Tag Archives: Inbound tourism

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs has announced a 14-day free visa entry for Indian travellers to enhance tourism arrivals from India. The visa-free entry may be availed in any Philippines port of entry, and the purpose of visit to the country shall be for tourism. Indian nationals availing of the said privilege will need to produce proof of identity.

Mahesh Iyer, MD & CEO, Thomas Cook India, said, “Thomas Cook expects to outperform the country’s overall travel industry growth (including both inbound and outbound travel segments), which is estimated to grow in the range of 12–15 per cent in financial year 2026 (FY26).” For the summer season (April–June quarter), bookings are expected to be better than they were two weeks ago, he added.

Omar Abdullah, CM, Jammu & Kashmir recently apprised the legislative assembly that over 4.40 crore tourists, including 1.20 lakh foreigners, visited Jammu and Kashmir in the past two years. To further promote tourism, the UT has allocated ₹390 crore for tourism development. in financial budget 2025-26

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia hosted a high-impact networking event, bringing together leading travel agents and trade media to discuss India’s growing outbound travel trends. The event highlighted India as Indonesia’s largest market in South & Central Asia and the 6th biggest source of visitors, with 710,688 Indian arrivals in 2024, surpassing the target by a significant margin. For 2025, the Ministry is expecting 918.480 Indian visitors. Indonesia is set to enhance its engagement with Indian travellers in 2025 through travel exhibitions, sales missions, collaborations, and exclusive familiarization trips. The country is actively promoting its top destinations, including Bali, renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage; Jakarta, a vibrant cosmopolitan hub; Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world; Borobudur, a UNESCO-listed Buddhist marvel; Mandalika, Lombok, a rising luxury resort destination; and Labuan Bajo, home to the iconic Komodo Dragon. With a well-structured tourism strategy, Indonesia is poised to welcome more Indian travellers in the coming year. Her Excellency Ina Krishnamurthy, Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, was glad at the enthusiastic response from the travel industry. Speaking to the media, she emphasized her ongoing commitment to attracting more Indian tourists to the archipelago, highlighting its diverse and enriching experiences that cater to Indian travellers. She also noted that with direct flights now available through Air India and IndiGo, traveling to Indonesia has become more convenient than ever, and she is expecting more Indians to select not only Bali but also beyond Bali as Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of over 17,000 islands. She added that Indonesia’s advanced digital platform for the Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) has also streamlined the visa application process for …

Organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, in partnership with the Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS), Karnataka International Travel Expo (KITE) 2025 will be held from 26 to 28 February 2025. The Expo offers opportunity to connect with 150+ International buyers from 25+ countries and 250+ Indian buyers.

“India and Oman continue to work together in the tourism sector, facilitating easier movement and exchanges between the two nations,” said Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage & Tourism, Oman. Noting that Indians are number two in terms of tourism influx to Oman, he sought further improvement in tourism ties between the two countries.

In a significant milestone for the country’s tourism industry, MOT revealed that India witnessed a record-breaking 18.89 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in 2023. It added that Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism surged to ₹231,927 crore, signalling a vibrant recovery in the sector. Among these visitors, 9.52 million were foreign tourists, while domestic tourism also saw a remarkable boom with 2,509 million DTVs.

Goa tourism is bouncing back, with over 71 lakh visitors recorded till September, marking a strong recovery from the pandemic. The state tourism department said efforts have been made to boost tourism through initiatives like enhanced infrastructure, improved connectivity, and active promotion in global markets, ensuring that “Goa remains a sought-after destination for travellers from across the world.

Between October and December 2024, Agoda observed a 4 per cent rise in inbound searches and a 10 per cent increase in domestic searches for popular spiritual destinations across India. As per the report, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, and Varanasi lead the charge for domestic and international visitors.

H.E. Issa Saleh Al Shaibani, Oman’s Ambassador to India, announced that Oman has officially launched its latest tourism initiative, the ‘Journey into the Heart of Oman’ campaign, scheduled to commence in January 2025. The campaign will attract participation from various business organisations from India and other countries, aiming to showcase Oman’s rich tourism potential and diverse offerings.