The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has signed an MoU with Amadeus and officially launched the TAAI Marketplace in Abu Dhabi at its 68th Convention. Speaking on the same, Sandeep Dwivedi, Managing Director – Travel Sellers, India and subcontinent, Amadeus, said, “We aim to make this marketplace the Amazon for the travel trade industry.”

Kazin DMC has acquired ‘I Travel Uzbekistan’, marking its second major takeover and expanding its presence to 5 destinations — Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus, and now Uzbekistan. With this move, the company reinforces its status as one of the fastest-growing and most influential DMC networks in Central Asia and the CIS. Rohit Shorey, Founder & CEO, Kazin DMC, said the acquisition represents “a statement of strength,” adding that the partnership with I Travel Uzbekistan and Ashutova will enhance scale, quality, and innovation while building the region’s most trusted DMC network for global partners.

The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian outbound travel market by renewing its exclusive partnership with Blink Brand Solutions for the second consecutive year. This strategic collaboration aims to sustain momentum through enhanced marketing, trade outreach, and public relations in India. Taiwan welcomed 38,158 Indian visitors in 2024, marking 20.81% growth, and recorded a further 22.01% rise in the first half of 2025 with 22,687 arrivals. Paul Shih, Director, Singapore Office, TTA, said, “We will continue to roll out some pioneering market-focussed initiatives that closely engage with our travel industry partners in India and lead Taiwan’s efforts in India to create great vibes and visibility about our destination’s unique locations, unrivalled value and extraordinary holiday experiences.”

At its roadshow in New Delhi, Michael Dominic, Managing Director, CGH Earth Experience Hotels, revealed the group’s ambitious expansion beyond South India. Upcoming projects include a wellness retreat in Uttarakhand and tea-estate-based properties in Kalimpong and Kurseong, scheduled to open by early 2026. Additional developments are planned in Bandhavgarh, Spiti Valley, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Goa, and Sakleshpur. By the end of 2025, the brand will add four new units, with three more slated for early 2026. The group’s Saha brand is driving growth by converting heritage villas into unique experiential stays, reinforcing its positioning in sustainable, community-driven hospitality.

Noida International Airport (NIA) will be inaugurated on 30 October, revealed KR Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister, GoI. Passenger operations are expected to begin within 45 days of the launch. In its first phase, the airport will connect around 10 cities, largely metros. International operations will start later. He said, “Major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata will be among the first to be linked. Apart from passenger operations, there is also significant potential for cargo flights.”

Hoi, India’s pioneering travel-tech platform revolutionising airport experiences, has announced a strategic partnership with EaseMyTrip, one of the leading online travel-tech platforms, to launch India’s first-of-its-kind Smart Kiosk Rewards Program. This innovative initiative transforms routine airport dining into a value-driven travel experience, addressing the dual challenges of airport wait times and travel cost optimisation. The program leverages Hoi’s cutting-edge contactless food-ordering kiosks across Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, and Goa’s Manohar International Airport, enabling passengers to bypass traditional queues while earning instant travel rewards. Every kiosk order generates an immediate ₹500 EaseMyTrip coupon delivered directly to the passenger’s WhatsApp, while a monthly draw awards one fortunate traveller a ₹5,000 EaseMyTrip voucher creating anticipation and engagement throughout the journey. Running for a period of three months, the program has already transformed the travel experience for over 5,000 passengers, demonstrating significant traction and passenger adoption across Hoi’s airport network. The initiative represents a paradigm shift in airport monetisation, moving beyond traditional transactional relationships to create an integrated ecosystem where dining, technology, and future travel planning converge seamlessly. Commenting on this partnership, Dhruv Godara, Deputy CEO of Hoi said, “This collaboration with EaseMyTrip represents our vision of airports as dynamic ecosystems rather than mere transit points. By integrating real-time rewards with our contactless dining solutions, we’re fundamentally reimagining how passengers interact with airport services. Every meal becomes an investment in their next journey, creating a continuous cycle of value that extends far beyond the current trip. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to transform airports into intelligent, rewarding environments that anticipate and enhance every aspect of the passenger experience.” On this collaboration, Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip …

Air India, India’s leading global airline, announced a new interline partnership with Uganda Airlines, the national carrier of the Republic of Uganda. The agreement seamlessly connects the networks of both airlines, offering passengers enhanced travel options between India, Africa and beyond. Through this partnership, Air India guests can now enjoy smooth, single-ticket connections from across India and other parts of Asia to Entebbe, the main gateway to Uganda. Air India guests can either use Uganda Airlines’ direct service from Mumbai to Entebbe or connect to Uganda via Air India’s Dubai gateway. From Entebbe, Air India guests can also take onward connections to destinations across Africa, including South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and other key destinations, gaining easy access to the continent’s growing business centres and world-renowned tourism attractions. Uganda Airlines’ guests from Entebbe will now be able to access Air India’s extensive domestic network, connecting seamlessly to more than 25 cities across India on a single ticket. These include India’s largest metropolitan centres such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, which are major hubs for commerce, technology and culture. In addition to strengthening connectivity within India, the interline partnership also extends Uganda Airlines’ reach to key international destinations served by Air India. Guests can conveniently travel from Entebbe via Mumbai to global hubs such as Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka and Singapore, gaining access to some of Asia’s most dynamic economies as well as Europe’s leading capital city. “We are happy to partner with Uganda Airlines, enhancing connectivity between India and Africa”, said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. “This partnership not only provides our customers with seamless access to Uganda and an extended network across Africa but …

The 5th edition of the Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM) has reinforced its stature as a leading platform for tourism promotion in the state. Kuldeep Singh Chandela, President, Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR), highlighted the growing appeal of the event, which this year attracted nearly 300 hosted buyers, over 800 non-hosted buyers, and showcased more than 600 properties. Chandela credited the success of RDTM to the strong support of the Department of Tourism and the Government of Rajasthan, adding that the state is steadily positioning itself on the global tourism map. He also lauded the achievements of the Rising Rajasthan initiative, where ₹1.37 trillion worth of MOUs were signed to boost tourism, paving the way for new projects in the coming years and strengthening Rajasthan’s tourism profile worldwide.

In a strategic initiative to boost tourism exchange and deepen ties with one of its most vital source markets, the Ajman Department of Tourism Development (ADTD) successfully organised a series of impactful networking events across Delhi, Pune, and Kolkata. These high-profile events served as a dynamic platform to highlight Ajman’s stature as a premier travel destination while fostering deeper cooperation with India’s travel and trade ecosystem. The roadshows, held in three key metropolitan cities on 15, 17 and 19 September 2025, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of leading travel agents, tour operators, media professionals, and key industry stakeholders. The delegation, led by H.E. Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi, Director General, ADTD, Abdulaziz AlMahri, Director of Legal Affairs Office, and Abdalla Gohar, Project Management and Development Advisor as well as Amr Aly Morsy, Tourism Development and Marketing Expert, ADTD showcased Ajman’s unique tourism offerings—from its pristine beaches and cultural landmarks to its luxurious hospitality infrastructure and growing appeal as a family-friendly, safe, and affordable destination. H.E. Mahmood Khaleel Alhashmi stated: “Over the years, India has remained one of Ajman’s top source markets, with Indian arrivals playing a significant role in our tourism growth. Moreover, Indian travellers visit Ajman to experience its warm hospitality, peaceful beaches, and rich cultural heritage, supported by easy access from the UAE’s major entry points. These roadshows gave us a chance to strengthen our relations with Indian travel partners, hear their insights firsthand, and showcase how Ajman is evolving to meet the needs of today’s travellers. We look forward to welcoming even more Indian visitors, ensuring they experience the very best our Emirate has to offer.” Neeti Sharma, Director, Intrepid Marketing and Communications, added: “We are truly delighted to bring …

The Skål International India National Congress 2025, held recently in Mumbai, brought together more than 200 delegates from across India and abroad. The roadmap for Vision 2025-2030 was also unveiled at the event, outlining strategies to expand Skål’s footprint across India, strengthen member engagement, and deepen global linkages. India’s leadership in the Skål movement was reaffirmed during the congress as the country officially became the largest Skål nation in the world by membership, surpassing the USA. Mukesh Batra, President, Skål International Mumbai South, said, “This congress is not just about numbers; it is about values, vision, and vitality.”