Speaking at a Heritage Tourism Conclave in New Delhi, Rajender Kumar, Secretary – Tourism, Civil Aviation, Devasthanam Management & Pilgrimage, Government of Gujarat, outlined the state’s proactive vision for inclusive heritage tourism, stating, “We are not only restoring monuments but also ensuring direct benefits to local communities through jobs, infrastructure, and cultural pride.”

India has strengthened its position on the global business travel map as it has been ranked among the world’s top 15 business travel markets, recording US$43 billion of spending in 2025. This places India at eighth position globally, just behind South Korea and ahead of Italy and Brazil. Along with South Korea and Turkey, India is identified as one of the fastest-growing markets in the 2025 forecast.

Bhutan Tourism has revealed that Indian tourists were the largest group to arrive into the country with 94,280 visitors in 2024. Of this, 55,000 Indians entered via the Phuentsholing land border, and 10,000 enter by air through Paro Airport. India continues to be the dominant source market, and with 65,393 visitors in the first half of 2025, they have already reached nearly 70% of their total 2024 visitor numbers.

Akoya Hotel & Spa, a luxurious and award-winning 5-star property nestled on the pristine shores of Réunion Island, has announced the appointment of Global Destinations as its official sales and marketing representative in India. This partnership represents a major milestone in Akoya’s global expansion strategy, with a strong emphasis on the rapidly growing Indian outbound travel market. Leveraging their extensive industry expertise and well-established network within the Indian travel trade, Global Destinations will lead efforts to position Akoya Hotel & Spa as a top choice for Indian luxury travelers, honeymooners, families, and bespoke MICE groups. Nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Akoya Hotel & Spa seamlessly blends French sophistication with the serene charm of island life. The property features 104 elegantly designed rooms and suites, each offering private balconies or terraces with sweeping views of the ocean or lush tropical gardens. Guests are invited to indulge in a luxurious yet intimate experience — from sunrise breakfasts by the pool to romantic dinners under the stars, every moment at Akoya is thoughtfully curated to inspire relaxation and refined indulgence. “India is a key market for us, with a growing demand for immersive, long-haul luxury experiences,” said Joel Narayanin, CEO of Akoya Hotel & Spa. “With Global Destinations as our trusted partner In India, we are confident in reaching the right audiences and inspiring Indian travelers to explore the magic of Réunion through Akoya”.  Pranav Kapadia, Founder of Global Destinations, added: “Akoya Hotel & Spa is the kind of property Indian travelers dream about—stunning, serene, and rich in experiences. With its French heritage, immersive wellness offerings, and tropical allure, it’s the perfect blend of familiarity and discovery. We’re excited to …

ITA Airways is Official Airline Carrier of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia, one of the most important cinematographic events internationally, which will take place from August 27th to September 6th in Venice Lido. ITA Airways participation to the Biennale Cinema 2025 reaffirms the Company’s role not only as ambassador of our country’s excellence and cultural heritage in the world but also as reference Italian carrier. Furthermore, supporting national cinema, art, and culture represents a choice that is consistent and strictly integrated with ITA Airways’ corporate identity. Thanks to this partnership, the Company establishes itself as Official Airline Carrier of the International Exhibition of Cinematographic Arts – La Biennale di Venezia for three consecutive years, until 2027. “Being Official Airline Carrier of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival – La Biennale di Venezia is much more than a simple partnership for us, it is an honor and a true homage to one of the most iconic events in the world in a city – Venice – that includes all key elements our country is known for – history, excellence, creativity, and style. – affirmed Joerg Eberhart, ITA Airways’ CEO and General Manager – Supporting such a prestigious event confirms ITA Airways’ central role not only as reference carrier connecting Italy with the rest of the world but as Made in Italy ambassador as well. The Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia, art and culture’s global showcase, reflects innovation, style, and culture – core values of our country which ITA Airways continuously strives to enhance”.

Royal Orchid Hotels  (ROHL) has announced the grand launch of Regenta Resort Tropical Villages in Mysore – a first-of-its-kind experiential resort that blends cultural immersion with mindful hospitality. With this launch, ROHL now operates a total of five hotels in Mysore, reinforcing its commitment to the city’s tourism and hospitality growth. Nestled in a serene, natural setting, the property marks a significant addition to ROHL’s expanding portfolio of experiential resorts and aligns with its asset-light growth strategy. Regenta Resort Tropical Villages offers an immersive experience designed around global villages themes, celebrating the richness of cultures and lifestyles from across the seven continents. The resort features 35 uniquely themed cottages, each inspired by distinct architectural and cultural elements from different parts of the world. Additionally, the special accommodation block, Mangala Kutira, houses 12 rooms inspired by India’s Pancha Bhootas and Pancha Tattva, offering guests a deep dive into the country’s ancient heritage and elemental philosophy. Commenting on the launch, Chander K. Baljee, Chairman & Managing Director, Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd., said, “We are thrilled to launch Regenta Resort Tropical Villages in Mysore, a city that has always held a special place for us. With this launch, we are bringing to life a truly distinctive resort experience that goes beyond leisure and hospitality, it’s a celebration of cultural diversity, wellness, and sustainability. The resort embodies our brand’s commitment to offering enriching and mindful travel experiences, and we’re confident that it will redefine the experiential stay category in India.”

This MoU marks the first adoption of OpenAI’s technology by a national tourism organisation in Asia. Through this, STB aims to accelerate the adoption of Advanced AI to enhance visitor experiences, improve productivity, and unlock new opportunities for innovation. STB will also explore potential use cases for advanced AI tools and robotics in real-world tourism settings.

Speaking about the new AI tools, Hari Ganapathy, Co-Founder, PickYourTrail, says, “The UI of OTAs hasn’t changed in 20 years. With the rise of agentic browsers like Comet, and tools like ChatGPT Agent that can plug into your Gmail, Drive, Calendar — that layer is evaporating and fast. If you build one more travel AI solution, best of luck! The true moat of travel is in pricing + customer experience at scale.”

India will begin issuing tourist visas to Chinese nationals from today – July 24, 2025, marking the end of a five-year suspension. In a statement, the Embassy of India in China said that Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment and personally submitting their passport and other documents to the Indian Visa Application Centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Travel agencies are facing growing pressure from fragmented content systems that are increasing operational costs. A new global study commissioned by Sabre reveals that more than 91% of agencies operate with four or more booking systems, and over half are managing seven or more – a sprawl that is impacting productivity, profitability, and agent satisfaction.