Speaking during the Indian Chamber of Commerce’s Round Table Discussion, Subhash Goyal, Chairman, ICC Tourism Committee, said, “As Tier I cities are already well connected through aviation, India needs to promote other domestic hubs like spiritual circuits, wildlife parks, islands, and the locations that are famous for Medical Tourism, which is a 5 trillion-dollar industry. Hence, the Aviation Ministry needs to develop these routes for better connectivity and access as it can boost the inbound numbers in India.”

With the impending peak season, Harmandeep Singh Anand, MD, Jagsons Travels, says that to avoid last-minute rush for visas and prevent visa shopping, travel agents must guide their clients on when to apply for visas, depending on the country their wish to travel to. “Every year during peak season there is a lot of traffic for European destinations and Indian travellers tend to decide their holidays very last minute and expect their visas within a short span of time. However, visa as such has never been a problem if one applies in advance. Most of the embassies have increased their time when you can apply for a visa. For instance, you can apply for a Schengen visa as early as six months in advance! We see a lot of rush starting from March onwards. Next month will be super peak which leads to a lot of visa shopping. None of the European destinations had a challenge; they only had a restricted number of visa that would be issued. If you look at Italy, it has made it simpler in terms of repeat visitors to Schengen territory in the last eight years where they have opened up additional appointment slots. So agents must guide their clients in terms of applying for visas,” he shares.

In a significant step, India airlines are bracing up for an increased flight frequency in the upcoming summer schedule, beginning from March 31 by operating 24,275 weekly domestic flights. According to the DGCA, the number of weekly departures is set to rise by 2.30 per cent compared to the ongoing winter schedule, where scheduled carriers are operating 23,732 flights.

Addressing PATA International Conference on Women in Travel in Bohol, Philippines, Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA, shared, “There should be equality, parity and equal representation for all tourism stakeholders including women. PATA is committed to advancing the role of women in tourism.”

InterGlobe Air Transport, GSA for Manta Air organised roadshow in partnership with Kandima resort, RIU Hotel and Niyama Islands for the travel fraternity in Bengaluru to showcase the product and highlight the benefits of flying with Manta Air to Dhaalu Airport in Maldives. The event was attended by 60 agents.

The India State Ranking Survey published by WTTCII with Hotelivate reveals state expenditure witnessed a 25% growth in 2022-23 compared to 2018-19, capital expenditure on tourism surged by almost 120%, and revenue expenditure increased by 14% during the same period.

Christopher Hartley, CEO, Global Hotel Alliance, said, “In India, we have seen considerable growth, with 5 lakh members of the GHA Discovery Program through The Leela Discovery. We aim to reach the one-million-member milestone in coming years by strengthening our relationship with Leela.

In a strategic move set to revolutionise the adventure and tourism landscape of the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN Group), and Global Leisure and Entertainment have entered a strategic joint venture. This collaboration is aimed at developing a state-of-the-art Water Sports and Biking Centre in Khasab, in the Governorate of Musandam. The announcement was made at ITB Berlin 2024, marking another key milestone in Oman’s tourism sector. The partnership aligns with OMRAN Group’s vision to enhance Oman’s status as a premier adventure destination while fostering economic development and cultural exchange. Hashil Al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, stated, “This partnership with Global Leisure and Entertainment underlines our commitment to innovating Oman’s adventure tourism landscape. By launching the first adventure centre in Khasab, we are setting new benchmarks for experiential travel in the region.” Lennard Otto, Managing Director of Global Leisure and Entertainment echoed this sentiment, “Our collaboration with OMRAN Group is a step towards creating unparalleled adventure experiences in Khasab. We are dedicated to contributing to Oman’s vision by providing dynamic, world-class activities that attract global tourists and adventure enthusiasts.” The new venture will see Khasab transformed into the ultimate adventure sports district, catering to thrill-seekers and nature enthusiasts from around the globe. The initiative will introduce an array of experiences, from water sports like jet skiing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding to diverse biking trails offering mountain, beach, and urban explorations. Abdul Hafidh Al Harthi, Asset Manager of Experiences at OMRAN Group, highlighted the project’s significance, “This venture signifies a leap forward in our efforts to diversify Oman’s tourism appeal. The Khasab Adventure Centre is poised to become a cornerstone in our strategy to enhance the region’s …

Sunny Sodhi, FCM Managing Director, India, said, “India is the 9th largest travel market in the world for business travel spending. It is the 4th largest market for the Asia Pacific region. In 2023, India’s business travel spending grew 24.7 per cent and we anticipate an 18.3 per cent increase in spending in 2024.”

According to UN Tourism’s Tourism Visa Openness report, traditional visa requirements continue to be the most prevalent form of entry regulation, with a considerable impact on international mobility. In 2023, these traditional visa policies affect almost half of the world’s population, 47% to be precise.