Category Archives: States

Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, announced that the UDAN scheme will continue beyond 2027, focusing on connectivity with hilly, North-Eastern, and aspirational regions, and the development of around 120 new destinations. Under the scheme, 649 routes have been operationalised as on date connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes.

At the Minor Hotels India Roadshows in Delhi, Rohit Chopra, Area Commercial Director, India, Minor Hotels, said, “The company is expanding across key segments including corporate, MICE, and weddings, with strong demand from families, HNIs, and solo women travellers.” He highlighted Minor’s strategic approach through Minor PRO, a seamless digital platform for travel partners offering quick bookings and instant incentives.

Agoda’s latest insights highlight growing interest in India for the five-day Diwali festival starting 20 October. Combined domestic and international searches rose 24%, with domestic searches up 18%. Notably, inbound interest surged 67% year-on-year, reflecting India’s increasing appeal to international travellers during the festive period, underlining the country’s strong tourism potential.

At the State Tourism Ministers’ meet in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, the Goa tourism department proposed two flagship tourism projects. A state-of-the-art 20,000-seat mega performance arena at Mandrem and a Lord Parshuram statue and museum at Loliem in Canacona, have been planned in the state to enhance visitor experience, create employment and strengthen Goa’s positioning as a global tourism destination, said Rohan Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa. The initiative will serve as an anchor project for hinterland tourism development in South Goa, aligning with the state’s vision of regenerative tourism and ‘Goa Beyond Beaches.

Air India has announced the addition of 174 weekly flights on key domestic and short-haul international routes, operated by its single-aisle aircraft, as part of the Northern Winter Schedule, beginning 26 October 2025. This expansion enhances connectivity to major cities in India and Southeast Asia in high demand. ADDITIONS TO SHORT-HAUL INTERNATIONAL ROUTES Delhi-Kuala Lumpur: Increasing from 7x to 10x weekly flights, effective 15 November Delhi-Denpasar (Bali): Increasing from 7x to 10x weekly flights, effective 01 December   ADDITIONS TO DOMESTIC INDIA ROUTES  Seasonal additions of flights to Rajasthan, effective 26 October: Delhi-Jaipur (new route): Introducing 3x daily flights Delhi-Jaisalmer (new route): Introducing 2x daily flights Delhi-Udaipur: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Mumbai-Jaipur: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Mumbai-Udaipur: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Mumbai-Jodhpur: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   More flights to Madhya Pradesh, effective 26 October: Delhi-Indore: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Delhi-Bhopal: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Mumbai-Indore: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   More flights to Gujarat, effective 26 October: Mumbai-Bhuj: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Rajkot: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   Other frequency additions, effective 26 October: Delhi-Varanasi: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Delhi-Raipur: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Delhi-Port Blair: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Aurangabad: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Guwahati: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Nagpur: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Dehradun: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Patna: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Amritsar: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Air India’s retrofit programme for …

Accenture’s latest report, Beyond the Stay, identifies gamification as a powerful tool to enhance guest engagement and loyalty. The study reveals that 76% of Indian hoteliers expect revenue growth from gamified strategies, with investments in this area projected to rise by over 15% in the next three to five years, reflecting strong industry confidence.

A delegation from the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) met Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, submitting a detailed representation seeking a fair, growth-oriented GST framework for hospitality. The association urged regularisation of past GST dues since 2017, restoration of Input Tax Credit (ITC) for hotels, and delinking F&B GST rates from room tariffs to ensure sectoral revival.

In a landmark milestone in the country’s aviation journey, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Speaking on the occasion, he said that the airport would play a major role in establishing the region as Asia’s biggest connectivity hub. It is a project that exemplifies the vision of a developed India, he added.

Speaking at the second leg of the Minor Hotels India Roadshows in Delhi, Rohit Chopra, Area Commercial Director, India, Minor Hotels, said, “The brand is strengthening its India footprint with an ambitious plan to open 50 new hotels in the next 10 years. Following the phenomenal success of Anantara Jaipur, which hosted over 60 weddings and 10 conferences, we are witnessing exceptional growth in both inbound and outbound markets.”

Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, recently met Hon’ble CM of Delhi, Rekha Gupta ji and Hon’ble Minister for Art, Culture and Language, Kapil Mishra to discuss transforming Delhi into India’s premier cultural and spiritual destination. They also discussed the tourism board’s vision for the Yamuna Aarti and cruise initiative , which will boost tourism by combining traditional evening prayers with scenic river journeys. “We spoke about the strategic partnership between Delhi Tourism and EaseMyTrip to position Delhi as more than just a transit point. Our technology infrastructure can seamlessly package everything from spiritual circuits through Easy Pilgrimage to immersive art experiences, world-class productions, and Esports & gaming events, reaching our 30 million customers globally. Easy Green Mobility secured Madhya Pradesh Government’s first inter-city electric bus tender, and we can bring similar sustainable solutions to Delhi, transforming how travellers experience the capital, prioritising environmental responsibility. If you are an entrepreneur building in tourism, cultural tech, or sustainable mobility that can elevate Delhi’s travel experience, please comment or DM me. Let us connect and work together to scale impactful solutions,” Pittie said.