An Amex Trendex India finding highlights that 73% of Indians are using travel credit card rewards, airline miles or loyalty points to manage costs, reflecting a shift toward maximising value during the holidays. Domestic travel remains popular, with 88% opting for trips within India, while international travel is on the radar for 61%.

Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, IHCL, has announced that IHCL has committed to skilling 100,000 workers in hospitality industry by 2030. He stressed that addressing the sector’s talent shortage is crucial for future growth, especially as India’s tourism infrastructure continues to expand.

Accepting the award for ‘Best Transporter – Europe’ Akash Chhabra, Director, Sasta Europe – DMC of Europe and UK, said, “This award is a significant achievement and a privilege for us. I believe it will generate more business for us and allow us to contribute significantly to the industry. Europe is a tough market for transporters, so we hope to support the industry.”

The union tourism ministry has instructed online travel agents and industry bodies to create transparent refund policies and standard operating procedures to handle air ticket cancellation refunds, following numerous complaints from travellers. The ministry has written to companies such as MakeMyTrip, Yatra, EaseMyTrip, Thomas Cook and Cleartrip and industry bodies including Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), stating there is an “urgent need” to bring in transparency in the cancellation refund process.

Sharing details of the new products, Valentina Cesani is the Chief Customer Officer, CCO at Rail Europe, says, “RegioJet trains are now available in Eastern Europe, and we added Iryo, a new competitor to Renfe and Ouigo Spain, which opens up more possibilities for travellers. We’ve also launched new routes with partners like ÖBB and DB, enhancing connections to Denmark, Croatia, and other parts of Eastern Europe—not just the Czech Republic but also Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Plus, we’ve expanded connections to Portugal through Renfe.”

Accepting the ‘Leading Hotel Chain for Business Travellers’ award on behalf of the hotel group, Sudhir Jena, Vice President, Corporate, Lords Hotels and Resorts, says, “I believe that the industry’s future is characterised by its evolution through technology, personalised services, and offbeat locations. The industry is headed in the right direction, and I foresee a bright future for Indian tourism.”    

Giving a big boost to its globally-acclaimed Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative, the Kerala Government has approved a raft of projects worth Rs 6.64 crore for implementing various initiatives in different destinations in the state. The projects are aimed at bolstering and diversifying the offerings under the Responsible Tourism initiative during 2024-25, with emphasis on sustainability and inclusiveness. As per the Government Orders (GOs) issued in this regard, the total amount of Rs 66,499,621 approved by the government for these initiatives include Responsible/ Resilient Tourism project of RT Mission, besides enhancing the facilities and services in the destinations concerned as the main thrust. This includes the government’s earlier approval of Rs 89,81,240 lakh for materializing first phase of RT Mission Society projects in 2024 – 25. The destinations benefiting from the initiative include RT Mission Society Training Centre at Kumarakom and Beypore Integrated RT Development Project. Of the amount, the Responsible/ Resilient Tourism project of RT Mission will get Rs 1,81,09,000 while approval has been given for Rs 1,15,00,000 for implementing Beypore Integrated RT Development Project. “The RT initiative is going to be the driver of Kerala Tourism in the future. In 2023, Kanthalloor village in Idukki was recognised by the Govt. of India for its sustainable and inclusive STREET tourism project with the Gold Award for Best Rural Tourism Project. This year, RT projects in Kadalundi and Kumarakom won the National Awards for best Rural Tourism and best Agri-Tourism villages respectively,” Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said.

Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and STIC Travel Group (STIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to enhance Sentosa’s standing as a sustainable destination in the Indian market. This one-year partnership will seek to create innovative educational experiences targeted at students in India, highlighting Sentosa’s sustainable practices and diverse ecosystems. The MoU signifies a joint effort to design immersive learning experiences that utilise Sentosa’s unique environment as a living classroom to foster a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainability. These programmes will emphasise key concepts such as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, carbon footprint reduction and biodiversity conservation. This partnership builds upon STIC’s broader efforts to boost educational tourism in Singapore by offering Indian students an opportunity to explore Singapore’s heritage, sustainable development initiatives and interactive learning experiences.

Skyscanner’s 2025 travel trend report reveals that the upcoming year will be about collective travel experiences. From stargazing beneath the night skies to exploring immersive art galleries, Indians are increasingly drawn to adventures that offer a sense of community. Moreover, with 66% of Indians planning to travel more in 2025, global exploration is a top priority as they seek out destinations that offer enriching experiences. The report further offers insights into the pulse of Indian travellers in the coming year, their evolving travel preferences, and the top 10 trending and best-value destinations.

The Ministry of Tourism released key statistics recently that stated that over 15 million Indian nationals visited foreign countries in the first half of 2024, compared to over 13.2 million in January-June, 2023. Delhi was the biggest port of departure for Indian nationals, accounting for 24.35 per cent of the traffic. Mumbai was second in the list with 20.09 per cent of the departures. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United States, Thailand, and Singapore were the five biggest destinations for Indian nationals.