Manisha Saxena, DG, Tourism, said that under the MICE Tourism Policy, the Ministry of Tourism is working to develop city-level bureaus to promote venues internationally and for events of every size to be hosted in India. This initiative is expected to escalate inbound tourism in India and will attract more M!CE events.

Björn Bender, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, Rail Europe, highlighted during his visit to India, stating, “In 2023, India has become our second largest source market after the US. We saw a 65 per cent recovery from India in 2022, and currently, the company is growing at 75 per cent of pre-2019 levels.”

Speaking at an event, Manisha Saxena, DG Tourism, Government of India, shared, “While high room rates in India may be prompting some weddings to move abroad, it’s crucial to offer venues that cater to various budgets and preferences. While five-star hotels are ideal for large weddings, affordability remains a consideration for many.”

Addressing the dignitaries and alumni at IHM, Mumbai, Amitabh Kant, G-20 India Sherpa, said, “With India set to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2027, there will be a surge in Indian travellers globally, leading to more opportunities and responsibilities for the hospitality sector.”

IHCL gears up to open a minimum of two hotels per month, aiming to add 85 more hotels overall. “There may be new construction projects that we’re not yet aware of. Hence, we anticipate being in a favorable position to continue opening a minimum of two hotels per month”, said Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL.

After the inauguration of Ram temple, Ayodhya is expected to receive 10.61 crore tourists annually by 2031. As a result, Ayodhya will, “require an inventory of 8,500-12,500 branded keys to cater to the soaring demand in the holy city,” as per the report by Hotelivate, a leading hotel management consultancy.

Manta Air announced the commencement of its first international flight between Dhaalu Airport in Maldives and Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on 1 March, 2024. This new route will save 4-5 hours of tourists’ time as they can avoid the overtly crowded Velana International Airport of Maldives.

A CRISIL Ratings analysis of branded hotel companies indicates that the hospitality industry in India is slated for a healthy revenue growth of 11-13% in the next fiscal after a strong 15-17% growth in the current fiscal, backed by steady domestic demand and an expected ramp up in foreign traveller demand.

Himachal Pradesh witnessed an increase in the number of tourist arrivals despite heavy rainfalls and landslides. As per the state tourism department, 1.60 crore tourists, including 62,806 foreigners, visited the state in 2023 as compared to 1.51 crore tourists, including 29,333 foreigners, in 2022.

The India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has unveiled its mascot: ‘Adyant,’ and a new tagline, representing their strategic move which is aimed at enhancing brand recognition. ITDC also plans to promote The Ashok as a wedding venue, aligning with the wedding tourism campaign.