Category Archives: Agents

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO, Saudi Tourism Authority and Vice Chair of TOURISE, mentioned a bold new initiative that will allow Indian travellers to obtain Saudi tourist visas through their credit cards. Speaking at TOURISE in Riyadh, Hamidaddin revealed that the Kingdom is introducing a simplified, technology-driven visa process in partnership with financial institutions and major payment networks such as Mastercard and Visa. Under the new system, eligible Indian travellers will be able to apply for a Saudi visa directly using recognised credit cards, removing the need for embassy visits, fingerprinting, or bank statements. “This is one of our boldest steps yet,” Hamidaddin said. “If you have a recognised credit card, you can get a visa by Visa. Our goal is to make access effortless.” The initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing focus on India as a key tourism source market and reflects its wider vision to make travel more accessible through innovation and technology.

Dheeraj Ranjan Kumar, Founder & Director, Balitrip Wisata, said the company is realigning its 2026 strategy following the rise in direct flights from India to Bali — now five compared to two last year. The focus is on seat-inclusive packages, region-specific departures, and expanding partnerships with Indian travel agencies to capture growing demand for short-haul luxury travel.

Travel Mudra was honoured with the ‘Fastest Growing Visa Services in India’ award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Thanking DDP Group for the recognition, Neeraj Kumar Ailawadi, Director, Travel Mudra, said, “Winning the awards is a proud milestone for us. This recognition reflects our hard work, dedication, and the trust of our clients and partners.”

Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head – Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook India, highlighted that technology is now reshaping travel planning and personalisation, with corporates seeking smarter, more flexible solutions. “Being just a ticketing agent is no longer enough — travellers expect customised, seamless experiences,” he said.

Arun Bansal, Chief Executive Officer, Adani Airport Holdings, said, “Our vision is to redefine the airport experience through intelligent, digital-first innovations that place passengers at the heart of everything that we do, converting their travel anxiety into excitement. Our collaboration with AIONOS marks a significant step in delivering seamless and personalised journeys across our airports. We are building a connected ecosystem that enhances efficiency, fosters inclusivity, and sets new benchmarks for smart, sustainable and future-ready airports in India.”

After successfully concluding the Leading Experience India 2025 at the Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, the next edition of the flagship B2B event by Leading Hotels of the World – India will be held at Grand Hotel Vittoria Sorrento in Italy. This was announced by Deepak Arora, Director, LHW-India, at the farewell dinner of the event.

Meghalaya has unveiled its new tourism identity, ‘Symphony in the Mist’, a brand that captures its serene beauty. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone for the ₹233 crore Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit in Meghalaya under the PM-DevINE scheme, aiming to transform Sohra (Cherrapunjee) into a model for responsible tourism. This would serve as a benchmark for responsible tourism across India and is expected to redefine eco-tourism standards and position Sohra as a global destination for nature lovers and cultural explorers.

Harshvardhan Tanwar, Co-founder, No Footprints said that the biggest challenge for them is distribution. “Unlike larger DMCs and OTA platforms, we don’t have the distribution platform. We rely on them to put our experiences out there. We are paying 30 Per cent to be on OTA because we just want to be relevant. it makes no sense to  us to be on them on a monetary basis,” he highlighted.

Anil Kalsi, Owner, Ambe World Travels and Vice President, TAFI, highlighted the alarming decline in the number of ‘Standard’ IATA ticketing agents. Currently, there are approximately 1,800 Standard IATA agents and around 3,200 IATA Lite agents in India. Calling it a national concern for employment and aviation distribution, he urged airlines to value their distribution networks and respect travel agents’ vital role.

The Philippines Tourism Promotion Board (TPB), in collaboration with Buzz Travel Marketing, successfully hosted an engaging Itinerary Training Workshop in Mumbai, attracting over 60 key travel trade professionals from the city. The session aimed to enhance destination knowledge among the travel trade, equipping them with insights to design memorable itineraries across the Philippines. The workshop saw lively discussions, valuable exchange of ideas, and continued engagement over a networking lunch. Honorary Vice Consul Subramanian Krishna Moorthy graced the event from the Philippines Consulate in Mumbai, who highlighted the strengthening ties between India and the Philippines in tourism and cultural exchange. Also in attendance was the Air India team, who presented details about their newly launched direct flight to the Philippines, outlining key features and schedules that will significantly improve connectivity and encourage more Indian travellers to explore the archipelago. The workshop concluded on a positive note, reinforcing the Philippines’ growing appeal as a preferred destination for Indian travellers—be it for leisure, adventure, or MICE experiences.