To mark International Women’s Day, VFS Global Academy at Deoghar inaugurates its all-women batch for the Travel and Hospitality Certification Programme. This milestone event was launched by Dr. Nishikant Dubey, Honourable Member of Parliament from Godda, setting a new standard in empowering women through specialised education and career opportunities in the travel and hospitality sector. The opening batch was selected from among the students of the Rama Devi Bajla Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Deoghar. The three-month certificate programme comprises industry-aligned modules on basics of tourism, introduction to hospitality business, event management and communication skills. The initiative aims to increase employment opportunities for women in the travel and hospitality sector and encourage social inclusion. The programme will be offered at no cost to the students. “VFS Global has made a significant step in supporting women’s empowerment by starting an all-women batch. This move will surely motivate young women towards independence. Congratulations to VFS Global Academy for focusing on skilling the youth in Deoghar, especially for creating tailored programmes that empower young women”, said Dr Dubey “We are launching an all-women batch to encourage women to pursue careers in the hospitality industry, responding to their growing interest in this field. This initiative supports the Indian government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign and aligns with the International Women’s Day 2024 theme of #InspireInclusion,” said Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, VFS Global. Opened in August 2023 on the Software Technology Park of India campus in Deoghar, VFS Global has become a beacon of hope and opportunity for the community. VFS Global Academy, a part of VFS Global, the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, was established with …

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on Lucerne, on March 7 at 3 pm. Sited on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Lucerne provides travellers access to numerous excursions, activities and experiences. It is also the perfect gateway to exploring Central Switzerland. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.  

Underlining strong airline connectivity between India and the UK, including to regional destinations, Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, says, “Airline seat capacity from India to the UK is also showing strong recovery and growth. Looking at September 2023, seat capacity was up 53% compared to the same month in 2019. India is forecast to be a £1 billion inbound visitor market by the end of 2024, making it one of the UK’s fastest growing major tourism markets.”

Sharing his opinion on best ways to measure hotel room amenities performance, Rajdev Bhattacharya, Global Head Travel and Hospitality, & Global Travel Services, Wipro, says, “Three points comes to my mind straight away: guest feedback through surveys and reviews, mystery shopping to evaluate amenities based on authentic experiences, and of course service audits.”

HRAWI has appealed to CM Shinde and Tourism Minister Mahajan to reassess recent regulatory measures in Pune. Terming the order u/s 144 as “draconian”, Pradeep Shetty HRAWI President said the order mandates establishments to manage guest behaviour, including prohibiting dancing in specific areas and driving after drinking.

Kenya Tourism Board has launched strategic marketing campaign that will provide incentives to travel agents to promote Kenya as their preferred destination. The campaign which will enhance awareness and drive conversions in the Indian market will involve engagement of both trade partners and consumers simultaneously. Kenya Tourism Board Ag CEO John Chirchir, stated that the board was looking forward to embark on the campaign and recognized the importance of the Indian market to Kenya’s tourism “India stands as a pivotal market for Kenya in the realm of travel and tourism, and we believe that this initiative will significantly contribute to strengthening our foothold in this dynamic landscape. With high expectations riding on this campaign, we aim to forge a robust bond with the travel trade and cultivate lasting relationships. We are confident that through this concerted effort, we will not only meet but exceed expectations, propelling Kenya to the forefront of travelers’ minds in India.” Said Chirchir While commenting on this, Director of Intrepid Marketing and Communications Neeti Sharma said that KTB would reap the benefits of partnering with a well-known platform in the Indian market that would help in showcasing the Kenya to potential Indian visitors. “We are thrilled to partner with Network 18 and our travel partners in this market to showcase the wonders of Kenya to the Indian audience,” she said “By engaging both trade partners and consumers, we aim to create a powerful synergy that will drive demand and position Kenya as the ultimate travel destination in Africa. We are confident that this campaign will not only drive conversions but also strengthen the bond between the travel trade in India and Kenya”. This campaign aims to create …

Sharing his views on some of the key drivers that is facilitating business travel in India, he said, “There are multiple factors that are contributing to this. Corporate growth in terms of revenue and EBIDTA margins are growing and by this FY end we will see India grow 18℅. FDI into India is at record levels. Moreover, the aviation boom in India with 700-odd aircraft in Indian skies right now is pushing business travel. It is a super exciting time in India. “

FHRAI jointly with the Hotel Association of India (HAI) is organising “Travel for LiFE – Tourism Sustainability Summit 2024” on 8th of March 2024, at Hotel Le-Meridien, New Delhi. This initiative is also supported by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (UK), Niti Aayog, Invest India and KPMG as Knowledge Partner. It will be attended by G. Kishan Reddy and Amitabh Kant and will explore sustainable tourism practices and global initiatives.

Sharing his targets for this year, Nalin Perera, MD, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, said, “Last year, we achieved almost 1.5 million tourist arrivals. This year, we have set an ambitious target of 2.3 million, which would be a record-breaking figure in the history of Sri Lankan tourism. I urge those who haven’t visited Sri Lanka to do so, and for those who have, I encourage you to return for more.”

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on Lucerne, on March 7 at 3 pm. Sited on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Lucerne provides travellers access to numerous excursions, activities and experiences. It is also the perfect gateway to exploring Central Switzerland. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.