Category Archives: Agents

With the extension of visa exemptions, easy access, direct connectivity and diverse offerings, including gastronomy, culture, heritage, shopping and nightlife — Malaysia presents an unrivalled combination of attributes making it an attractive destination for India’s MICE segment. In a focused endeavor to inspire its top corporates, Thomas Cook (India) partnered with Tourism Malaysia to host a high-impact MICE event in Mumbai. The engagement witnessed strong participation of over 30 CXOs and senior executives from leading multinational corporations and Indian corporate houses across sectors that included BFSI, pharma, electronics, trade etc. along with representatives from Tourism Malaysia and Thomas Cook. These attendees were carefully handpicked by Thomas Cook to attend the exclusive, high-impact event Inaugurated by Mr. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, the event highlighted Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to expanding its MICE offerings and enhancing its accessibility for Indian corporates. Organized in coordination with Nuwal Fadhillah Ku Azmi (Director International Promotion, Asia & Africa), Azura Zainol Abidin (President, Malaysia Sports Tourism), Noriah Jaafar (Director, Tourism Malaysia Mumbai) and T.Ediwanto T.Eddie (Dy Director of Tourism Malaysia), the unique format of the event allowed for a productive blend of business and networking, packed with insightful presentations, engaging discussions and invaluable one-on-one sessions that allowed participants to explore Malaysia’s vast MICE offerings in depth. The intent was not only to showcase Malaysia opportunity but also to inspire significant MICE groups for 2025-26.

Sharing his perspective on the India market, John Grant, Chief Analyst, OAG, says that while India has for many years been an emergent market it has also seen a fair degree of boom-and-bust periods as local airlines have struggled to survive in a market where seemingly uniforms and working conditions were more important than fuel. “Today, that has changed and anyone who has travelled recently in India will be impressed with the levels of digital technology and biometrics in place across every major airport. India is no longer an emergent market – it is the market of international focus and the centre for aviation growth in the next decade,” he adds.

Digi Yatra has ambitious plans for 2025. Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation, reveals, “Our partnership with IATA for the IATA One-ID X Digi Yatra for enablement of Digi Yatra for International flow will drive growth in 2025. The platform intends to support all 22 official Indian languages. It also aims to conduct an international pilot project, enabling foreign passengers with e-passports to experience its seamless ecosystem.”

The Airbus A321XLR has proven a popular choice with airlines says Gavin Eccles, Managing Partner, GE Consulting & Advisory. “It can fly up to 10 hours, similar to an A330, the difference being we can fly with such distances with 160 people rather than 360 people. This means that tourist boards can start fishing in markets that they have not been to before because the traditional widebody was either too big for most airports or had too many seats that would mean less yield for the airline, resulting in a reluctance to serve certain destinations. But that will now soon change,” he says.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) hosted a roadshow in Delhi to introduce new initiatives and enhanced support programs aimed at strengthening collaboration with Indian travel trade. As part of its efforts to boost travel from India, KTO has introduced a $30 per passenger incentive for Korea-bound travellers booked through KPTC members, applicable for travel between April and December 2025. To qualify, packages must include a minimum one-night stay in Korea, a package cost of at least $250 (excluding airfare), accommodation in a four-star or higher category hotel, and submission of required supporting documents. With these initiatives, KTO aims to make Korea a more accessible and attractive destination for Indian travellers. Myong Kil Yun, Regional Director for India and SAARC countries, KTO, said, “With your support, we aim to further enhance travel opportunities, streamline processes, and ensure a seamless experience for Indian visitors to Korea.” KPTC is a specialised certification programme by KTO for travel agents.

Thomas Cook (India) has announced a 24-month strategic partnership with the Moscow Project Office for tourism promotion. The partnership will focus on strengthening cooperation through the exchange of knowledge, best practices and curation of unique-innovative products designed specifically for Indian travellers, towards fostering long-term growth in tourism and business MICE segments between India and Moscow. This strategic partnership aims at capitalising on Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel’s viable leisure and corporate MICE segments in a multi-pronged initiative that focuses on deepening product development, destination knowledge & training, marcom and consumer promotions – to create top of mind visibility and drive visitations from the India market to Moscow and beyond. The partnership will showcase Moscow’s distinctive and diverse appeal as a vibrant destination for India’s leisure, business/MICE and b-leisure sectors. The collaboration intends to maximise on the diversity of consumer segments of India’s leading omnichannel travel service providers, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel – across India’s major metros, mini-metros, and emerging tier 2 and 3 source markets. Rajeev Kale – President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) said, “The new age Indian traveller is displaying strong and growing appetite for unique destinations and enriching experiences. Moscow represents a delightful diversity of architecture, art, culture, gastronomy and vibrant nightlife…hidden gems waiting to be explored!  And so, on behalf of the Thomas Cook India Group, I am delighted to announce our strategic long term and multi-pronged partnership with Moscow Project Office for Tourism & Hospitality Development that extends across our range of segments – including MICE and leisure.” “With a vibrant heritage of over 143 years in India, this ground breaking MOU reiterates our leadership position in the …

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to update that its third cruise ship, Star Scorpio, which is set to join the fleet and commence deployment from 26 March 2025 onwards will be renamed as the Star Voyager. Aptly named as the Star Voyager, she will start her journey by exploring more of Southeast Asia until 21 July 2025 with Singapore as her main homeport, together with Jakarta, Melaka, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh city as her dual homeport. Passengers will have the convenience to embark the Star Voyager from any of these homeport cities at selected dates, including during the local school holiday periods with the option to sail between cities, as well as to more popular destinations like Medan, Pulau Redang and Ko Samui.

EaseMyTrip.com has entered into a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to strengthen Sabah’s appeal among Indian travellers. The signing ceremony took place on 3rd February 2025 at the EaseMyTrip office in New Delhi, with STB Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit and EaseMyTrip Chief Operating Officer Nutan Gupta formalising the collaboration. The event was attended by key representatives from both organisations, including Mr. Sanchit Chopra (Senior Vice President – Marketing & Alliances, EaseMyTrip), Mr. Saurabh Shukla (Assistant General Manager – Marketing & Alliances, EaseMyTrip), Mr. Humphrey Ginibun(Senior Marketing Manager, STB), and Ms. Poonam Nautiyal (Marketing Manager, Tourism Malaysia New Delhi). This partnership marks a significant milestone in expanding Sabah’s presence in the Indian travel market, leveraging EaseMyTrip’s industry expertise, digital reach, and extensive customer base. Under this strategic alliance, both organisations will collaborate on a series of targeted initiatives to increase inbound tourism and enhance travel experiences for Indian visitors. As part of the agreement, EaseMyTrip will create a dedicated Sabah page under its Malaysia microsite, providing comprehensive travel itineraries, must-visit attractions, and essential travel information for prospective travellers. The platform will also develop a series of destination-specific blogs, immersive video content, and social media campaigns to showcase Sabah’s cultural heritage, pristine landscapes, adventure tourism, and luxury offerings. To maximiseoutreach, EaseMyTrip and STB will jointly co-fund digital marketing campaigns, ensuring wider visibility and engagement across Indian markets. Furthermore, the collaboration extends beyond leisure tourism, with a strong emphasis on niche experiences such as MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) for business travellers, corporate retreats, and international conferences. Specialised travel packages will also be curated for destination weddings, offering couples an opportunity to celebrate their special day in Sabah’s picturesque locations. Additionally, EaseMyTrip will promote wellness tourism through …

The Moroccan National Tourism Office (MNTO) has successfully wrapped up its showcase of Morocco at OTM 2025, with a special focus on the keen interest of the Indian traveller. Held at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, the MNTO stand, received immense interest from Indian travel professionals, and industry stakeholders. The booth highlighted Morocco’s dynamic travel experiences, from immersive cultural journeys and historical landmarks to adventure tourism and luxury getaways. Visitors explored Morocco’s variety as a destination for families, couples, solo explorers, and thrill-seekers alike. The vibrant display and interactive sessions allowed attendees to gain deeper insights into Morocco’s tourism potential. During the event, MNTO also hosted a networking evening where key trade operators and media partners were invited. A presentation was conducted to inform guests about the destination, The vibrant display and interactive sessions allowed attendees to gain deeper insights into Morocco’s tourism potential. Recognizing India as a key growth market, MNTO aims to leverage the impressive 43% rise in Indian outbound travel from India. Strengthening collaborations with travel partners remains a priority to promote Morocco’s stunning landscapes, vibrant traditions, and unique travel experiences. With enhanced marketing initiatives and tailor-made travel packages, MNTO seeks to position Morocco as a preferred destination among Indian travelers. Jamal Kilito, Country Manager, MNTO India, expressed his excitement about engaging with the Indian market, stating, “OTM 2025 provided an exceptional opportunity to showcase Morocco’s unique appeal to Indian travelers. Our goal is to enhance our presence in India by curating experiences that cater to local preferences. With 10 Moroccan tourism companies participating, we aimed to strengthen business collaborations and highlight the country’s diverse offerings, seamlessly blending history, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality to create …

Prateek Hira, President & CEO, Tornos shared his comments on Union Budget 2025. “The Indian government has unveiled the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026. Within the positive announcements by the Finance Ministry that include relaxation in visas for some countries, a focus on 50 tourist destinations, an infrastructure push and a few other initiatives, there is also a deep wound that has been inflicted on the tourism industry, particularly the inbound sector. The budget includes only a slight increase of 4 per cent in the allocation for tourism, which is less than India’s inflation rate, but the worst part, which will have a ramification on the already bleeding inbound sector, is that the international marketing budget for tourism has been reduced to ₹30 million, a reduction of 97 per cent of the already minuscule budget that India had for international tourism marketing. Interestingly, ₹30 million is the budget of many mid-size and large companies for their own marketing and promotions. This move of the Indian government is beyond anyone’s understanding and only points to the fact that India does not want inbound tourists or wants to earn foreign exchange through tourism. The move is in stark contrast to what the government of India speaks at different forums regarding making India a global hub and doubling its foreign tourist arrivals. In this budget, there was no mention of the tourism board, which is an incomplete exercise and could have set many issues right. After the closure of international tourism offices and with no proper marketing strategy in place, the tourism board could have been a saviour. The granting of industry status to tourism and incentivising foreign exchange earnings through …