Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy shared in Lok Saha that Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India haven’t yet rebounded to 2019 levels. In 2022, 85.9 lakh foreign tourists visited, contrasting with 3.14 crore in 2019. Figures dropped significantly in 2020 and 2021 to 71.7 lakh and 10.5 lakh, respectively.

Digital travel platform Agoda collaborated with the Government of Goa and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to organize a Hotel Sustainability Training for industry professionals from November 28 to 29, 2023, at Park Regis, Goa. This two-day program brought together local hoteliers for a series of sessions led by influential industry experts, aiming to provide them with the competences and tools necessary to enhance their sustainability practices. Throughout the training, participants immersed themselves in real-world insights drawn from best-in-class sustainability practices and actual hotel case studies. Using as a checklist the GSTC Industry Criteria for hotels, globally recognized as a standard for sustainability in travel and tourism, attendees were empowered to assess their current performance and then set achievable short-, medium-, and long-term sustainability objectives.  Krishna Rathi, Agoda Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, sharing his views on the initiative, said, “We are honored to announce our partnership with the Government of Goa and the GSTC for the inaugural session of our Hotel Sustainability Training in India. This initiative, a modest yet important step, aligns with the Goa Roadmap and ‘Travel for LiFE,’ contributing to our collective vision. Agoda is committed to fostering responsible connections between people and destinations. Embracing sustainability practices is more crucial than ever for a more sustainable future in the hospitality industry. With the right knowledge and tools, we aim to accelerate this evolution.” Mr. Suneel Anchipaka, Director of Tourism (Goa), at the opening ceremony of the training, commented, “Our government has made sustainable tourism a top priority, and this initiative by Agoda aligns seamlessly with our vision. By equipping hotel professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt sustainability practices at their …

During the Industry Roundtable on Developing India as a MICE destination, Neeraj Dhawan, Director, Falcon Exhibitions, raise a crucial need for certified MICE professionals to bolster the MICE industry in India. He underscored the importance of skilled expertise in advancing India’s capabilities and reputation as a leading MICE destination.

According to a study by Booking.com, post-COVID, India is expected to surpass earlier momentum in the travel industry, possibly occupying first position amongst the top markets with 10-12% growth in total travel expenditure from 2023 to 2027. India led the way on tourism expenditure recovery in 2022 by reaching 78% of 2019 levels, vis-à-vis 52% for Asia.

Cyril V. D. Diengdoh, Tourism Department, Government of Meghalaya said, “We have approved a PPP policy aimed at developing tourism as a full-fledged industry. As part of this initiative, we are enabling private operators to construct greenfield hotels. The government has identified specific land areas where private sectors can invest in hotel development.”

Travellers have seen an increase in travel prices for the past 3 years. The average international trip cost in 2023 is USS6.574, up 21% from last vear. Sauaremouth survey reveals, 82% of travellers foresee their travel spending either rising or staying the same in 2024.

Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators IATO, said. “The Indian market has seen notable shifts since the pandemic. e-commerce has surged, emphasizing the need for online presence. Additionally, there’s a growing focus on health and wellness products.”

The Embassy of Spain in India has announced to process Visa at Delhi office to Indian tourists within 24 hours without any additional cost. The idea behind this move is to attract more Indian travellers to the country. Usually, the visa processing time takes between 15 and 45 days.

Vikrant Grover, Director, Kazin DMC (Caucasus Region), announces the acquisition of Georgia-based agency TRAVEX. With this addition, over 3000 B2B agents across Kazin’s 10 source markets will gain access to experiential itineraries, tier I pricing, and professional services.

Pushpendra R. Bansal, COO, Lords Hotels and Resorts, shared, “The year 2023 was good for us. We saw growth as compared to Covid disaster and we have seen 100% more business. At present our hotel count with signed and contracted is 54 and by 2024 we will cross 65. If things go well then, I am looking to cross 100 in the next three years both domestic and international.”