhancing service quality across the industry. By raising service standards, …

SriLankan Airlines has won the prestigious 2025 APEX Best Entertainment Award in Central/Southern Asia at the FTE APEX Asia Expo on 20 November 2024 in Singapore. The APEX Awards are entirely based on certified passenger feedback, with over a million flights across 600 airlines rated on experience metrics such as seat comfort, cabin service, entertainment, and meals for the 2025 awards. SriLankan Airlines additionally retained its status as a ‘Four Star Major Airline’ in the 2025 APEX Official Airline Ratings™ for the eighth consecutive year. Maria Sathasivam, Manager Product Development, SriLankan Airlines, commented on the award, stating, “We are delighted that passengers have collectively rated SriLankan Airlines as having the best inflight entertainment in this region. A passenger’s inflight experience is shaped by numerous factors, with entertainment playing a key role in enhancing overall inflight satisfaction and reducing perceived travel time. To that end, our content portfolio has been meticulously curated to reflect current entertainment trends, ensuring that passengers stay entertained throughout their journey.” SriLankan Airlines’ Inflight Entertainment (IFE) system offers a rich selection of Hollywood blockbusters, the latest releases and an extensive catalogue of regional films from South Asia and beyond, including favourites from Sri Lanka. The collection offers hours of captivating movies and TV shows across a range of languages and genres, including action, comedy, drama, adventure, animation, kids, musical, sci-fi and sports. Passengers can also enjoy a library of over 100 handpicked audio albums, featuring music for every listener, from international hits to local classics. This prestigious award reflects SriLankan Airlines’ dedication to transforming every journey into an extraordinary experience. It also adds to a growing list of accolades that the airline has secured recently for passenger …