Ahead of festivals, Prakhar Mishra, Director Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, pointed out that the state is expecting a significant surge in pilgrim arrivals to Ram Lalla Temple, Kashi Vishwanath corridor, and Mathura-Vrindavan corridor. Varanasi alone saw a record-breaking influx of 95.63 lakh pilgrims in March.

Air India partners with Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for Southern India. The MoU will generate over 1,200 new job opportunities for highly skilled individuals in the state. Bengaluru is highly attractive as a destination market as well as a connecting hub.

MakeMyTrip expands its operations to over 150 countries including major travel markets like the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, and France. The travel platform is all set to adhere to multiple international compliances, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

“NIMA Members and other M!CE operators sitting in tier II, III cities are contributing a lot to the M!CE business. Business from these cities has increased by 15 – 20 per cent as compared to 2022 – 2023,” says Gajesh Girdhar, Founder & National Coordinator, NIMA (Network of Indian M!CE Agents).

The Gujarat tourism department has set aside ₹200 crore to develop special tourism zones (STZ) in the state. These projects will include Dholavira, Shivrajpur, Sir Creek and border areas of Banaskantha, which will be developed as greenfield and brownfield projects in collaboration with private sector.

The ‘Hotels & Hospitality Overview,’ a report by HVS Anarock states that the hotel occupancy rate in India is nearing pre-pandemic levels, with key markets like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai reporting occupancy rates of more than 80% in February. The average hotel rates grew by 17-18% in Delhi and Hyderabad, in February 2024.

Recently, Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager – India & Gulf, Tourism Australia, shared, “We have 3 times more direct aviation capacity on India-Australia route as compared to pre-COVID. So, from 8 flights per week from 2019 we have almost 28 flights per week between India and Australia with Qantas, Air India and Singapore Airlines.”

Goa partners with Yoska Event Solutions LLP to position the state as a premier destination for sports tourism. On this occasion, Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, Director Tourism and Managing Director, GTDC, stated, “Yoska Event Solutions brings valuable resources to the table, enabling Goa to promote sporting events.

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on the hub of adventure – Interlaken, Chaplin’s World – a journey into the life and work of Charlie Chaplin, and Geneva – the home of watchmaking, today at 3pm. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2025! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Kapil Bhatia, Executive Chairman, InterGlobe Enterprises, has been conferred with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hotel Investment Conference-South Asia (HICSA) 2024. The awards ceremony took place in Bengaluru in the presence of prominent figures from the global and Indian hospitality industry. HICSA Awards are a prestigious recognition within the hospitality industry, celebrating the most remarkable hotel developments in the South Asian region. It recognises pioneers and distinguished visionaries who have significantly shaped the landscape of travel and hospitality in South Asia, acknowledging their exceptional contributions, lifelong commitment, and enduring impact. The HICSA Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates Mr. Kapil Bhatia’s exceptional career, and this recognition is a testament to his vision and unwavering commitment to excellence which has left a lasting impact on the travel and hospitality industry. Mr. Bhatia, a true pioneer, successfully established a strong foothold in the travel industry at an early stage, and with the launch of InterGlobe Hotels in 2004, the Group made a foray into the Indian hospitality sector. Over the years, his foresight, strategic thinking, and his strong commitment to quality and customer focus have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of the company. It has been Mr. Bhatia’s firm belief in India’s growth potential, and the strong desire in people to travel that has been the driving force behind the remarkable growth of InterGlobe, fuelling the company’s transformation from a single entity to a thriving conglomerate, encompassing a diverse portfolio of businesses such as aviation (IndiGo), logistics, travel commerce among others. InterGlobe Enterprises, with its partners in India, currently has a portfolio of 30 hotels across 14 cities. Internationally, InterGlobe has a collection of hotels in key cities across …