The Department of Tourism has launched its Homestay and Bed & Breakfast Scheme at the hands of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant, in the presence of Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Rohan A Khaunte; Hon’ble MLA Bicholim and Chairman of Infotech Corporation of Goa Ltd., Shri Chandrakant Shetye; Hon’ble MLA Mayem, Shri Premendra Shet; Secretary Tourism, Shri Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS; Director Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik; and Managing Director, Shri Kuldeep Arolkar at the PAC Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim. The launch aimed at promoting community-driven tourism, rural livelihoods, and experiential travel in Goa. The initiative is part of the state’s larger vision to diversify its tourism offerings beyond beaches and strengthen Goa’s positioning as a model for Regenerative Tourism in India. What was earlier conceptualized as a policy has now been reframed and strengthened as a scheme. The revised scheme offers a combination of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, simplified registration processes, and quality classifications, making it easier and more rewarding for local residents to operate homestays in rural areas of the state, paving the way for boosting Rural and Hinterland Tourism in Goa. This scheme also holds the power to foster women and youth entrepreneurship, encouraging self-reliance while preserving our unique Goan heritage. Under the scheme, eligible establishments located in the talukas of Sattari, Sanguem, Dharbandora, Bicholim, Canacona, Ponda, and Quepem will receive a one-time grant of ₹2,00,000, along with access to marketing support, training, listing on Goa Tourism platforms, and subsidized participation in domestic trade fairs. The scheme will remain valid for five years and may be extended further by the Department. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant stated “The Homestay Scheme has been launched with a renewed focus on promoting the …

Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd. (ROHL) has announced the signing of their latest property at Bhopal, at the heart of Madhya Pradesh as its expansion in the Northern region. The strategic expansion aligns with the brand’s strategy of expanding in the less discovered and growing regions of India to boost tourism and hospitality in these smaller undiscovered destinations. Developed in association with Regenta Hotel Bhopal Airport, the 70-key resort will be operated under a management agreement. The property reflects ROHL’s asset-light model and its focus on offering guests an amazing stay. The new 70 key business hotel, including four spacious suites, is strategically situated on Airport Road, just 1 km from Raja Bhoj International Airport. With a built-up area of 56,000 sq ft, the brownfield property is designed to serve the evolving needs of modern business travellers and MICE clientele. It features three fully equipped conference rooms, a rooftop bar and restaurant, and wellness amenities such as a spa, swimming pool, and gym – creating a perfect balance of business efficiency and leisure comfort. Commenting on the signing, Arjun Baljee, President, Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd., said, ” As we continue to grow our presence across India, cities like Bhopal play an important role in our journey, It’s a city on the rise, with a growing business landscape and a strong demand for quality hospitality. This new hotel is designed with today’s business traveller in mind, practical, comfortable, and well-connected. We’re proud to bring the Regenta experience to Bhopal in partnership with Sarla Builders & Developers and we eagerly await visitors looking for connectivity, comfort, and genuine hospitality” Bhopal – the capital city of Madhya Pradesh – is a vibrant administrative and …

Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat revealed steps to connect government tourism institutes with hotel chains for mentorship, curriculum redesign and personal guidance. “We’ve signed MOUs with hotel chains. The mentor-mentee program will drive career growth and institutional strengthening,” he said, urging industry leaders to institutionalise the model for sustained youth engagement in tourism.

Anil Chadha, MD, ITC Hotels, stressed on the urgent need for hotel expansion. “India has 0.3 rooms per thousand population, compared to 2.2 globally. Meeting future demand requires speedier clearances, incentives and infrastructure status,” he said, warning that delays could lead to a missed growth opportunity.

Announcing the ₹5,600 crore SPREAD project, Omar Abdullah, CM, J&K at the FAITH Conclave said, “We will develop nine new greenfield destinations.” With World Bank support, the plan includes modern facilities, connectivity and sustainable resorts, aiming to reshape the tourist map in Jammu and Kashmir and attract investment in diversified tourism offerings.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & DG, Tourism, said, “The Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) scheme is going to come back. It is part of the plan for the next cycle. We want to make it purposeful, so that it can make some impact.  It will come with some changes.”  

The vibrant travel community of Mumbai witnessed a memorable gathering as T Syndicate, a prominent travel agents’ association, hosted a special event at The Peninsula Grand Hotel, Andheri. The occasion was not just another industry meet—it reflected unity, patriotic fervor, and promising global opportunities for travel professionals. Founded by Siddharth Shah of Primark Travel House and Mr. Hemant Shah of Neel Travels, T Syndicate continues to create a platform fostering collaboration, information exchange, and growth among travel agents. The August meet was marked by an Independence Day theme, celebrating the spirit of freedom and enterprise. The event drew in an impressive turnout of over 70 travel agents, making it a full house and underscoring the association’s growing presence and relevance in the industry. A key highlight of the evening was an insightful presentation on Japan by event sponsors, Mr. Pranay Nath and Ms. Neha from I Love Japan DMC. The presentation offered enriching information about Japan’s tourism offerings, itinerary planning tips, and opportunities for Indian travel partners—further encouraging destination promotion post-pandemic. The session was especially appreciated for its depth, practical value, and renewed ties between Indian agents and the DMC community. The event concluded with networking over fine culinary offerings and a sense of shared patriotism and purpose, echoing the spirit of August. T Syndicate Core Committee: Siddharth Shah – Director Hemant Shah – Director Vijay Sanghavi – President Rushabh Parikh – Secretary Harish Doshi – Joint Secretary Janak Gala – Treasurer With such impactful gatherings, T Syndicate sets an example of how collective effort, forward-thinking, and industry partnerships can drive the travel trade forward. The association looks forward to many more such enriching engagements that empower agents and promote …

Avalon Waterways has carved an undisputed niche with their luxury river cruising, offering discerning travellers a refined yet relaxed way to explore Europe’s most iconic rivers. With its award-winning ships and immersive itineraries, Avalon has now become the cruise line of choice for small groups seeking to script unique memories in an apt setting. From milestone anniversaries to alumni reunions, ladies’ getaways, and club gatherings, Avalon transforms small group travel into unforgettable shared experiences. “We’re seeing an incredible rise in affinity groups choosing Avalon,” says Varesh Chopra, Managing Director – India, Middle East & South Asia. “Our intimate setting, seamless services with personalised experiences resonate deeply with travellers who want to connect, celebrate, and explore without the usual hassles.” Small groups are there to see more of each other while traveling in an unhurried manner rather than queuing up for each meal or excursion. One of the top reasons such groups love Avalon is the ease of the all-inclusive format and the personalised atmosphere on board. No coordinating hotel stays, sightseeing, transportation, or meals. Unlike large ocean liners, Avalon’s ships carry an average of 150 guests, creating a boutique luxury setting on the water. Groups numbering anything from 10 to 30 pax, enjoy the spacious suites, sun decks, and elegant spaces – all designed for making meaningful connections rather than meeting crowds. The truly all-inclusive format includes stay in award winning Panorama Suites, flexible gourmet dining options with local wines & beers even a really ‘Happy Hour’ each day, Services of a professional Cruise Director & expertly guided sightseeing with choices allowing both organizers and guests to focus entirely on creating memories. Travelers indulge in the local culture through evening …

The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH)  announces its most significant policy dialogue since the onset of the pandemic—the FAITH Conclave 2025—scheduled to be held on 12–13 August 2025 at The Taj Palace, New Delhi. Under the theme ‘Indian Tourism: Invincible Spirit’, this landmark event will bring together top leaders from both government and industry to collaboratively drive the shared goal of establishing India as a global tourism powerhouse by 2047. A Vision for 2047: $3 Trillion, 200 Million Tourism Jobs FAITH Conclave 2025 is a cornerstone in shaping the path to Tourism@2047—a bold, inclusive and achievable roadmap for India to become a top 5 global tourism economy. Discussions will focus on: Milestones for achieving India’s $3 trillion tourism vision Creating a pan-India tourism growth narrative Deepening Centre-State-Industry alignment Urgent steps to increase Inbound Tourism to India  Making tourism a concurrent subject in the Constitution Securing export industry status for tourism Reforming GST across the tourism value chain Spotlight on Tourism Reforms Key areas of discussion include: Developing a country-specific inbound strategy Boosting rural, wellness and spiritual tourism circuits Creating destination-specific marketing and infrastructure plans Confirmed Dignitaries & Thought Leaders: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister for Tourism Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Hon’ble Minister for DONER ShriRohanKhaunte, Hon’ble Tourism Minister of Goa Senior functionaries from the Ministry of Tourism Industry leaders including: Mr Amitabh Kant (Former G20 Sherpa) Mr Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO of Indian Hotels Company Ltd. Mr Rajesh Magow (Group CEO, MakeMyTrip) Mr Pieter Elbers (CEO, IndiGo) Mr Dipak Deva (MD, TCI) Mr Anil Chadha (MD, ITC Hotels) Mr K B Kachru (Chairman Emeritus, Radisson Hotels) Ms Homa Mistry (CEO, Trail Blazer Tours) And many more… FAITH’s structure ensures that every member association—ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI, has equal representation and …

Sabre’s global travel agency survey finds that 75% of them say the number of content connections has grown over the past three years and 80%+ believe that unified access through a single platform would reduce technology costs. At the same time, AI is seen as a powerful remedy, with 91% of agencies believing it can enhance both productivity and the customer experience. Yet, 41% remain concerned about AI’s long-term implications for the workforce, reinforcing the need for smart, responsible implementation.