Tag Archives: India

Travel Wedding Show hosted over 70 wedding planners from across India at Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur, facilitating over 2,000 meetings in two days. The event served as a premier platform for business and networking, bringing together top planners to discuss luxury trends, collaborations and the future of destination weddings. With a focus on innovative venue partnerships and bespoke experiences, the gathering reinforced Jaipur’s status as a premier wedding hub while shaping the future of India’s luxury wedding industry.

René de Monchy, Chief Executive, Tourism New Zealand, said, “India is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing markets, with holiday visitor numbers experiencing double-digit growth. We are focused on enhancing our commercial ties through improved connectivity and high-impact campaigns.” Meanwhile, O and Air New Zealand signed an MoU to explore the potential for direct connectivity.

Highlighting that an India Tourism Stack can establish India as the world’s most seamless and digitally advanced travel destination, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, MOT, said, “It is time for policymakers, industry leaders, and digital innovators to come together and build the India Tourism Stack — a public good that can catalyse inclusive economic growth and elevate India’s global tourism stature.”

Mugdha Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism said that the country is likely to witness its next peak in foreign tourist arrivals in 2028-2029. She added that over the next three years, the government is investing ₹120 billion ($1.4 billion) in developing infrastructure creating only alternative and detour destinations.

Federico J. Gonzalez, Executive Vice Chairman, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “India has the potential to be the number one hospitality market globally for Radisson Hotel Group.” The economic growth in India is significant. But, besides the economic growth and the growth in population and infrastructure, the ambition and dynamism of Indians is one of a kind. The hotel chain should aim to have 500 hotels in the country by 2030, he added.

From lush mountains to pristine islands, 2025 is the year of eco-conscious tourism, authentic experiences, and mindful exploration. According to the Agoda 2025 Sustainable Travel Survey, India has emerged as the second-most sustainability-conscious travel market in Asia, with a staggering 82% of Indian travellers making eco-friendly choices—far surpassing the Asian average of 68%. India’s Sikkim is among the top sustainable travel destinations for 2025.

As Australia and India continue to strengthen their trade ties under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), the demand for premium Australian agrifood products in India is rapidly increasing. The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in partnership with the state governments of Queensland and New South Wales is bringing together 11 Australian brands to display their products at the Australian Pavilion located at Hall No.1, Stand No.1G-02A in Aahar 2025. Aahar 2025 serves as a significant platform for Australian food and beverage companies to showcase their world-class quality, innovation, and sustainability. With a strong reputation for high food safety standards, advanced production techniques, and environmentally sustainable practices, the exhibition will provide an opportunity for Indian buyers, retailers, and food service professionals to explore the superior taste, nutrition and versatility of Australian produce, reinforcing the growing trade opportunities between the two nations. The Australian Pavilion at Aahar 2025 will highlight a diverse portfolio of Australian brands across categories like packaged food, nutritional supplements, and gourmet ingredients to world-renowned meats and seafood. Over 85% of Australian goods exports by value to India are now tariff-free after the AI-ECTA entered into force on 29 December 2022. Australian businesses have a wonderful opportunity to expand their footprint in India’s dynamic market and Aahar is a step towards this – as well as a step toward the provision of further inputs into India’s food processing industry. Speaking about Australia’s participation at Aahar 2025, John Southwell, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner – South Asia, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, said, “India and Australia share a deep and growing trade relationship, strengthened further by AI-ECTA. Through the implementation of AI-ECTA, Australia’s agrifood exports to India …

Outbound travel from India remained strong, with visa application volumes increasing by 11% Year over Year in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 4%. This increase indicates a recovery and a rise in the number of Indian travellers visiting international destinations. Yummi Talwar, COO—South Asia, VFS Global, said, “India continues to show a strong demand for international travel, and it’s clear that this robust momentum will persist in 2025.”

Horwath HTL report showed that despite economic challenges and the absence of major events, the hospitality sector saw strong growth, with a national occupancy rate of 63.9%, an Average Daily Rate (ADR) of INR7,951, and a 10.7% RevPAR increase. India added 14,400 chain-affiliated rooms, pushing the total supply past 200,00.

Celebrating its 75 years of leadership in hospitality, Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI, said, “We are set to roll out special initiatives and commemorative events throughout the year to elevate the hospitality sector. As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our dedication to promoting growth, advocating for progressive policies, driving sustainability and strengthening India’s position as a global tourism hub.”