The Moscow City Tourism Committee is ramping up efforts to deepen collaboration with India’s Outbound Tourism with special focus on the MICE sector. Moscow is reinforcing its status as a premier destination for both leisure and business tourism, with India emerging as a key strategic partner. Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, says, “While most tourists visit Moscow for cultural, educational, and entertainment purposes, the city has also been focusing on expanding business tourism, which is now a significant contributor to the local economy.”

Skyscanner has observed a significant increase in travel interest for the Maha Kumbh, with elevated booking volumes from January 12 continuing through February 26 aligning with key dates of the holy dip rituals. It also sees huge interest from international travellers, and the top five international cities that have searched for travel to Prayagraj around these dates are Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Doha. This data underscores how travellers across India and the world are gearing up to immerse themselves in the spiritual grandeur of the Maha Kumbh, making it a pivotal travel moment for 2025.

Threeland Travel, a prominent Destination Management Company (DMC) specialising in Southeast Asia, partnered with the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) to provide exclusive travel services during the TAFI Convention 2025. Represented in India by Global Destinations, Threeland Travel facilitated pre- and post-familiarization trips to showcase Vietnam’s captivating destinations to Indian travel agents. These trips included Hanoi, Halong Bay, Da Nang, and Hoi An, offering immersive experiences that highlighted the natural beauty, cultural richness, and authentic local charm. The TAFI Convention, held from January 17-21 in Ninh Binh, Vietnam, serves as a vital platform for fostering relationships and exploring new opportunities within the travel and tourism sector. Recognizing the immense potential of destinations like Ninh Binh and Phu Quoc for Indian travelers, Threeland Travel aims to introduce these unique locales to the Indian market and integrate them into mainstream travel itineraries. One of the key highlights of the FAM trip was the gala dinner, hosted by Threeland, which took place at the elegant Vesak Ballroom within the Tam Chuc Pagoda Complex. The illustrious Tam Chuc Pagoda is the largest pagoda complex in Vietnam. Spanning an impressive 5,000 hectares, the complex is enveloped by serene lakes, verdant mountains, dense forests, and picturesque valleys, providing visitors with a truly tranquil and awe-inspiring experience. Tony (Tung Nguyen), Managing Director of Threeland Travel, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and the opportunity to support the FAM trips and host the gala dinner. “Collaborating with TAFI and Global Destinations to curate an unforgettable experience for Indian travel professionals has been a privilege,” stated Mr. Nguyen. “Hanoi, with its vibrant culture, Halong Bay’s breathtaking scenery, Da Nang’s coastal beauty, and Hoi An’s historical charm, offer immense …

A delegation from Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, led by Rofia Larsson – Vice President of Global Trade Development from the Los Angeles Office, met with key travel agents in India. They highlighted the city’s rich cultural and entertainment diversity while emphasizing exciting new developments that are set to further elevate Los Angeles as a must-visit destination for Indian travellers. Los Angeles is currently in the midst of a dynamic transformation, with major events and infrastructure projects reshaping the city’s future. Seema Kadam, Regional Director India Office, shares, “Los Angeles is experiencing an incredible decade of sports and culture. With world-class events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, NBA All-Star Games, Super Bowl XVI, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city is ready to welcome the world in ways we’ve never seen before. And that’s not all – we’re also undergoing a multi-billion-dollar upgrade to Los Angeles International Airport, which will redefine the travel experience for international visitors.” In addition to its major events, Los Angeles is embracing cultural and artistic evolution. New attractions include a variety of museum openings, the unveiling of Destination Crenshaw – a $100 million outdoor art and culture initiative, the introduction of the Intuit Dome and more. “India is the number one emerging market for LA, and we are thrilled to engage with our trade partners in India to showcase diverse experiences, from world-class museums, dining to iconic sporting events and immersive entertainment” adds  Kadam

Resorts World Cruises is pleased to announce that it will be expanding its footprint to India with the debut and homeport deployment of the Resorts World One cruise ship in Mumbai from 5 March until 1 June 2025. Resorts World One will depart from the soon to be completed Mumbai International Cruise Terminal at the Ballard Pier Extension (BPX) berth of the Mumbai Port with three weekly roundtrip cruise itineraries. These include the 2 Night Weekend High Seas Cruise departing on Fridays; the 3 Night Lakshadweep Cruise to Agatti Island departing on Sundays; and the 2 Night Goa Cruise departing on Wednesdays. “In support of the recently announced “Cruise Bharat Mission” by the Indian Government and the new world-class Mumbai International Cruise Terminal, we are excited to further boost India’s cruise tourism sector and bring the Resorts World One cruise ship to homeport in Mumbai,” said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises. “Mumbai is the main gateway to cruising in India and Indians will have the convenience of departing from their ‘doorsteps’, without the need to fly to another country”, he added.

DreamSetGo, India’s sports experiences and travel platform, achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, facilitating travel for 15,000+ Indian sports fans across 30+ global sporting events. With a 2x year-on-year growth in bookings, the brand highlighted India’s growing appetite for personalised and premium sports travel experiences, covering 50+ cities across India. Monish Shah, Co-founder & CEO, DreamSetGo, said, “Year 2024 has been a breakthrough year for sports tourism and DreamSetGo in India. From the Paris Olympics to IND vs. PAK thrillers, we’ve seen Indian fans embrace unique, luxury sports travel experiences like never before. As we look ahead, 2025 promises even greater opportunities with marquee events like the Champions Trophy, IPL, and FIFA World Cup 2026. We remain committed to redefining sports tourism by offering fans exclusive, immersive experiences that go beyond just the game.” Top Sporting Events Facilitated by DreamSetGo in 2024: Marquee events like the Paris Olympics, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Wimbledon, Formula 1, and the Premier League were the most popular among Indian fans. Iconic matchups, such as IND vs. PAK, saw the highest demand, while Olympic events like athletics, tennis, and badminton also attracted significant attention.

Anil Kalsi, Vice President, TAFI has shared that the TAFI Convention had vibrant business sessions focusing on burning issues of NDC, travel scenario in the Artificial Intelligence and discussions on new avenues for revenue generation. The members also learnt about innovative and historical venues in Ninh Binh for meetings and conferences.

Speaking about bridging the gap in terms of skilled labour in the hospitality sector, Dr Sagnik Chowdhury, Deputy Director General & Regional Director (West & Central India) at Ministry of Tourism say, “The Ministry runs 21 central institutes of hotel management across the country and there are a number of state institutes of hotel management. The skilled manpower requirement is expected to be plugged by students who undertake diploma courses, craft courses, certificate courses. We are planning to increase our capacity of training students for even these skill-based courses so that the growing demand for skilled manpower is met.”

Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO, Asego, has revealed that they will launch a new product called Chatmate, where the customer will get a global e-sim when they buy a product. “This e-sim will stay with the customer for life and they can use that number and top it up as they go. The cost is very low as compared to what they would pay to any domestic telecom provider,” he said.

According to Philippines Tourism Secretary, Christina Frasco, the country welcomed nearly 80,000 Indian visitors in 2024, an over 12% growth compared to the previous year. She said, “While this number is smaller relative to our ASEAN neighbours, it represents significant growth. We see tremendous potential in India’s outbound tourism market, and we are committed to making the Philippines a top destination for them.” Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs began introducing electronic visas for Indian nationals in the past year.