All arrangements have been made to commence the implementation of new visa methodology and new online methodology of the Department of Immigration and Emigration with effect from 17 April, 2024. Arrangements have been made together with GBS Technology Service & IVS Global Institute to implement the E-Visa system – the online methodology to be introduced in lieu of the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) methodology implemented at present at www.srilankaevisa.lk.

STB India recently chose a golf platform in India called 4moles to connect with its C-suite corporate clients who have been organising premium MICE events overseas, at two networking MICE events held in Delhi and Bangalore, reaching key decision-makers. To stay competitive, especially in an environment where the common perception is that Singapore is expensive, STB believes it is vital to target corporates with an interest in hosting premium MICE events in Singapore.

Experiences surpass ownership and this is evident in India’s growing sports fandom, says Monish Shah, Founder & CEO, DreamSetGo. “Demand for immersive experiences is at an all-time high. We’re proud to play a pivotal role in bridging the access gap between Indian sports enthusiasts and the world’s biggest sporting events. As we gear up for iconic events like the Olympics and the T20 World Cup, we’re committed to enabling once in a lifetime experience for all those who will be traveling to support our Indian squads,” he says.

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has initiated legal action to seek appropriate remedies for hotel members affected by adverse provisions from the Delhi High Court for the hospitality sector from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade’s (DGFT). These conditions have posed challenges for the industry, particularly in light of adverse economic circumstances exacerbated by events such as the global recession, terrorist attacks, and the COVID-19 pandemic. FHRAI has advocated for relief for the hospitality sector through persistent representations to the Ministry of Tourism and DGFT since 2017. Despite sustained efforts, the sector still needs to receive the necessary relaxations, prompting FHRAI to seek legal intervention. DGFT, in the year 2007-08 in the new EXIM policy, introduced an additional condition which not only meant that over and above the primary condition, the industry need to comply with a secondary condition of maintaining 3 years average past performance continuously over & above the Specific EO and the Average has to be maintained for the entire block of 8/6 years till the redemption of license. Unfortunately post the introduction of the secondary condition, the hospitality industry suffered a huge decline and thereby reduction in the FOREX due to which the industry has not been in a position to fulfil the secondary condition of maintaining the 3 years average past performance. The hospitality industry had brought this issue of decline in foreign contribution to the notice of DGFT way back in February 2017 itself and that coincided with completion of 1st block of the 8 years when the license expired post the introduction of the secondary condition in the year 2007-08. Since then, the industry has been continuously requesting …

With age no barrier, Chinese women are spreading their wings and spending big on travel. They are now taking the driver’s seat in making travel decisions and seeking personalised experiences. We look at some of their travel behaviours and the segments that are taking a lead on this.   Women overtake men According to a 2024 Women’s Travel Consumer Insight Report released by the online travel agency Trip.com Group, average annual per capita travel expenditure for women exceeded that of men by nearly 8% in the past year. The report was based on the analysis of data recorded between Feb 20, 2023 and Feb 20, 2024. The spending power of Chinese women for travel is evident, with significant growth momentum seen in lower-tier markets.   Travelling for festivals Many women are booking flights to celebrate festivals in various parts of the world for that immersive cultural experience and to soak in the local folk customs and festival atmosphere. For example, they are travelling to Nepal for Holi festival, also known as the festival of colors, and Chiangmai in Thailand to join a lantern celebration. This new wave of Chinese women travellers are now travelling to a dozen destinations at home and abroad every year on an average.   Non-business travel They also travel for non-business reasons. The report said that middle-aged women born in the 1970s and 1980s accounted for 62.2% of the female travelers and were by far the main force when it comes to consumption, the report showed. Young women born in the 1990s and 2000s accounted for 28.5% of tourism spending, indicating their emerging potential as consumers. While the older generation born in the 1950s and 1960s …

India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, is at a major inflection point, says Melissa Ow, CEO, Singapore Tourism Board. “We announced two major initiatives – Partnering with MakeMyTrip and with PhonePe. As Singapore’s 5th largest market, with more than a million visitors in 2023, the Singapore Tourism Board is optimistic about India’s growth potential,” she said citing a McKinsey report that said Indians made 13 million outbound trips in 2022, which could rise to 40 million in 2030, and 80 million in 2040.

JLL India’s latest report ‘Hotel Investment Trends – India 2023 highlights the growth and positive start of the first quarter (Jan-March) of 2024 in the hospitality sector. It mentions that the upper upscale segment saw the highest number of keys changing hands, followed by the upscale, luxury, and midscale segments. The first quarter of 2024 witnessed a significant 80% Year-on-Year increase in hotel transaction volumes, reaching USD 78 million.

Sharing his perspective on the significant shift in airline strategy worldwide, Gavin Eccles, Managing Partner, GE Consulting & Advisory, said, “Pre-Covid, airlines’ strategic vision was managing costs. Now, it is all about personalisation. It is clear, the industry has become very much commoditized, or, as marketers might say, the industry suffers from parity – no real differences. Well of course, if you spent most of the time between 2015 and 2019, reducing costs, by default, you are taking out the difference.”

Tour Fox invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend a webinar about their exclusive offers on April 16th at 3 pm. Attend the webinar to stand a chance to win a ticket to Switzerland! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. To sign up for the webinar, click here.

IHG has added yet another Holiday Inn Express hotel to it Karnataka portfolio with the opening of Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Bommasandra. The hotel is located along the national highway with easy access to major corporate hubs, Electronic City – Jigani – Bommasandra Industrial Area. Being the only international branded hotel in the vicinity, Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Bommasandra will drive increased footfalls from corporate segments. Top Companies such as Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Tech Mahindra, HP, Siemens Biocon, SKF, HCL and many more are located within 7 Km radius. The hotel is 25kms from the city center and is 20kms away from the bustling MG Road. Designed to deliver memorable experiences through its warm and welcoming service, and contemporary design, Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Bommasandra is the perfect destination for guests with diverse needs to enjoy a world-class hospitality experience that the brand is known for. The hotel is actively committed to responsible tourism and deploys the use of the IHG Green Engage System, an innovative online platform that provides means to measure and manage impact on the environment.