Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

In January 2025, VisitBritain will launch a major marketing campaign aimed at showcasing the UK’s cultural richness through the lens of popular films and TV shows. “Our Starring Great Britain campaign is all about bringing the magic of British films and TV to life. Whether you’re walking the streets of Bath like in Bridgerton or visiting locations from Peaky Blinders in Birmingham, we want visitors to feel like they’re part of these cinematic landscapes,” said Patricia Yates, CEO, VisitBritain.

With an eye to reinforce Taiwan’s post-pandemic tourism profile, Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) has announced the launch of new global brand positioning campaign, and logo, Version 3.0 titled ‘Taiwan – Waves of Wonder.’ It also launched a new series of  animated short films and Taiwan tourism promotional song to accompany the new logo. Inviting visitors to ‘engage now’ to experience Taiwan in all its colours and across four-seasons, the new campaign aims to drive demand, accelerate inbound tourism growth, fully revitalise country’s tourism sector. The campaign also aims to drive 10 million international tourist arrivals this year, eyeing a significant growth over last year’s 6.48 million tourist arrivals. The new version of the brand integrates images of Taiwan’s mountains, oceans, highways and railways, presenting a wave-like design to convey the seasonal highlights of the destination showing that Taiwan is diverse and beautiful, while emphasizing its year-round hospitality towards visitors. The logo adopts the orange tones of sunrise and morning light to not only align with the ‘warmth and vitality of the previous brand’, but also to symbolise the future development of Taiwan’s tourism industry. The campaign showcases Taiwan in all its hues, from modern tourism infrastructure and landmarks, great outdoors and activities, pristine nature, architectural and cultural heritage, to exotic cuisines and immersive culinary experiences, vibrant nightlife, shopping, music, entertainment and its vibrant festivals, among others, to position Taiwan as round-the-year destination.

Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) is pleased to announce the launch of IndiGo’s direct flight from Chennai to Penang, with the inaugural flight scheduled for the 21st of December 2024. This marks a significant step in strengthening the relationship between Penang and India. The new route further cements PCEB’s ongoing efforts to enhance connectivity and foster closer ties between the two regions.

VFS Global has crossed the 300 million applications milestone globally. It is notable that the last 100 million applications have been achieved in the past 5 years despite the pandemic-driven travel slow-down of 2020-2022. In 2023 alone, the company processed 24.1 million applications, 35% more than 2022, and between January to May 2024, it has processed approximately 100,000 applications a day. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, said, “We are very pleased and honoured with the achievement of this milestone, which is a testament to the trust 69 governments have in VFS Global, and a testament to the reliable, secure and innovative services we provide across 153 countries. We are also deeply grateful to all visa applicants using our services. Over the past year we are honoured to have won several important contracts, including becoming the exclusive overseas visa outsourcing partner for UK Visas and DHA Australia, and contracts with Germany, Finland, Portugal and Japan who have renewed their trust in us. We remain deeply committed to continuing investments in technology and human capital development to ensure continuous enhancement of our services.”

The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) has opened registrations for its upcoming TAFI Convention 2025 that will be held in the Ninh Binh province in Northern Vietnam from 17 to 20 January. The theme of the convention is ‘Tourism for Tomorrow: Protecting the Planet.’ Elaborating on the choice of destination and the theme, Ajay Prakash, TAFI President, said “Indian tourism is booming. While inbound numbers are still below pre-Covid levels, outbound and domestic tourism are breaking all records. But an industry that is totally people-centric and which thrives on the natural beauty and the amazing diversity in the world also has a duty to protect the Planet. Sustainability has gone beyond being a mere catchword, it is the single most important need today for the tourism industry and if we are to rethink our business models and think beyond profit, the move has to come from within the industry. As the leading travel association in the country TAFI will take the lead in sensitizing our members who in turn will guide their clients towards Responsible Tourism practices.” Anil Kalsi, Vice President added “The Provincial government of Ninh Binh has been extremely supportive, and the Department of Tourism has laid out the red carpet for TAFI delegates.” Speaking about the format of the convention, Abbas Moiz, National General Secretary, adds, “TAFI is offering members a three-night convention at an incredible price of Rs. 15,999/- per person on twin sharing. We have also negotiated great prices with DMCs for some exciting pre- and post-convention tours. Our members can contact them directly to take advantage of the special prices. Similarly, members are free to choose between the various airlines offering direct or …

Sharing some insights into inbound markets from across the region, Vishal Bhatia Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, says, “India, a growing market for the UK, forecast to be worth £843m to the UK economy in 2024. Research shows 51% of Indian visitors rely on travel trade to plan and book their international travel. Tourism is a major employer, supporting 3.1 million jobs across our local communities.”

Receiving the ‘Most Innovative Tourism Board’ award on behalf of the NTO at the India Travel Awards, Pooja Raut, Digital Lead, Brand Manager, Singapore Tourism Board, said, “It’s a significant boost for us to continue doing great work. STB has always been synonymous with innovation. We aim to push boundaries and introduce Singapore’s unique nature and culture to the Indians.”

Ryo Bunno, Executive Director, JNTO, Delhi, said, “In 2019, Indian visitors to Japan hit a record 176,000 before declining due to COVID-19. Numbers rebounded in 2022 and 2023, with 2024 expected to surpass 200,000. Beyond Japan’s popular Golden Route, travellers are urged to explore its diverse regions. The upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka underscores Japan’s efforts to enrich tourism, fostering deeper India-Japan ties.”

As the holiday season approaches, Washington, DC transforms into a festive wonderland, featuring everything from delightful Thanksgiving-themed dining to dazzling light displays. This winter, get in the holiday spirit with local markets, cozy cocktails and seasonal happenings in the nation’s capital. The District Holiday Boat Parade – On Dec. 7 dozens of dazzling boats will traverse the Potomac River from the waterfront in Alexandria, Virginia to Washington, DC’s The Wharf. Visitors can observe the annual parade free of charge with holiday festivities to enjoy beforehand, including winter drink sampling, chances to meet Santa, ornament decorating and more. Prizes will be awarded to the most beautiful vessels, which begin their journey at 6 p.m., fireworks will cap off the parade at 8 p.m. and live music will continue until 9 p.m. 101 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024 December 7, 2024 The National Menorah Lighting Ceremony – Chanukah kicks off on Dec. 25 with a lighting ceremony of the world’s largest menorah on the White House Ellipse, which greets all with latkes, doughnuts, menorah kits and dreidels. Music from the United States Navy Band typically adds a soundtrack to the scene. As is the custom, a new candle is illuminated on each of the eight nights. 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 December 25, 2024 The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – As a DC tradition dating back more than a century, The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony has become an elaborate production packed with live performances and a full audience. The National Christmas Tree is DC’s claim to fame during the holidays, and for good reason. The gorgeous conifer is free to visit and lives in President’s Park on …

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced today that visitor arrivals from India have surged past the one million mark, two months earlier than in 2023. This milestone was achieved when Singapore Airlines flight SQ-421 from Mumbai touched down at Changi Airport on 31 October, bringing in Singapore’s millionth Indian visitor for 2024. With a 12% increase in Indian visitors from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, India is Singapore’s third-largest source market for tourism. Markus Tan, Regional Director of STB for India, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, commented on this significant milestone “Welcoming our one millionth Indian visitor two months earlier than in 2023 demonstrates Singapore’s enduring appeal as a premier short-haul destination for Indian travellers. This milestone not only reflects our strong tourism recovery but also highlights the continued importance of the metros as source markets. Beyond the metros, STB is also expanding our reach and appeal of Singapore across diverse regions of India, using targeted marketing efforts and initiatives with the travel trade. We remain steadfast in our commitment to offering novel and engaging experiences that resonate with the aspirations of our Indian guests, ensuring that Singapore continues to be a destination of choice for years to come.” Singapore’s appeal to Indian travellers has been bolstered by strong connectivity and its diverse range of experiences catering to different visitor segments. In India, STB has partnered with popular Indian brands and launched various marketing initiatives to elevate Singapore’s appeal. Earlier this year, STB signed a two-year MOU with PhonePe for seamless UPI transactions and a strategic partnership with MakeMyTrip to tailor unique travel packages. An exclusive Vlog travel series featuring actress Ananya Panday was also …