Tourism Breaking News
Looking back at 2025, one thing stands out for Alefiya Singh, Founder of IRIS Reps, is that Indian travellers have become far more mindful about how they travel. “They’re not in a hurry anymore. Instead of ticking off five cities in one trip, they want to slow down, soak in a place, and really feel connected to it. This shift has been wonderful for our partners—Tour Managers Fiji, Pacific Pearl Holidays in Australia & New Zealand, Rickshaw Travels for East Africa, Authentic Asia Vietnam, and of course our beautiful resort partners like Beachcomber Mauritius, NOOE Maldives, Barceló Maldives & Phuket, Makunudu Maldives, and Seacliff Tanzania. Travellers are choosing experiences with heart, not just itineraries. Another big change I’ve noticed is the rise in responsible and wellness-led travel. People are asking deeper questions, planning well in advance, and are happy to spend a little more if it means the experience is meaningful, personalised, and rooted in the local culture,” she says.
Inbound travel has also grown stronger this year—especially for wildlife, heritage, and wellness journeys. “It’s a lovely reminder that India continues to inspire the world with its richness and diversity. When I think of our wins this year, two stand out. Barceló Nasuandhura Maldives has been a truly special journey. The Maldives is usually seen as a honeymoon or pure leisure market, but we took a bold step in repositioning it for MICE. And to see corporates actually choose an island for meetings and incentives—it felt like we broke a long-standing mindset. That shift didn’t happen overnight; it came from genuine belief in the product and a lot of storytelling with the right partners,” Singh shares.
Barceló Coconut Island in Phuket was another proud moment for her. “It has always been a beautiful resort, but giving it a stronger voice in the Indian market—especially for groups, celebrations, and unique stay experiences—really changed its momentum. It’s been lovely watching agents rediscover Phuket through this property. Beyond these two, so many of our partners had wonderful wins this year. NOOE Maldives, Beachcomber Mauritius, Makunudu, and Seacliff Tanzania all found their own loyal segments—families, celebrations, wellness travellers, and long-stay guests.
And our DMC partners—Tour Managers Fiji, Pacific Pearl Holidays, Rickshaw Travels Africa, and Authentic Asia Vietnam—saw genuine demand for tailor-made journeys and smaller, more intimate group travel. This year felt less like transactional travel and more like travellers choosing places with intention—and that has been the real win,” Singh says.
Looking ahead to 2026, Singh feels a sense of excitement. “Travellers are opening up to newer experiences, and destinations like Mauritius, Maldives, Fiji, Vietnam, East Africa, Australia–New Zealand, and Phuket will continue to shine for Indian audiences. I see big opportunities in three areas. One, MICE travel expanding into places we traditionally never imagined, especially islands and nature-focused destinations. Two, wellness, slow travel, and celebration travel becoming mainstream, not niche. And three, the chance to tell deeper, more authentic stories about our partners—something I personally love doing. Of course, every new year comes with its own challenges. Visa shifts, competition, and the rising expectations of travellers will keep us on our toes. But honestly, that’s what pushes us to stay sharp, creative, and deeply connected to the market. At IRIS Reps, we’ve built a portfolio we truly believe in—and that gives us a lot of confidence going into 2026. The year ahead feels full of possibility,” Singh explains.
