The 68th TAAI Convention was inaugurated at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI, in his address said, “At this convention, we will not only explore business techniques and innovations, but also how our actions can amplify the good that sustains both communities and commerce.”

Accepting the DDP Face of the Future Award at the India Travel Awards 2025, Chitra Gurnani Daga, CEO, Thrillophilia, said, “This is a prestigious moment for us. What we want to do in the travel space is combine data combined personalisation, combine a phenomenal on-ground experience with technology, and that is where we see the future of travel, and very excited to get this recognition on this platform.” Walking out of ISB with an idea to make discovery of the world effortless, Daga co-founded Thrillophilia in 2011. Within a few years, she transformed the two-person startup into a global travel platform, trusted by more than 100 million users and serving a million travellers annually. Her leadership shone during the pandemic when she safeguarded jobs and accelerated tech adoption.

With the new Mopa airport operational now, Goa is witnessing an expansion in scheduled international flights, especially from countries in the Gulf region and Iran. New direct flight services are being lined up: for instance, the resumption of flights to Gatwick (UK) by September end, and from October 5, three weekly flights from Yekaterinburg, Russia to Mopa. Between January and June 2025, the state welcomed 5.45 million tourists (domestic + international), comprising 5.18 million domestic and 0.27 million international travellers, representing an 8.4% year-on-year increase.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) users can now make Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions of up to Rs 10 lakh within 24 hours, with verified merchant for specified categories, including travel. According to the circular issued by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), it has raised the single transaction limit for P2M transactions to Rs 5 lakh under these specified categories. However, the limit for Person-to-Person (P2P) transfers remains unchanged at Rs 1 lakh per day. Meanwhile, credit card bill payments can now be made up to Rs 5 lakh per transaction, with a maximum of Rs 6 lakh in a day. This major revision in UPI limit will make high-value digital payments easier and more secure for Indian travellers.

Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the National Tourism Organization of Nepal, is pleased to inform you all that peace, stability, and normalcy have been fully restored across the country following recent political developments. With the formation of Interim Government under the premiership of the first female Prime Minister of Nepal Rt. Hon’ble Sushila Karki, daily life has resumed smoothly, businesses and offices are open, and citizens are returning to their livelihoods with renewed optimism after partially imposed curfews and restrictions on travel. A spirit of hope—particularly among youth—reflects growing confidence in good governance and socio-economic prosperity. Interim Government has assured timely elections, further strengthening public trust and stability. For travelers, these changes bring positive assurance. Public transportation, domestic and international flights, and all major tourist destinations are operating normally. Hotels, restaurants, and travel services are open and welcoming guests in safe and comfortable environment. Tourism in Nepal has a remarkable history of resilience. Despite past crises, including natural disasters and political challenges, Nepal’s tourism industry has consistently bounced back, showcasing the enduring spirit of its people, support of international tourism fraternity, and the timeless allure of its landscapes and heritage. Globally, destinations that have faced similar political upheavals have demonstrated tourism’s ability to recover swiftly, and Nepal is no exception. NTB is confident that tourism sector will once again rebound, stronger than ever, as visitors return to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Himalaya, vibrant cultural traditions, and sacred sites. Nepal is now safe, peaceful, and ready to host visitors from around the world. For the latest travel updates and advisories, please visit NTB’s official website at www.nfb.gov.np or contact our offices directly.

The Ministry of Tourism has appointed Harkishore S, IAS as the new Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, for a tenure of five years, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

The Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) Mumbai Chapter, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, successfully kicked off its first Knowledge Session at the Tourism Malaysia office in Mumbai. The session saw the participation of ETAA members, who gained valuable insights into Malaysia’s latest attractions, destinations, and unique travel experiences. ETAA has announced that the next Knowledge Session will be held on 7th October 2025. ETAA Members are encouraged to participate and benefit from these exclusive learning and networking opportunities. Members also had the opportunity to interact directly with the Tourism Malaysia leadership team: Noriah Jaafar – Director, Tourism Malaysia T. Ediwanto Eddie – Deputy Director, Tourism Malaysia Jane D’Cruz – Marketing Manager Speaking about the initiative, ETAA highlighted that such knowledge sessions are designed to keep members updated with evolving tourism offerings, while also strengthening industry relationships. The program was hosted and organized by Tourism Malaysia, with coordination support from the ETAA Mumbai BOD team – Mr Jagat Mehta – National Board Member, Mr Abhijit Khadilkar – National Board Member & Membership head, Mrs Dipti Pradhan Thakoor- National Board Member & Event head, Mr Dharmesh Advani – National Board Member Sivadas, CEO, Sivadas Travel “This is the best training program about Malayasia conducted by ETAA committee and Malaysian Tourism. Very informative. Well done” Ajinkya Dhumma, CEO, Classis Travel and Tours “The session was highly informative and provided valuable insights into Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings luxurious properties at the island-hopping destination i.e. Sabah and Sarawak.”

As the travel industry faces rising legal, financial, and cyber risks, Asego introduces Travel Business Protect — a pioneering solution designed exclusively for travel agencies and tour operators. The product offers wide-ranging coverage, including legal defence, compensation support, third-party liability, staff errors, document protection, and safeguards against cybercrime, fraud, and supplier defaults. Commenting on the launch, Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO, Asego, said, “Travel partners today carry immense responsibility. Travel Business Protect is about securing their operations and reputation, so they can focus on delivering exceptional experiences without fear of unforeseen risks.” With Asego Travel Business Protect, agencies gain more than insurance — they gain a business sustainability shield for today’s demanding travel landscape.

Destination DC welcomed 13 top Indian travel trade partners for their first-ever Reverse India Sales Mission, held in Washington, DC from August 23 to August 28. Over six days, the Indian trade professionals engaged in programs that created opportunities for business development and cultural immersion. Seventeen local partners, including hotels, museums, restaurants, city tours and experiences, participated in one-on-one meetings and roundtable discussions with the trade. The agents also explored some of DC’s best offerings, including the tour of the iconic National Mall with Capitol Express Tours, Smithsonian museums, The People’s House: A White House Experience, and more. The group was in town just in time for the DC Jazz Festival and enjoyed a private jazz dinner with live music at the rooftop of the Kimpton Banneker Hotel. The greatest highlight of this trip was the Destination DC’s Marketing Outlook Meeting held at Capital Turnaround—a unique meeting space inside Navy Yard’s historic streetcar barn. The DDC team announced the latest visitation data, industry updates and travel forecasts for 2026 in this annual meeting. The attendees enjoyed breakfast and networking with 500+ industry leaders and professionals, followed by a presentation by Destination DC’s President & CEO, Elliott L. Ferguson, II, Didio Pequeno, Director of Hospitality Market Analytics at CoStar Group; and Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics. Reflecting on the success of the mission, Ferguson said, “It was a pleasure hosting the Indian travel trade in Washington, DC, where they were able to experience the District’s unique and diverse cultural and culinary offerings. The growth of visitation numbers from India has been exciting for us, and the market has been, and continues to be, a top focus globally.”

As per MakeMyTrip’s latest findings, pilgrimage travel trends highlight broad-based momentum with 34 destinations recording double-digit growth and 15 destinations growing by over 25%. The strong growth in pilgrimage demand is also driving an aggressive expansion of accommodation supply across key destinations. The breadth of growth across pilgrimage destinations can be seen in centres such as Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab) and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), which continue to grow.