Centre has given administrative and financial sanction for two major projects with a total outlay of  ₹169.05 crores for enhancing the tourist appeal of water tourism in Alappuzha and the Malampuzha Garden in Palakkad. Both the projects were submitted by the Kerala tourism department, seeking clearance under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme.

At the Travel Wedding Show, Harkaran Singh, General Manager, The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, emphasised on collaboration between hoteliers and wedding planners. “The main challenge arises when we are not on the same page. When we collaborate, the process is smooth and enjoyable. But when we find ourselves on opposite sides, that is when difficulties arise. Mutual respect is key, hoteliers must acknowledge the challenges wedding planners face, and vice versa,” Singh stated.

From 1 May 2025, non-Thai travellers entering Thailand by air, land, or sea will be required to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival. Designed to enhance efficiency, security and convenience, the TDAC aims to eliminate the hassle of paper forms improving the overall travel experience for millions of visitors.

The Delhi High Court recently ruled that payment of service charges at restaurants and hotels cannot be imposed as a mandatory charge on customers’ food bills. It dismissed the petitions filed by restaurant associations challenging the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) guidelines, prohibiting restaurants and hotels from automatically adding a service charge to customers’ bills.

As per JLL India report, as many as 38 branded hotels comprising 3,293 rooms were opened during Q4 (October-December) 2024. Additionally, December 2024 also saw signings of 99 branded hotels comprising 11,943 rooms with the top six markets experiencing year-over-year increases in both Average Daily Rate (ADR).

In a strategic partnership, IHCL joined hands with The Claridges Hotel New Delhi to unveil ‘Claridges Collection,’ which will also include the historic Connemera, Chennai and Blue Diamond, Pune. Claridges Collection is set to build its portfolio across the metro cities with a vision to reach over 20 hotels by 2030. “Currently, IHCL has 375 hotels in its portfolio, with 242 operational and 153 in the pipeline. It is also close to completing 25 new hotels this year.” said Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, IHCL.

Rohan Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa stated that the government was working on a new initiative aimed at attracting high-spending international tourists through incentives to specific countries and airlines. Khaunte revealed that from 1 April, all hotels and guest houses in Goa would be required to upload guest data on the Tourism Information Management Enterprises the (TIME) software.

Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha has passed a resolution granting industrial status to hotels, aligning with Rajasthan’s tourism policy. This move is expected to boost investment, reduce operational costs, and accelerate growth in the hospitality sector as the state is currently focusing on expanding tourism in UP.

Omar Abdullah, CM, Jammu & Kashmir recently apprised the legislative assembly that over 4.40 crore tourists, including 1.20 lakh foreigners, visited Jammu and Kashmir in the past two years. To further promote tourism, the UT has allocated ₹390 crore for tourism development. in financial budget 2025-26

Dharmendra Pradhan, Education Minister, GoI requested the Union Minister of Tourism to set up a dedicated tourism circuit encompassing Debrigarh, Bhimamandali and Hirakud in Odisha. He said these efforts would boost the state’s tourism landscape and promote the country’s standing as a hub for heritage tourism.