Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, announced that the UDAN scheme will continue beyond 2027, focusing on connectivity with hilly, North-Eastern, and aspirational regions, and the development of around 120 new destinations. Under the scheme, 649 routes have been operationalised as on date connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes.

Air India has announced the addition of 174 weekly flights on key domestic and short-haul international routes, operated by its single-aisle aircraft, as part of the Northern Winter Schedule, beginning 26 October 2025. This expansion enhances connectivity to major cities in India and Southeast Asia in high demand. ADDITIONS TO SHORT-HAUL INTERNATIONAL ROUTES Delhi-Kuala Lumpur: Increasing from 7x to 10x weekly flights, effective 15 November Delhi-Denpasar (Bali): Increasing from 7x to 10x weekly flights, effective 01 December   ADDITIONS TO DOMESTIC INDIA ROUTES  Seasonal additions of flights to Rajasthan, effective 26 October: Delhi-Jaipur (new route): Introducing 3x daily flights Delhi-Jaisalmer (new route): Introducing 2x daily flights Delhi-Udaipur: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Mumbai-Jaipur: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Mumbai-Udaipur: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Mumbai-Jodhpur: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   More flights to Madhya Pradesh, effective 26 October: Delhi-Indore: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Delhi-Bhopal: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Mumbai-Indore: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   More flights to Gujarat, effective 26 October: Mumbai-Bhuj: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Rajkot: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   Other frequency additions, effective 26 October: Delhi-Varanasi: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Delhi-Raipur: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Delhi-Port Blair: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Aurangabad: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Guwahati: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Nagpur: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Dehradun: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Patna: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Amritsar: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Air India’s retrofit programme for …

TAAI has completed its innovative Visa Insights Workshop, hosted by VFS Global, in 7 cities of India, where VFS’ Mission people who receive visa applications from travel agents are invited to interact with the agency visa heads. “There ensues an exciting debate that goes on for few hours so that everyone understands the other and is on the same page. It has become a very successful event starting with Hyderabad, and going on to Pune, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Kolkata and soon to come to Mumbai. It is a way to work closely with VFS Global,” said Sunil Kumar, TAAI National President.

Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach won the ‘Best Beachfront Wedding Venue’ award at the Indian Travel Awards 2025. Receiving the award, Lakshmi Sridhar, GM, said, “The award motivates us further. Our strength lies in teamwork and showcasing not just our property but also promoting Visakhapatnam as a premier destination for weddings, MICE, and tourism growth.”

Targeting the upscale and upper-up scale segment, Chalet Hotels launches Athiva Hotels & Resorts, a new brand. The first Athiva Resorts & Spa, Khandala, opens today. Five more hotels are in the pipeline, which will add 900 keys. “Athiva is built on the values of joy, wellness, and sustainability. The new brand aims to resonate with the Gen Z and millennial travellers,” said Dr Sanjay Sethi, CEO and MD, Chalet Hotels.

WTTC’s latest report reveals that tourism is set to support 91 mn jobs by 2035. While the sector is on course to support one in three new jobs worldwide by 2035, demographic and structural shifts could create a workforce shortfall of more than 43 mn people. It highlights that the labour challenge will affect all the 20 major economies, with the largest absolute shortfalls forecast in China (16.9 mn) and India (11 mn).

Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, recently met Hon’ble CM of Delhi, Rekha Gupta ji and Hon’ble Minister for Art, Culture and Language, Kapil Mishra to discuss transforming Delhi into India’s premier cultural and spiritual destination. They also discussed the tourism board’s vision for the Yamuna Aarti and cruise initiative , which will boost tourism by combining traditional evening prayers with scenic river journeys. “We spoke about the strategic partnership between Delhi Tourism and EaseMyTrip to position Delhi as more than just a transit point. Our technology infrastructure can seamlessly package everything from spiritual circuits through Easy Pilgrimage to immersive art experiences, world-class productions, and Esports & gaming events, reaching our 30 million customers globally. Easy Green Mobility secured Madhya Pradesh Government’s first inter-city electric bus tender, and we can bring similar sustainable solutions to Delhi, transforming how travellers experience the capital, prioritising environmental responsibility. If you are an entrepreneur building in tourism, cultural tech, or sustainable mobility that can elevate Delhi’s travel experience, please comment or DM me. Let us connect and work together to scale impactful solutions,” Pittie said.

SpiceJet announces the launch of daily flights to two of India’s most sought-after winter destinations – Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Udaipur, the city of lakes. The airline will operate daily flights to Port Blair from Kolkata and Delhi, and to Udaipur from Delhi and Mumbai, offering travellers the perfect opportunity to plan their winter getaways. As part of its ambitious winter expansion plan, SpiceJet is adding new routes, more flights, and a significantly larger fleet to meet soaring travel demand. The airline is set to more than double both its daily flights and operational fleet this winter, with several exciting new destinations on the horizon. Flights to Port Blair have already commenced, while daily non-stop flights to Udaipur from Delhi and Mumbai will begin November 6, 2025. Tickets are available for booking on SpiceJet’s official website and mobile app. Passengers flying to Port Blair from Kolkata will enjoy seamless, non-stop connectivity, while those travelling from Delhi will make a short stopover at Kolkata. The Delhi–Port Blair service is a direct connection with no aircraft change, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey. Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet, said, “As winter approaches, we are thrilled to offer travellers two of India’s most beautiful destinations – the Andamans and Udaipur – now easily accessible with our new direct and non-stop flights. Whether it’s a beachside escape or a royal retreat, SpiceJet is making your dream holiday closer than ever. This expansion is part of our larger commitment to strengthen our domestic network and provide seamless, affordable, and delightful travel experiences to our passengers.”

Embracing the spirit of World Tourism Day 2025 and its focus on inclusive and sustainable tourism, Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, unveiled the OneConnect Meghalaya Tourism Helpline and the new Website for Meghalaya Tourism. The new revamped website is a one-click gateway, which serves as a unified platform for every traveller’s needs. These launches, complemented with the release of Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission Scheme and the Community-led Tourism Infrastructure Scheme, position Meghalaya as a hub of responsible travel, nurturing authentic, human-centred experiences for every visitor. Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble Chief Minister, presented a comprehensive vision for Meghalaya’s tourism sector, highlighting it as a top priority over the last seven and a half years. He showcased the impressive results of this focus, with domestic tourist arrivals growing to 1.6 million and a clear target to create 50,000 new jobs within the next three years. This growth is backed by a massive infrastructure push, with 210 ongoing projects valued at ₹3,625 crores and a recent sanction of an additional ₹260 crores from the DoNER Ministry specifically for developing the Sohra (Cherrapunji) destination. The centrepiece of his strategy is the new Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission, designed to address a critical accommodation shortage.

Pradeep Agrawal, General Manager (UK, Europe, USA, Australia and Bali), Worldwide DMC, received the Best DMC & MICE Operator award at the India Travel Awards 2025. “Winning this (award) motivates us to excel. This prestigious recognition boosts our business, validating our team’s hard work and dedication, driving us to innovate and deliver exceptional travel experiences,” he said.