Sharing insights on why India holds the key to Oman’s tourism success, Arjun Chadha, Country Manager-India, Oman Tourism, says that Indian tourists visiting Oman have surpassed the remarkable milestone of half a million, and the count continues to rise. As of November 2023, the official figures reveal a staggering 5,42,397 Indian arrivals, setting an unprecedented record as the highest to date.

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India), predicts that event-based travel will emerge as a significant trend in 2024, driven by the enthusiasm of Young India’s millennials, young professionals, and Gen Z. Their keen interest in the thrill of live concerts, events, and cultural immersion is poised to be a driving force for travel in the upcoming year.

The Indian government has made international travel complex, says Pritish Shah, Founder & CEO at ATD Journeys, with GST and 20% TCS. “Indian outbound tourism is having a tug of war moment. The question is, will the Indian outbound traveller be restricted due to government measures or will it get to experience more of what the world has to offer?” he asks.

CAPA India recently presented a research briefing on the outlook for outbound travel from India. It highlighted that international travel is suddenly the new domestic due to a combination of strategic developments, which CAPA forecasts will result in double-digit growth of around 15% per annum in outbound travel through to the end of the decade at least. And discretionary leisure travel is projected to grow even faster at around 19% per annum.

According to data from Skyscanner, Indians’ passion for global exploration has reached unprecedented heights in 2024, with mounting early interest in travel indicated in its data. In the last week of 2023, the search volume for overseas travel by Indian travellers increased by 39% compared to the same period last year. Looking ahead into 2024, a remarkable 98% of Indian travellers are keen to try somewhere new while 42% share that one of their biggest struggles when booking travel is deciding where to go. In a survey conducted by Skyscanner, it is revealed that despite social media, TV, and film perpetuating conventional tourist spots, 95% feel fatigued by those repeated choices. 79% of Indian travellers admit that the prospect of booking travel in 2024 is overwhelming, with 40% citing cost concerns and an equal percentage grappling with destination decisions.

AirAsia kicks off 2024 with a bang, launching the first of its new routes for the year to Kuala Lumpur from the iconic pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, commencing 21 April 2024. This marks AirAsia Malaysia’s (airline code AK) first venture from Jaipur to Kuala Lumpur. As Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur is a favourite travel destination for many Indian travellers for business, leisure and temple visits. Malaysia is also famed for scrumptious local food, its deeply rooted heritage stemming from a melting pot of cultures and its shopping havens. Additionally, this route will also serve to enhance connectivity for travellers from Malaysia heading to Jaipur to explore the city’s wondrous charm, vintage forts, majestic infrastructure and much more. To commemorate this new beginning, AirAsia is offering promotional fares from the city to Kuala Lumpur from just INR 7,999* all-in-one way, and from only RM209* from Kuala Lumpur to Jaipur. Book from 9 January to 23 January 2024 on the airasia Superapp or www.airasia.com and fly between 21 April 2024  and 19 March 2025.  

Vistara has announced a direct, 5x weekly flights between Mumbai and Paris (CDG), starting 28 March 2024. This new long-haul route is in addition to Vistara’s 5x weekly service between Delhi and Paris, which has been receiving a favourable response since its launch in November 2021. This will be Vistara’s third long-haul route from Mumbai after London and Frankfurt as the airline aimed to further enhance connectivity between India and Europe. Vistara will deploy its state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring a three-class configuration, on the route. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents.

Oman Air has been named the most punctual airline in the Middle East and Africa for 2023, scoring an outstanding 92.50/o On-Time Performance (OTP), the highest among all carriers across all categories. The rankings, published in the 2023 On-Time Performance Review by global aviation analytics leader, Cirium, measured performance data collected from more than 600 sources of real-time flight information. It’s the second consecutive time the Muscat-based airline has taken the top spot, having scored 91 TO/o during 2022. In aviation, on-time performance represents a pivotal cornerstone shaping the passenger experience. Flights that are on time mean smoother, less stressful journeys, making it a key differentiator for guest satisfaction. By committing itself to achieving exemplary on-time performance, Oman Air continues to prove its reliability, reduce travel uncertainties, and increase passenger confidence, underscoring its dedication to elevating the overall travel experience.

FAITH has appointed Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of IHCL, as its Chairman with immediate effect. He takes over from Nakul Anand who since his retirement will no longer be a member of HAI Executive Committee, thereby relinquishing his position at FAITH. In his new role, Chhatwal will ensure a smooth continuation of FAITH’s initiatives and objectives.

TAFI has urged the PM to show more support to the travel agent channel. It stated, ‘The tourism sector can surely become more robust if all cogs in the wheel of tourism trade do well and work in tandem. The travel agent channel has been largely ignored and remains an area where your support would go a long way.’