New research by KAYAK based on a survey of 1,217 Indians in urban areas in India, found that over half (56%) intend to travel for leisure this summer. It adds that domestic flight searches have increased by about 208%, and long-haul international flight searches are also up by around 158% this summer compared to last year.

Around 2.82 lakh passport verification applications were cleared and only 805 rejected in the past three years, Jammu and Kashmir Police said as it defended “deep vetting” of activities of several sections, including politicians and scribes, noting it was needed to curb “anti-India propaganda machinery”.

Defying the global downturn trend and ongoing layoffs, Indians are now spending a lot more online on purchasing flight and movie tickets and dining out with families, according to the report by payments and banking platform Razorpay. It said the consumer spending on flight tickets soared by 83% and expenses on hotel accommodations nearly doubled in value in the fiscal year 2023.

The Ministry of Tourism has decided to transfer all matters of registration, recognition and complaints of tour operators and other tourism service providers from the Travel Trade (TT) division to Quality & Standard (Q&S) Division of the Ministry of Tourism. Accordingly, henceforth all the queries/complaints in respect of recognition, approval, etc. may be directly taken up with the Q&S Division of the Ministry of Tourism.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced the signing of a new property in Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set to open by 2025, the hotel will offer 205 rooms, including 44 suites. Guests can look forward to a luxurious experience that seamlessly blends world-class hospitality with the enchanting beauty of one of India’s most legendary destinations. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Shekhar Resorts , introducing the first Fairmont in the city of Agra.  “We are delighted to partner with Fairmont, an iconic luxury brand within the Accor Group. Given Accor’s expertise in luxury hospitality management and knowledge of the markets they operate in, we found Fairmont and Accor as the most adept partners to manage the upcoming Fairmont Agra. We believe that the property will stand out and elevate the luxury hospitality experience in Agra and northern India. We are excited to start our first partnership with Fairmont and Accor and to bring the most unique and memorable experiences to our guests,” says Anuj Jain, Director of Shekhar Resorts , Agra. Fairmont Agra’s strategic location is approximately two kilometres from the Taj Mahal, offering guests easy access to this renowned architectural achievement. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River in the populous city of Agra, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the hotel is just a two-hour drive from the bustling capital city of New Delhi. “This is a great addition to our brand portfolio,” says Mark Willis, CEO of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “Fairmont Agra will be situated in one of the most awe-inspiring destinations in the world, and …

Thomas Cook (India) inaugurated a new Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlet in Edappally, Kochi to capitalise on the strong and growing travel opportunity from the region. The outlet was inaugurated by P  Rajiv, Minister for Industries, Law and Coir, Government of Kerala. Kerala has witnessed a 35% uptick in travel demand compared to pre pandemic levels and this expansion augments Thomas Cook India’s distribution and reach in Kerala, to 13 consumer access centres: 11 owned branches and 2 Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlets. In addition to serving the financial hub of Edappally, the outlet will also serve as a hub for nearby residential and business areas of Aluva, Angamaly, Vyttila, Perumbavoor and Palarivattom. In the new age of travel, customers are understandably seeking the guidance and reassurance of holiday experts and Thomas Cook India’s internal survey reiterates the same, with a significant 77% of respondents stating that they require guidance from a holiday expert. To help customers with their travel plans and requirements, Thomas Cook India has opened a Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlet in Edappally, Kochi. Thomas Cook’s strategic omnichannel model offers extensive touchpoints to customers: India’s largest retail holiday network of 135 outlets and B2B distribution (across its owned stores, Partner franchise outlets and Preferred Sales Agents) coupled with the Company’s website, call centres and Holiday app. With the upcoming summer holidays, consumers from Kerala are displaying a strong travel desire for both domestic and international destinations. Favourite Indian locales include Kashmir, Leh Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the North East. Spiritual tourism has been witnessing an uptick and favourites include Char Dham and Amarnath Yatra. Closer to home international destinations like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Maldives and Mauritius are driving …

Global Destinations is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The company has grown to be one among India’s largest and most reputed destination representation companies. They have for a decade and a half been facilitating both their partners – international stakeholders and clients – the Indian travel fraternity to further develop and establish business growth in the international tourism arena. Global Destinations is the brainchild of Pranav Kapadia, who brings with him over 30 years of sales and marketing experience in the travel industry. Established in the year 2008, the Head Office is in Mumbai, followed by a competitive pan India presence. In 2022, Global Destinations expanded further by announcing the launch of their luxury representation vertical, ‘Wanderlust – Bespoke by Global Destinations’, with a keen focus on luxurious and captivating travel brands and experiences. “Fifteen years ago, the idea of representing a tourism product in India was a concept only a few knew of and even fewer had heard of. It was back then the travel agents were faced with many obstacles and wished for an easier way out – an intermediary that would be a one-stop solution, tending to all their queries and needs regarding a specific destination. In order to bridge the gap and cater to the arisen industry requirements, Global Destinations was brought to life” highlighted Pranav Kapadia, Founder and Director Global Destinations. As a highly experienced and very energetic tourism solution provider, Global Destinations prides itself on offering top-quality service to an ever-growing, very discerning customer base. They aim to bring newer global tourism products to an Indian audience and at the same time, be of the best assistance to the Indian Travel Trade. The …

India wants to be a $1 trillion tourism economy with 100 million international visitors by 2047, the centenary year of its Independence. In order to achieve this, the focus is on various government-led initiatives under PPP mode, Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy said. “The vision of the second G-20 TWG meeting was to project domestic tourism in a mission mode. It will also make India maximise its potential in the tourism sector. In order to give impetus to the tourism sector this year, the government is observing ‘Vision India-2023’, a programme which invites the world to explore India,” he said.

Minister for Development of North-Eastern Region, G. Kishan Reddy said that the Government of India has taken the ‘Yuva Sangam’ initiative to strengthen people to people connect especially between youth belonging to NER and other States and provide an immersive experience under five broad areas – Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Prodyogiki (Technology) and Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect).

As per Cvent Travel Managers Report, demand for sustainable travel has taken off among the corporates as 36% of travel managers say it is now a more important factor than it was pre-pandemic. Sustainability is also having a direct impact on choice of venue. In total, 92% of travel managers say this factor influences which hotels they book as part of programs – with almost 40% claiming sustainability concerns play a significant part in selection.