At ITB Berlin 2024, Oman Tourism Development Group (OMRAN Group), in partnership with Oman Sail and Visit Oman Sea and Beach Projects, announced the Oman DownWinder, an unprecedented adventure experience set to take place from 1st to 8th July 2024. This invitational event marks the beginning of an annual series aimed at promoting Oman as a premier destination for wind and sea sports. The Oman DownWinder offers a unique journey along the country’s stunning coastline, from Duqm to the Ras Al Jinz Turtle Resort. Over seven days, participants will traverse approximately 500 kilometres using non-motorised sailing crafts like kitesurfing, wingfoils, and windsurfing. This venture highlights the Sultanate of Oman’s exceptional wind conditions, particularly during the Khareef season, positioning the nation as an ideal setting for such thrilling sports. The 2024 edition of the Oman DownWinder is designed as an invitational event, welcoming professional kiteboarders, media representatives, and major tour operators from Europe to experience and document this extraordinary journey. The initiative not only aims to generate promotional content but also to foster storytelling that highlights Oman’s appeal in various sales channels. Key Event Details: Dates: 1st to 8th July 2024 Route: From Duqm to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Resort, covering scenic landmarks and cultural sites along Oman’s coast. Participants: A select group of 20, including professional athletes, media, and representatives from the local kitesurfing community. Hashil Al Mahrouqi, CEO of OMRAN Group, stated, “The Oman DownWinder represents a significant milestone in our mission to unveil the untapped potential of Oman’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage. This event aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives of fostering sustainable tourism and highlighting Oman’s world-class capabilities in hosting international sporting events. We are proud …

Europamundo, a JTB Group company, introduces exciting full board river cruises in Europe for the first time ever, with a duration of 5-10 days. Find more than 100 departures, in 32 routes, distributed among more than 10 ships, to sail across rivers carrying history in their waters such as Rhine, Danube, Douro, and Moselle – flowing through 18 countries and 82 cities. Aparna Basumalik, Commercial Head, (India Subcontinent & UAE), Europamundo, says, “These cruises have the best price quality ratio in the market.” For support and login, contact to indiasalessupport@europamundo.com

As per the UN Tourism report, visa-free travel has seen an uptick globally with 21 per cent of people across the world not needing any form of visa, an increase from 17 per cent in 2008 and 20 per cent in 2018. Moreover, 14 per cent of the world population can apply for visa on arrival, an increase from 6 per cent in 2008 and 15 per cent in 2018.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism & Culture Minister, Jaiveer Singh, said, “To run their business, tour and travel in UP will have to register themselves with the tourism department as the state lacks their details. Post registration, the operators will be able to get economic benefits under Tourism Policy-2022.

Air India Express, a low-cost subsidiary of Air India, will commence flights to Imphal and Kochi from Kolkata on 4 April. The airline hopes to add two international services to Kathmandu and Dhaka from the city the following month. Meanwhile, the introduction of direct flights would boost travel in India.

According to data released by Amadeus, the travel industry will experience swift transformation with a 14% increase in technology investment in 2024. Machine learning is going to witness the highest investment from travel industry leaders followed by data analytics and cloud technologies.

The Uttar Pradesh tourism department has signed an agreement with rural homestay providers to offer better experience to the tourists visiting the spots located in rural areas. Visitors will get local experiences like farm stays, cuisine, and folklore. Govt is subsidizing these homestays and converting villages into rural tourism centers.

International visitor arrivals (IVAs) to Asia Pacific are expected to rise from 619 million in 2024 to 762 million in 2026, with a recovery rate of 111.6 per cent compared to the 2019 level. Asia will lead the recovery, with visitor arrivals reaching 564.0 million by 2026 in comparison to the Americas and the Pacific.

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on Zurich, today at 3 pm. The city offers access to numerous activities tourism experiences. 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.

From a macro perspective, bleisure is continuing to gain traction. According to Allied Market Research, the global bleisure travel industry was estimated to be worth US$315.3 billion in 2022 but is anticipated to grow to US$731.4 billion by 2032, registering a compound annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent.