Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, directed the Tourism Department to identify top 10 airports in the country with the highest tourist traffic for focused publicity. “We must intensify our outreach to attract more holidaymakers,” he said. Abdullah also ordered an advance annual events calendar to strengthen planning, execution, and coordination while enhancing the region’s visibility.

The Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) projects India’s real GDP growth will consolidate at 6.6% in 2026, with inflation rising to 4.2%, following a strong 2025 performance. Structural drivers such as digitisation and favourable demographics continue to position India among the fastest-growing major economies. Tourism beyond traditional hubs could emerge as a critical growth lever, even as global supply chain disruptions and climate-related volatility pose risks, the report stated.

FICCI has named Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), as Chair of the FICCI Inbound Tourism Committee, a key arm of its National Tourism Committee. The appointment recognises his longstanding contributions to India’s tourism sector and his leadership in strengthening inbound travel. Accepting the role, Gosain expressed gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to elevating India’s global tourism position. He noted that India’s inbound tourism is entering a transformative phase, offering an opportunity to work closely with industry leaders and government stakeholders to drive sustainable, globally competitive growth. FICCI expects his leadership to further strengthen industry-driven initiatives that enhance innovation, expand international outreach, and support long-term strategic planning for India’s inbound tourism development.

Rajan Dua, Managing Director, Udaan India, believes succession in travel businesses can no longer be treated as a default handover to the next generation. His message to the trade is clear- founders must treat succession, scale, merger, or sale as strategic choices driven by technology and market realities, not by emotion alone. In a future shaped by AI, digitisation, and biometrics, only adaptable, professionally run travel enterprises will stay relevant.

Fabio Bigotti, Country Manager–India, ITA Airways, said the airline is moving ahead with its integration into the Lufthansa Group. “ITA Airways at present has 59% stake from our Ministry of Finance and 41% by the Lufthansa Group. We are having a strong partnership and we are going to join Star Alliance starting from the beginning of 2026, during the first part of 2026,” he confirmed.

Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Vice President – Commercial, Vietjet Thailand, highlighted India’s central role in the airline’s growth. “If you look at the traffic, 90% of the traffic originates from Ahmedabad or Mumbai… mainly from India. So, the OTA and the travel agents are critical to our success,” he said. He added that the airline works closely with major OTAs and travel agents through Bird Travel, its GSA in India.

According to the Global Hotel Alliance, travellers plan an average of six leisure trips in 2026, compared to four for business. While 47% expect personal travel to rise, only 12% foresee more work travel. Gen Z leads this surge, with 65% planning more fun-focused trips. Over 40% also expect to travel internationally, led by China, Thailand, and India.

ITA Airways has renewed its Hangar Lounge located in Terminal 1, Boarding Area A, at Rome Fiumicino Airport. The company is unveiling the new space today through “Travel with All Your Senses”, a multisensory event designed to engage lounge guests throughout the day. A space that celebrates style, where every detail matters: 135 sqm of additional surface area, 65 new seats—for a total of 205 seats—an expanded 50-sqm entrance area, and a redesigned welcome desk now positioned to the left of the main door to offer an even more spacious and functional welcome. A significant upgrade in the passenger experience that will make it possible to welcome even more comfortably the customers of the Lufthansa Group airlines as part of the process of integrating ITA Airways into the group. The highlight of the renewed Hangar Lounge is the Silent Room, an elegant 90-sqm area featuring 25 chaise longues. This all-new space has been designed to offer guests a moment of absolute relaxation before their flight. This completely new area offers a concrete response to the modern traveler’s need for well-being and a sense of peacefulness. Here, the journey begins even before boarding—through sound, scent, light—while the Silent Room becomes a cocoon-like oasis within a bustling airport environment. At the same time, the Exclusive Room, dedicated to Executive customers, has been upgraded with a curated wine and sparkling wine cellar, as well as an information screen displaying live flight departures. In keeping with the premium feel, the private restroom area now includes an experiential shower for enhanced comfort. The renovation also includes a complete redesign and expansion of the restrooms, now located near the entrance to make guest access even more …

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing PDMF 2025 in Thailand’s Chiang Rai, Paul Pruangkarn, Director – Communications & Marketing, PATA, said, “Asia-Pacific tourism is witnessing a strong shift towards niche segments, such as family travel, community-based tourism, adventure, and luxury experiences.” He noted that travellers are moving away from mass tourism and seeking quieter, more meaningful and less crowded experiences. Destinations that invest in these segments, he said, will gain a competitive edge as travellers increasingly avoid the aftereffects of overtourism.

At the fourth high-level task force meeting in Delhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Development for the Northeastern Region, sought a unified tourism roadmap for the Northeast focused on multimodal connectivity, sustainability, and festival promotion. He emphasised developing an annual calendar highlighting all major regional festivals to foster cultural awareness. The meeting advanced an action-driven strategy to unlock the region’s potential.