G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism said, “There is immense scope for the tourism sector in India’s Northeast region, but there has not been sufficient private investment. Without private investment, tourism in any country cannot be developed and moved forward.” 

Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, recently inaugurated the 4th Runway at Delhi Airport. “This runway makes Delhi Airport, the only airport in the country to have 4 runways.  This runway along with the terminal expansion will add to creating capacity to serve more than 109 million people throughput which would crest and beat even Atlanta in its capability. With that capacity in place, we would be well positioned both on an infrastructure side and a capability side for creating the international civil aviation hub in India,” he said. 

EGYPTAIR has announced special inaugural return airfares for the Delhi-Cairo-Delhi route, available for the 4x weekly flights starting 4th August 2023. The airfare for Economy class is INR 35,000 all-inclusive while for Business class the fare is INR 80,000 all-inclusive. Travellers can book and get their tickets issued before 31st July 2023. The travel period for these tickets is valid until 30th September 2023. IATA Commission of 5% is available over and above these exciting fares.  

Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Heritage &Tourism is thrilled to announce its upcoming roadshow in India, showcasing the unparalleled beauty and cultural treasures of the country. This highly anticipated event will take place across four major cities in India, offering a unique opportunity for Indian travel professionals and enthusiasts to explore the diverse experiences that Oman has to offer. The roadshow aims to strengthen the existing ties between Oman and India and foster a greater understanding of Oman’s rich heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality. It will take place from 24th to 31st July to and cover the cities of Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Mumbai. During the roadshow, participants will have the chance to engage with prominent Omani tourism stakeholders, including hotels, tour operators, airlines, and representatives from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism. This will provide valuable insights into the various travel experiences available in Oman, from its stunning coastline, majestic mountains, and sprawling deserts to its vibrant souks, ancient forts, and captivating cultural traditions. The roadshow will feature engaging presentations, interactive sessions, and one-on-one meetings, creating an ideal platform for Indian travel professionals to nurture the existing relations and forge new business partnerships and collaborations with their Omani counterparts. Attendees can also expect to learn about the latest tourism developments, upcoming events, and special promotions that will make exploring Oman even more enticing. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is committed to promoting Oman as a year-round destination, offering something for every traveller, be it adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers, history buffs, or those seeking luxurious retreats. This roadshow will highlight the diverse attractions and experiences that make Oman a truly unique and unforgettable destination. The Sultanate of Oman …

After witnessing not-so-exciting years, the travel industry is ready to make a revival with a surge in demand among travelers. Did you know, 31% Indians will be taking international trips in 2023? To reveal further travel trends and insights and understand  the post pandemic travel behavior, ACKO, India’s tech-first insurance company, in association with YouGov, brings out its latest research report:  ACKO Travel Index 2023. The report surveyed 1000 respondents across seven major Indian cities between the ages of 24 and 45 and identified key patterns of travel consideration among Indians. Given a surge in demand towards traveling, the report reveals that around 48% of Indians will be allocating an increased budget for their travel in the coming year and 37% will be increasing the duration of the trip, to embark on extraordinary adventures and make the most of every opportunity. With a considerable increase in demand for international travel, while planning their domestic travel, 44% of Indians will allocate an increased budget for travel post-pandemic, 31% will take more domestic trips in 2023-24, and 30% will increase the trip duration. The report further states that approximately 71% of respondents are ready to spend Rs 1–6 lakh on their international trips, while domestic travelers would like to spend up to Rs 1 lakh. Apart from the destinations and budget, the report highlights a significant shift in the behavior of travelers. Now in every aspect of planning a trip, cleanliness is of utmost importance followed by flexibility and convenience. The respondents also wish to avoid being in crowded spaces. Speaking at the launch, Brijesh Unnithan, SVP, Embedded Insurance, said, “We wanted to understand how Indians plan to travel in 2023 and …

The peninsular state of Qatar is a traditional yet modern creation, the Middle East’s gem for world-class hospitality. From spectacular wildlife scenes and outdoor adventures to enriching activities in museums and theme parks, exploring the cultural history and the sun, sand & sea, Qatar knows how to keep travellers of all kinds entertained. The ever-changing landscape and varied topography coupled with unparalleled safety and year-round pleasant weather make Qatar one of the best holiday destinations. There is an unbelievable amount of leisure, adventure, dining, and cultural offerings to discover. Here are some of the iconic places in Qatar to enjoy: National Museum of Qatar The vibrant past and present of Qatar comes to life at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), where interactive audio-visual experiences ensure people of all ages are immersed in the story of the country,from more than 700 million years ago to the present day. A list of exciting activities and a mix of exhibits bring together antiquities and modern influences, stimulating conversations on the heritage and history of Qatar. The Pearl Qatar A man-made island offshore Doha’s prestigious West Bay District, The Pearl, Qatar, is a stylish and popular visitor attraction featuring Mediterranean-style yacht-lined marinas, residential towers, villas, and hotels. The Pearl also includes a luxurious shopping experience with premium designer boutiques and showrooms for shopping indulgence. Qatar National Library The stunning 45,000-square-meter building resembles two pieces of paper that are pulled apart and folded diagonally at the corners to create a shell-like structure, encompassing the open plan interior. The bookshelves are an integral part of the building, rising out of the floor and highlighting the significance of the cultural Qatari books. Fostering an environment of learning, play and innovation, …

Gajesh Girdhar has been elected as the National Coordinator of NIMA. He shared, the association is now focusing on driving more membership and expanding the team. “Our main goal is to attract a larger number of individuals from tier III and tier IV cities. We anticipate a growth rate of 20 to 25% from these areas. We aim to increase our overall membership by 50%, with 25% of that growth coming from these cities”. In order to achieve this, the association is actively promoting its membership through various activities. “Our MICE forum, which has been successfully running for the past two years, has generated significant interest in membership. The positive word-of-mouth from last year’s event in Jaipur and this year’s event in Amritsar has led to an increase in online applications for membership,” he added.  Furthermore, the associations’ regional coordinators are also making dedicated efforts to attract new members from remote areas. Their commitment and hard work are crucial in bringing in more memberships. NIMA is currently focusing its efforts on the upcoming convention at Resort World, which will take place from August 6th to August 10th. This event is supported by Singapore Tourism, IHG Hotels and Resorts, Resort World Cruises, and Yorker Holidays. 

ITA Airways launched its nonstop service between San Francisco and Rome. The inaugural flight, AZ 641 connecting the two cities departed on July 1 at 3:15 p.m. from San Francisco International airport and was operated with an Airbus A350, ITA Airways’ flagship aircraft. To celebrate the launch of the new intercontinental route between North America and Italy, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the departure gate in San Francisco, in the presence ofEmiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer ITA Airways and CEO Volare, Pierfrancesco Carino, Vice President International Sales ITA Airways, Massimo Allegri, Regional Manager Americas ITA Airways, Kevin Bumen, Chief Financial and Commercial Officer San Francisco International Airport, Sergio Strozzi, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco. “The new connection to San Francisco further enriches the intercontinental network of ITA Airways, which is one of the Company’s main assets – said Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways and CEO Volare – With the launch of this new destination, the second in California and the sixth in North America, we consolidate the Company’s expansion towards the U.S. market, which the first international market for ITA Airways. The multiple services from Rome Fiumicino hub connecting to New York, Boston, Washington, Miami, Los Angeles, and the newly opened San Francisco will allow us to be the reference carrier from the United States to Italy and via Rome to Europe and the Mediterranean for the Italian community, the international business communities in North America as well as the major communities in the Mediterranean region“. The new San Francisco International Airport – Rome Fiumicino flight will operate from 1 July to 30 July 2023 with 3 weekly frequencies departing every Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday …

Turkiye has emerged as a top holiday and weddings destination for Indian visitors over the recent years. According to the latest reports, the country has broken all previous inbound travel records from India this year as it saw an increase of 88.03% travellers until April 2023 alone. The two most visited cities this year that left tourists mesmerised with their scenic beauty were, Istanbul and Nevsehir. The country has emerged as an ideal destination for the FIT and MICE segments amongst Indian travellers, leading to an uptick in the number of Indians visiting Turkiye, this year. Having a lot to offer in terms of beautiful historical landmarks, rich local cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and exuberant art and music, Turkiye expects to host an even higher number of Indian visitors by the end of 2023 as the wedding season approaches. With many Indian couples choosing to get married in the country’s scenic destinations, Turkiye is expected to host a significant number of Indian weddings this year. Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum and Cappadocia are amongst the most preferred cities by Indian couples to host their destination weddings. Moreover, the upcoming festive and holiday seasons combined will also add up to the number of Indian travellers visiting the country as most of them prefer taking leisure vacations around the end of the year. Turkiye ranks as the fourth most popular destination for tourists worldwide after hosting 51.4 Million international visitors in 2022. The country aims to surpass all the previous records by hosting a significantly higher number of Indian and international visitors in 2023.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) foresees a robust recovery for Philippines Tourism, underpinned by the encouraging figures in the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) for 2022, as compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added share of tourism to the Philippine economy, as measured by the GDP, was estimated at 6.2 per cent for 2022. The TDGVA last year amounted to PHP 1.38 trillion, 36.9 per cent higher as compared with the PHP 1.00 trillion in 2021. Internal tourism expenditure, combining inbound and domestic tourism expenditure, saw a growth last year, tallying PHP 1.87 trillion in 2022, a 131.2 per cent growth from the PHP 810 billion in 2021. Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco noted the DOT’s commitment to sustain last year’s gains through its seven-point agenda to be pursued by the Marco’s administration. “We are elated by the figures enclosed in the 2022 Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts. We ascribe last year’s gains to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr., vision, which inspired the DOT, and all players making up the tourism value chain and allowed the Philippines to achieve greater heights,” Secretary Frasco said.   “As we continue to ride the wave of travel resurgence coming out of COVID, we in the DOT, acknowledge the initiatives to make the Philippine Tourism sustainable and resilient for the next several years,” she added. The 2022 PTSA showed inbound tourism expenditure posted the growth out of the different forms of tourism expenditure, recording PHP 368.67 billion last year compared with PHP 27.63 billion in 2021. Inbound tourism expenditure, referring to the expenditure of non-resident visitors or those foreign and Filipinos permanently residing abroad, contributed 5.9 per cent …