Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

The Switzerland Travel Experience (STE) 2022 brought together over 60 leading travel agents and tour operators from across India associated together with 21 partners from the Swiss tourism industry including destinations, hotels, attractions, public transportation, mountain excursions, and other related companies, at its annual event held in Goa between March 14-17, 2022. In the wake of the tourism sector emerging from its most challenging years, Indian tourists are increasingly looking at Switzerland as a preferred travel destination. According to the main tour operators, there has been a 40% increase in enquiries from Indian travellers for Switzerland. This is not only because of the plethora of activities available in the scenic country like adventure, sports, culture, food but also because of the multiple experiences it offers for all types of travellers be it solos, couples, families as well as the adventure seekers. The rise in interest can also be attributed to Switzerland’s longstanding reputation as one of the cleanest countries in the world, and additionally, because the country has been keeping up with the needs of today’s traveller for authenticity, proximity to nature and considerate consumption as part of their Swisstainable sustainability strategy. Multiple safety measures put in place during the pandemic like the ‘Clean and Safe Label’ which promotes strict protection plans laid down by the government and boosts the guests’ confidence in Switzerland as a travel destination have also led to great confidence in the country among Indian travellers. “As the borders opened up, confidence in travel returned with the acceleration in vaccination programs making travellers seek out new experiences to make up for the many months spent under restrictions. This has led to pent-up demand among travellers who have been waiting for …

“In 2022, for trade engagement, we are planning several destination trainings in Tier 2 markets our Annual India Roadshow in Q3 in Delhi & Mumbai”, said Sara Sodhi Juneja, Country Manager – India & UAE, Visit Finland. She further revealed about Finland’s e-training platform. She said, “Finland has launched its brand new destination e-training platform Finland Travel Pro. In the platform, travel industry professionals around the world can learn about Finnish touristic attractions, what to do during all four seasons and get an overview on Finnish tourism companies. The platform is available in English and In addition to desktop version, Finland Travel Pro is also available as mobile application. The platform is targeted for international travel trade companies globally and it aims to increase the desire to promote and sell travel to Finland. Additionally, In 2022, for trade engagement we are planning several destination trainings in Tier 2 markets and our Annual India Roadshow in Q3 in Delhi & Mumbai”.

Food and hospitality in Oman contribute with their presence to its economic development and also serve as a showcase for the hospitality industry in terms of growth, development and latest trends. The business and networking platform for companies and stakeholders is used by the industry to introduce the newest products and services in the areas of food, beverage, agriculture, fishing, cooking, and processing. Hotel chains across Muscat are famous for revving up dishes that are nothing short of gastronomic delights. The quality of food that you will receive on your holiday in Oman and the Gulf region has improved, especially when you are outside Muscat. One such hotel where guests find themselves in the lap of luxury is the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah, which is nestled amongst the rugged mountains. The hotel has a plethora of amenities that make for a comfortable stay for its guests. The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah, apt for a family vacation or an adrenaline-pushing romantic adventure, has two wings—Al Waha, “The Oasis,” and Al Bandar, “The Town.” While Al Waha is ideal for families, Al Bandar is the heart of the resort, catering to business and leisure travellers alike. Meetings and conferences take place in the latter. Both hotels boast a gamut of activities ranging from watersports to a kids’ club, a secluded spa, and several dining options. Overlooking 500-metres of coastline, it is difficult to pull oneself away from the AL Bandar. Like its name suggests, it is akin to a town with a mélange of restaurants. After you savour the exquisite Arabian flavours of tender roasted meats at Al Tanoor restaurant, you decide to take home a piece of Oman with the intricately-designed …

Indonesia has extended its ‘Visa on Arrival to Bali’ program on March that was launched on March 7 for holidaymakers flying in from 23 countries, including India in a bid to spur foreign tourist arrivals. It also revoked the obligation to have a sponsor for a tourist e-visa request. Indonesia’s Tourism & Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said, “The tourism ministry proposed to add several countries to the VoA list, including India, and it has been approved.”

To accelerate travel recovery momentum in India, South African Tourism looks at capitalizing on strong consumer demand in the country with their biggest travel trade initiative in India – their annual Roadshow. The tourism board showcased long-term investment and interest in the Indian market and outlined a strategic roadmap to garner 64% YoY increase in Indian visitors in 2022. Travelling to the Indian cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad this year, the 36-member South African trade delegation reiterated the tourism board’s emphasis on expanding the destination and product offering – thus, offering Indian consumers More & More! In addition to experiences, representatives from accommodation establishments, destination management companies, South African Provinces, SMMEs and women-owned companies showcased their product and services, while engaging Indian travel and trade associates. India retains its place amongst the top-3 focus markets for South African Tourism. This is aided by the fact that prior to the pandemic, India served as the 8th largest international source market for South Africa. The country is expected to maintain its position in the top-10 this year as well. Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Pune continue to be top Indian source markets to South Africa. “We have spent the last two years hoping for and preparing for this exact moment – the return of travel! As South African businesses land on Indian shores, we are excited to be introducing our partners and consumers to a host of value-driven and thoughtfully crafted adventures. Our evolved brand strategy will help us drive South Africa’s value proposition across stakeholders while creating customized engagement models to suit the unique requirements from each of our target regions within India. We are already seeing an uptick …

Looking at the post-Omicron scenario of the continuous improvement in the condition of COVID-19 infection, the Covid-19 Crisis Management Coordination Center (CCMC) by the Government of Nepal on 7th March has decided to waive off the PCR test requirement for passengers who have completed full vaccination against COVID-19 before fourteen days of arrival. Nepal is also moving forward to revive the hard-hit tourism sector with the strategic action plans being formulated by the National Tourism Revival Committee, together in collaboration with the public and private sector stakeholders of tourism industry.

GB Srithar, Regional Director, IMESA (India, Middle East & South Asia), Singapore Tourism Board, said, “The extension of VTL to Singapore from all Indian cities provides the much needed impetus to travel between the countries for all traveller types, whether for leisure, business or cruise. This is part of Singapore’s calibrated and progressive approach in re-opening our borders. We look forward to sharing Singapore’s new, reimagined tourism offerings and experiences with our Indian visitors.”

According to the latest country classification announced by France from 3rd March 2022, India has been moved to the green list of countries. Also, the French Prime Minister announced the suspension of the vaccination pass from 14 March 2022. The French Prime Minister announced the abolition of the mask requirement as of 14th March, with the exception of transport.

During the pandemic, Australian Tourism interacted with the Indian tourism industry through a series of webinars and virtual meetings, strengthening their ties. Also, the Australia Global Summit had the highest participation from the Indian travel industry. Australian tourism reported a doubling of agents’ participation in their Aussie Specialist Agents (ASP) programme in India in 2022 in comparison to 2019.

The 06th edition of the Bengal Travel Mart, East & North East India’s largest B2B travel show, was held at Mayfair Tea Resort in Siliguri from March 5th to 7th, 22. Gautam Deb, Mayor Siliguri Municipal Corporation was the chief guest. BTM’s aim is to create Siliguri as a hub for the Eastern Himalayas’ inbound domestic market, providing opportunity for buyers and sellers to closely interact on a productive platform.