Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Azzan Qassim Mohamed Al Busaidi, Under Secretary, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Oman, in Delhi. The meeting aimed to boost tourism between the two countries, fostering cultural ties.

Booking.com in its travel trends report revealed that 85% of Indian Gen Z travellers seek to travel solo while 69% are likely to travel with family members and 61% with their parents this year. They are budget-conscious with 71% opting to travel outside peak season to save money.

Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), the travel business division of ITDC, has been appointed as the official travel partner for India’s Paralympic team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to excellence and ensures a seamless travel experience for the athletes, coaches, and the entire Indian contingent. A grand send-off event was organized at The Ashok, New Delhi, where the Nation’s Paralympic heroes were honoured. The event symbolized the nation’s collective pride and optimism as our Paralympics athletes embark on their journey to Paris 2024.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) celebrates the milestone of bringing over 5,000 properties across more than 80 countries under the hotel sustainability basics (basics) programme. It is planning to expand across India with the help of major hotel brands such as Radisson India.

“Domestic cruises are gaining popularity among families, couples, millennials, and Gen Z, offering them an all-inclusive seacation. Young professionals are also combining public holidays with weekends for a domestic cruise holiday,” said Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, VISA, Thomas Cook (India).

According to SNS Insider Research, the global medical tourism industry is expected to be worth US$70.18 billion by 2032, which was initially valued at US$10.78 billion in 2023. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.52 per cent over the 2024–32 period.

During the launch of four-city India roadshow in Delhi, H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of Tourism, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, said, “In 2023, Oman has seen 70 per cent growth in Indian visitors, and first five months of 2024 has already seen a 15 per cent increase.”

As  per ICRA report, domestic air passenger traffic saw YoY growth of 8.6 per cent in comparison to 121 lakh in July 2023 and higher by 10 per cent than pre-Covid levels. However, it was estimated at 131 lakh in July 2024, 0.5 per cent lower vis-a-vis 132.1 lakh in June 2024.

Indian travellers are extending their trips after Olympics to explore Paris, which is evident in their booking patterns as per Skyscanner data. The flight bookings for travel during the end of Olympics Games week is 51 per cent higher compared to the previous week.

During an event in Jammu & Kashmir, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister, Tourism, emphasised, “Tourism will be one of the major driving forces in taking the country’s economy to third from fifth globally.” With rise in incomes, Indians are travelling more frequently, he said.