Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Türkiye, a premier destination for travellers worldwide, continues to see a remarkable surge in tourism from India. In the first 5 months of 2024, the number of Indian visitors reached an impressive 1,26,000, representing a 34% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This surge is notable against the backdrop of 2023, wherein Türkiye welcomed a total of 2,74,000 Indian tourists for the entire year. This significant growth highlights Türkiye’s ongoing appeal and its strategic efforts to attract more Indian tourists. Indian tourists have shown a strong preference for a variety of tourism experiences in Türkiye. Many Indian visitors are exploring Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage, shopping, and dining experiences at their own pace as Free Independent Travellers (FITs). Several regions and cities in Türkiye have seen a notable increase in Indian tourists. Istanbul, renowned for its historical landmarks, vibrant culture and unique gastronomic experiences, remains a top destination. Cappadocia, famous for its unique landscapes and hot air balloon rides, has also attracted many Indian visitors. Coastal areas such as Antalya and Bodrum, which are known for their stunning beaches and luxury resorts, are also popular for unique wedding ceremonies, honeymoons, luxurious celebrations, and events. Other destinations like Pamukkale, İzmir, and Alaçatı are known for their natural beauty and historical sites, drawing significant numbers of tourists. This impressive growth is attributed to active promotion and PR activities in India, as well as successful collaborations with Indian stakeholders, including travel agents, corporates, and wedding planners. Earlier this year, Türkiye Tourism concluded a successful six-city India Roadshow in collaboration with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). This initiative aimed to strengthen ties between the Indian travel trade and Turkish tourism, fostering …

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, along with Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Zahara Tours, and SalamAir, invites the Indian travel trade to attend a webinar on the destination and the product offerings. Get valuable insights and updates for your clients today at 3pm IST. Join the webinar and stand a chance to win exciting prizes! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is set to organise a multi-city B2B roadshow in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad this July. Titled ‘Singapore Tourism Board Roadshow 2024. Holidays Made in Singapore’, the event features 50 exhibitors representing hotels, attractions, airline, cruise lines and destination management companies. Notably, seven of these exhibitors are participating for the first time, including the city’s famed family-friendly attraction Museum of Ice Cream, and Disney Cruise Line, which has made Singapore its exclusive Southeast Asian homeport for five years starting next year. India is a major tourism source market for Singapore, with direct flights from 17 cities within a 4 to 6-hour range. Since the resumption of international travel in 2022, Indian tourists have been drawn to Singapore’s evolving range of offerings. In 2023, many new hotels, attractions, and lifestyle experiences have emerged, offering more activities and venues for India’s travel agents and planners to consider when crafting holiday itineraries, MICE programmes, and wedding celebrations. STB’s global campaign, “Made In Singapore”, showcases the city as a destination of unique and unexpected experiences. In line with this, the 2024 multi-city roadshow is themed “Holidays. Made In Singapore” to equip the Indian travel trade community to promote Singapore as a differentiated destination for various consumer segments. As part of the B2B roadshow, STB is also hosting two curated business matching platforms between Singapore wedding suppliers and Indian planners in Ahmedabad and Kolkata, important source markets for Indian wedding celebrations. Featuring eight venues, hotels, aviation and cruise partners, and DMCs, these networking events build on STB’s continuing efforts in India to spotlight Singapore’s unique selection of wedding venues and experiences, including a partnership with celebrated couturier Rahul Mishra, and the …

Inviting the trade to be part of the exciting roadshow series, Markus Tan, Regional Director (India, ME, South Asia & Africa), International Group, Singapore Tourism Board, says, “We are bringing in 50 exhibitors from Singapore to meet the trade starting with Chennai on July 8, going on to Hyderabad on July 9, Kolkata on July 11 and finally Ahmedabad on July 12.”

Caroline Bremner, Senior Head of Travel Research at Euromonitor International, said destinations that deliver safety, relaxation, value, good quality food and drink and access to natural attractions would continue to do well. She noted that younger (Gen Z) travellers, much preferred personalised, authentic local experiences, with price not so much of a consideration, relative to much older baby boomers who seek value.

Mauritius Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on the destination and get valuable insights and updates for your clients today at 11:30am. Join the webinar and stand a chance to win a fam trip! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Oman Air has unveiled a significant enhancement to its distribution capabilities, ushering in a new era of convenience and choice. Partnering with Accelya, a global leader in software and technology solutions, the airline has introduced cutting-edge functionality that will enable its trade partners to seamlessly manage their customers’ travel needs. Part of the airline’s ambitious retail transformation programme, it leverages the latest IATA New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology, representing a substantial advancement from the previous booking tools available to travel agents. “NDC stands as a pivotal tool, empowering us with enhanced flexibility and control over our distribution channels. Oman Air’s NDC journey has yielded significant growth in recent years and our partnership with Accelya marks an important milestone in this journey” commented Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “Not only does the new upgrade support us to streamline our customer experience and enable us to scale up and provide more robust services, it also represents a significant reduction in our distribution costs, paving the way for more efficient operations and revenue diversification.” Sam Gilliland, Chick Executive Officer at Accelya, added “We are delighted that Oman Air has chosen Accelya to take control of their retailing future and help them on the journey to Offer & Order transformation. More and more airlines, covering a range of scale and operating models, are choosing Accelya’s FI X Platform due to our track record of delivering fast, impactful results. Our partnership with Oman Air is an example of how Accelya is leading the market in modem wtail solutions and bringing the benefits of our technology to customers.” In addition to enhancing its distribution capabilities, Oman Air is bolstering its loyalty system, also …

According to data from Adara, a RateGain Company, an impressive 62% of all hotel searches from India in the last two months have been for France. The allure of witnessing the Olympics, combined with the romantic and cultural magnetism of Paris, has captured the imagination of many. Contrary to the search data, Germany has outpaced France in actual hotel bookings, receiving 19% of all bookings from India, compared to France’s 16%. Several factors contribute to this trend, reflecting practical considerations over aspirational searches.

Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its three-city roadshow in India. Led by MTPA’s Director, Mr. Arvind Bundhun, and featuring a delegation of 21 esteemed partners from Mauritius, this roadshow exemplified the robust bond between India and Mauritius and the promising potential for collaborative growth within the tourism sector. The roadshow commenced in Pune, followed by Chennai on the 29th of May, and Jaipur on the 31st of May, catalysing synergies within the industry. Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), expressed his delight regarding the success of the three-city roadshow in India. He stated, “I am immensely pleased with the success of our three-city roadshow in India. With increased activities and more flights from India to Mauritius, this roadshow was crucial for us as MTPA is committed to facilitating seamless travel experiences and showcasing the diverse attractions Mauritius has to offer. We extend our sincere gratitude to all those who participated in making this roadshow a resounding success.” The Chennai leg of the roadshow was graced by Mr Donald Payen Chairman MTPA. His esteemed presence underscored the paramount importance of India as a key tourism partner for Mauritius and laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation. Sunil Mathapati, Country Manager MTPA India, conveyed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled with the responses of the travel agents in all the three cities. The enthusiasm and interest shown by attendees reaffirm our belief in the appeal of Mauritius as a top tourist destination. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to promote Mauritius and strengthen the ties. With such positive feedback, we are motivated to further enhance our outreach activities and provide travelers with …

The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), the official destination marketing organization for Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA, appointed Indiva Marketing to drive leisure visitation, awareness and visibility in India. Indiva Marketing will be responsible for sales and marketing activities, communications, and media relations, to position and develop business and media exposure for what is known as Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. This region, located in the middle of Pennsylvania, is home to Penn State University’s main campus. The population center of the county – the Centre Region – includes State College Borough and the townships of College, Harris, Patton, and Ferguson. Additional communities include historic Bellefonte and Boalsburg, and the charming towns of Millheim, Aaronsburg, Centre Hall and Philipsburg. Happy Valley’s central location provides convenient access to major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. “We are delighted to announce Indiva Marketing as our representative in India to position and promote tourism to Happy Valley,” said Fritz Smith, President and CEO of The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. “We look forward to welcoming travellers from India to discover our scenic valleys and agricultural corridors, and abundant outdoor recreation in our six state parks and forests, as well as to savour our authentic farm-to-table cuisine. Additionally, we parents of prospective college students seeking a first-class education in the United States to visit Penn State University while on their university tour. “Penn State University’s new Palmer Museum of Art, which is located next to the beautiful Penn State Arboretum, houses an extensive collection spanning ancient ceramics to 20th-century American art,” Smith continued. “Nearby Beaver Stadium – the second largest stadium in the nation – stands as the spirited home to the Penn State Nittany …