South African Tourism on Friday concluded the third leg of its 10th edition of the ‘Learn South Africa’ workshop in Kochi, following successful events in Chandigarh and Nagpur. This initiative aimed to engage key travel trade partners across India, particularly focusing on the growing interest from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Over 100 travel trade partners from Kochi participated in the event, offering beyond its well-known destinations like Cape Town and Johannesburg and helping them to gain insights into South Africa’s hidden gems such as Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal India remains one of the largest source markets for South Africa, with increasing interest from smaller cities like Kochi. Indian travellers are on the lookout for diverse experiences that range from thrilling adventures to rich cultural explorations. In response to this demand, the workshop equipped travel partners with the necessary knowledge and tools to create customized itineraries tailored for travellers in India. The objective of South African Tourism is to position the Rainbow Nation as a premier choice for leisure and MICE travel. Commenting on the event in Kochi, Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager for Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East at South African Tourism, stated: “We have witnessed notable trends among Kochi travellers, such as a growing preference for experiential travel, wellness tourism, and adventure activities. Further, travellers from this region are rapidly emerging as a significant market for South African tourism, we have seen a notable increase in inquiries from local travellers seeking unique and offbeat experiences in H1 2024. Our collaboration with local trade partners has been exceptionally positive, reinforcing our belief that this will drive more Indian travellers to explore the lesser-known regions of South Africa. …

Sharing his views on the future of the traditional travel agent, Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, says, “Many debate whether the agent should now provide support or not, depending on their experience. Few have helped and won the client back, few have helped only to have the client book online again. Eventually, it comes down to the relationship and trust between both. Both OTAs and traditional travel agents are here to stay as long as they adopt the use of technology and grow their reach. Time is money! A client can either spend time to research and book online or get an agent to do it for him.”

Atout France – France Tourism Development Agency organised the sixth edition of the very prestigious Ambassador’s Travel Awards in Mumbai on 12th December after a hiatus of 5 years and under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Thierry Mathou. These awards were instated in 2015 under the high patronage of the Ambassador of France to India and powered by VFS Global for all its subsequent editions.  The objective behind the awards is to recognise and reward a selection of travel companies across India for their exemplary efforts in showcasing France as a travel destination both from the destination showcase, visa perspective and the prolific penmanship of a journalist who, through articles, has essayed a versatile presentation of destination France. Our jury members consisted of eminent luminaries that included His Excellency Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to India, and Claude Sarre General Manager Air France-KLM. This year for the first time, a new category of awards was announced to felicitate a travel professional who has successfully completed Atout France’s global certified e-learning programme, France Connaisseur. The winners for this year’s awards were: 1: Visa Category – awarded to Veena World for its exemplary endeavour towards qualitative visa submissions Destination Showcase Awards: 1: Gold – Best Showcase of France as an Incentive Destination – Winner: Thomas Cook (India) 2: Diamond – Best Showcase of France as an Indulgent Destination – Winner: N.Chirag 3: Platinum – Best Showcase of France as an Experiential Destination – Winner: Harmony-Tours 4: France Connassieur E-learning Award: Awarded to one travel professional for having successfully completed Atout France’s e-learning programme France Connaisseur. Winner: Noopur Shukla, Holidays & More Sharing her thoughts, Ms Sheetal Munshaw – Director Atout …

SKAL International India, a premier global organization of travel and tourism professionals, is proud to announce the launch of its Inaugural National culinary competition, ‘Culinary Sherpa,’ aimed at fostering young talent in the hospitality industry. The competition is set to inspire and recognize the next generation of chefs from hotel management institutes across India. The Culinary Sherpa competition took place in multiple cities, bringing together top culinary talent from premier hotel management colleges. Students competed in a series of rounds that challenged their creativity, skill, and understanding of culinary arts under the mentorship of industry stalwarts and SKAL members. The competition received tremendous response across India, with hotel management students from cities such as Bangalore, Tirupati, Goa, Pune, Chennai, etc., participating with enthusiasm. Competition Highlights: Eligibility: The competition was open to students from hotel management institutes across India. Rajagopaal Iyer, Director, Young SKAL India said “The success of the Culinary Sherpa program highlights the immense talent and creativity of India’s young culinary minds. This initiative not only provides students with a platform to showcase their skills but also connects them with industry leaders, setting the stage for their future success in the hospitality sector. At Young SKAL India, we are committed to empowering the next generation of hospitality professionals, and Culinary Sherpa is a testament to that vision.” Sanjeev Mehra, President, SKAL International India, shared, “Culinary Sherpa is an exciting initiative to nurture young talent and prepare them for the dynamic hospitality industry. By engaging with students and showcasing their passion for food, we aim to create a platform that bridges education and industry opportunities.” Key Objectives of Culinary Sherpa: Promote innovation and excellence in the culinary arts among students. Encourage …

As per a MICE study carried out in 2019 sponsored by Ministry of Tourism, the market size of the India MICE industry is at Rs.37,576 crore, 60% of which is attributable to Meetings, Incentives and Conferences. The international MIC in this accounts for 22% of the market size. 65% are business to business events, and the Meetings & Incentives form roughly 70% of the entire MICE segment for 5-star properties. Ministry of Tourism identified MICE as one of the important segments of Tourism. Ministry has also formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for MICE Industry to promote the growth of MICE industry in the country including Haryana and Delhi NCR.

Looking at the travel landscape in India, Mark Meehan, GVP & MD, Global Ops, Travelport, said, “Research indicates that Indian carriers will become increasingly relevant in the future, both in India and globally. Today, Indian airlines account for around 46% of international traffic in India. That’s up from around 35% from a pre-pandemic perspective.” He said, “Over 12.7 million international passengers travel in the April to June quarter. Indian airlines carry 8 million of those 12.7 million passengers. Growth drivers include fleet expansion by Air India and Indigo, with the latter looking at long-haul markets. Projections in India for 2028 is that international outbound travel will reach 39 million, nearly an 8% pay gap from 2024.”

South Africa will be hosting the T20 World Cup in 2027 and expected to welcome a huge number of Indian cricket enthusiasts. For this, they will set up a dedicated team that can process visa applications for cricket fans. In terms of cultural events, the country will share its calendar of sports and culture events for 2025 with India so that both countries can work together.

Giving credit to the India Travel Award, Gagan Chadha, Owner, Travel2agent Oneworld, commented, “I would like to thank ITA for recognising our efforts in being customer-centric through this ‘Customer Service Excellence for Outbound Tourism’ award.” Since its inception in 2002 as a DMC catering to far eastern destinations, Travel2Agent.com has transformed into a provider of personalised tours for outbound with in-depth destination knowledge.”

Ambiance Holidays Mauritius is pleased to announce the appointment of SSR Travel Solutions as its official representative in India, effective 1st December 2024. This strategic collaboration is designed to strengthen Ambiance Holidays’ presence in the rapidly growing Indian market and enhance its sales, marketing, and business development efforts across the region. SSR Travel Solutions, known for its deep industry expertise and extensive network within India’s travel sector, will work to elevate the visibility of Ambiance Holidays Mauritius. The partnership will connect Indian travellers with the enchanting allure of Mauritius, offering access to its pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and rich cultural experiences. Speaking about the partnership, Nayaz Toolun, Owner & Executive Director, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with SSR Travel Solutions to tap into the growing Indian outbound travel market. Together, we aim to deliver customized travel solutions that capture the essence of Mauritius’ vibrant hospitality, diverse culture, and natural beauty.” SSR Travel Solutions, recognised for its successful track record in promoting global travel brands, will focus on amplifying Ambiance Holidays’ market presence in India through targeted marketing campaigns, collaborations with travel trade professionals, and exclusive travel packages tailored to the Indian market. Sidhant Sapneal Rao, Chief Marketing Officer at SSR Travel Solutions, commented, “It’s an honour to represent Ambiance Holidays Mauritius in India. Mauritius is a dream destination for Indian travellers, and we’re excited to work together to deliver exceptional, bespoke travel experiences to this growing market.” This partnership marks an exciting chapter for both Ambiance Holidays Mauritius and SSR Travel Solutions, as they aim to unlock new growth opportunities and meet the evolving demands of Indian travellers.

In a significant move to strengthen tourism ties with India, South Africa has come up with a newly gazetted Trusted Tourist Tour Operator System Scheme which will take effect on 20 January 2025. Aimed specifically at the Indian and Chinese markets, it will allow for bulk visa processing for group travellers. 23 Indian tour operators applied in the first phase.