Jay Bhatia, Director, Tulsidas Khimji Holidays, said that luxury travel is evolving. With increasing disposable incomes, travellers from both metro and tier II and III cities are seeking luxurious holidays. In fact, many senior citizens and retired individuals are also wanting to travel in luxury and explore new destinations. 

ExpoInn Suites & Convention plans to expand by adding two new hotels, increasing its total number of keys to 308. Barun Gupta, General Manager, ExpoInn Suites & Convention, said, “One of these new hotels will be positioned in the luxury segment, while the other will cater to the upper mid-scale market.” 

A new GBTA study reveals that 75% of travel buyers are interested in adopting an AI-powered travel program chatbot to automatically answer questions specifically about their program. Additionally, 51% are interested in blockchain-based booking, while 49% favor blockchain-based payment solutions. 

New research from Collinson shows that sports fans are the biggest spenders, with 55% of Indian sports enthusiasts spending over US$500 per trip. Additionally, 69% of Indian sports and music fans fly to see their favorite team or artist. Globally, including in India, 80% of event travellers prefer exploring new destinations over familiar ones.   

Israel Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar to gain insights and updates on the destination, today at 12 pm. From the ancient streets of Jerusalem to the serene shores of the Dead Sea, experience Israel’s exciting offerings. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. 

Gujarat has emerged as a top Indian state for foreign tourists. Foreign tourist visits surged from 11,319 in 2021 to 17,77,215 in 2022, and reached 28,06,871 in 2023, reflecting a 58% increase. This significant growth, highlighted in recent Union Ministry of Tourism data, underscores Gujarat’s rising appeal with 28.06 lakh visitors in 2023. 

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO said, “Aurangabad will soon become an international airport, with flights from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur landing there. This will increase inbound tourism to the destination. Similarly, if Bhopal also gains international airport status, it will improve conditions in Madhya Pradesh by attracting international airlines.”  

Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary (Tourism) and Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, said, “The Taj Group has expanded its presence in Madhya Pradesh and plans to open a beautiful heritage property between Khajuraho and Panna National Park, which will be one of its kind in the country. In terms of hospitality, accommodation, and infrastructure, Madhya Pradesh offers the best, second to none.” 

Karnataka Tourism Minister H K Patil announced that the government will introduce a new ‘Tourism Policy 2024-29’ focusing on various aspects of the sector. He stated, “We have decided to launch the new tourism policy within a month. The groundwork is underway. The policy will emphasise temple tourism, adventure tourism, recreational tourism, eco-tourism, educational tourism, and agro-tourism.” 

Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, Ebixcash Travel said, “The Union Budget 2024 is appalling when it comes to tourism. It’s all talk and no action! The already neglected sector has been simply ignored. Where have initiatives like Meet in India and Chalo India disappeared to? Can all that be achieved with a budget of just Rs 33 crores? There are lessons to be learned from neighboring countries which subsidise incentives for incoming tourists, thereby achieving significantly higher visitor numbers from India.”