LOT Polish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, is further expanding its route network in Europe providing guests from India a new and highly attractive travel option when touring Europe. From 24 November 2025, the Polish airline will fly four times a week from its global hub at Chopin Airport in Warsaw to Stavanger in south-west Norway. The city is known as the gateway to Norway’s world-famous fjords, but it is also the heart of the Norwegian oil business. The new year-round flights of LOT Polish Airlines will be operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with two service classes on board. LO489 departs from Warsaw every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. “Norway is known for two things above all: the unique fjord landscapes, which can be explored brilliantly on land or by cruise ship, and the oil industry with the drilling fields in the sea, around 300 kilometres off the Norwegian coast. Stavanger is the perfect location for exploring both,” underlines Amit Ray, Director India, DACH Markets, Italy and Malta and Head of Global Corporate and Strategic Sales at LOT Polish Airlines. “We are therefore more than happy adding this city to our global route network.” With its new service to Stavanger, LOT Polish Airlines continues to expand its route network. The airline recently launched new flights to Lisbon (Portugal), Malta, Reykjavik (Iceland), and Thessaloniki (Greece). Travellers from India can fly daily with LOT Polish Airlines to Warsaw, with nonstop services on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Delhi and on Sundays and Wednesdays from Mumbai with many options for seamlessly connecting services within Poland and Europe and even to North America.

APS Destinations bagged the Most Innovative Travel Planners award at the ITA 2025. Receiving the trophy, Pratik Shah, Founder, APS Destinations, said, “This award is not about numbers or tickets, but about the trust and credibility built with clients. It means a lot to me.” Giving advice to young professionals, he said that travel is beyond bookings, think out of the box and explore global opportunities.

After assuming the chairmanship of WTTC in Rome, Manfredi Levebvfre urged tourism leaders to embrace technology, adapt to evolving traveller demands, and strengthen public–private collaboration. “Travel is not just joy, it is jobs, growth, and community revival,” he said, pledging to lead WTTC into a bold new era. Lefebvre is the Executive Chairman of Heritage Group and Executive Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group.

The Union Ministry of Tourism plans a global campaign to boost inbound tourism. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & DG Tourism, said, “We need to have a strong campaign, which we will roll out in the next financial year, to kickstart inbound tourism and strengthen foreign exchange earnings. Growth is not our concern; ensuring it benefits communities and safeguards the environment is the real challenge for Indian tourism.”

According to the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India in 2024 were led by the 35–44 (20.67%) and 45–54 (20.24%) age groups. Seniors aged 55 and above showed a rising interest in wellness, heritage, and spiritual tourism. Despite a slight dip in the 0–14 segment, family tourism remains strong, confirming India’s growing popularity across generations.

Amadeus was awarded the Best Travel Technology Platform (GDS) at the India Travel Awards, presented to Sandeep Dwivedi, Managing Director – Travel Sellers, India and Subcontinent. “Receiving this award from DDP makes it even more special. It reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire industry,” he said.

Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI, said, “We are engaging with all state governments for regulating adventure tourism and working closely with the Bureau of Indian Standards to standardise practices.” With five empowered chapters and a women’s collective, ATOAI is promoting skill development and encouraging women entrepreneurs nationwide.

Vishnu Deo Sai, CM, Chhattisgarh, said GST 2.0 and the new industrial policy have opened unprecedented opportunities for investors. Tourism now enjoys industrial status, attracting `652 crore in proposals, including Westin Raipur and Amuseorama. Sai urged entrepreneurs to leverage the state’s cultural and natural wealth to boost tourism. “We have moved beyond ‘ease of doing business’ and entered the era of ‘speed of doing business’,” Sai said.

At the Google Think Travel event, it was revealed that Indians are projected to spend $193 billion on travel and tourism in 2025. The figure highlights how travel has shifted from being aspirational to becoming an essential part of lifestyle and leisure choices. The growth reflects rising incomes, increased access to global destinations, and a growing appetite for both domestic and international experiences.

Riya Travel, one of India’s largest and most trusted travel companies with an extensive presence across retail, corporate, and B2B segments, has announced its partnership with Amadeus South Asia for Travel Marketplace, the global platform connecting travel sellers and providers through a single, collaborative ecosystem. With over four decades of experience in the travel industry and a widespread network of offices in India and abroad, Riya Travel has built a strong reputation for reliability, service excellence, and scale. By joining Travel Marketplace, Riya will now bring cutting-edge travel technology solutions, apps, and content closer to its diverse customer base — ranging from individual travellers to large corporates and travel partners. GMJ Thampy, Founder and CMD Riya Group Enterprise said: “At Riya Travel, our strength lies in our reach, scale, and the trust we have earned over the years. Partnering with Amadeus South Asia for Travel Marketplace allows us to complement these strengths with world-class technology, giving our customers and partners access to faster, smarter, and more seamless solutions. This is an important step in our digital journey to further enhance the travel experience across all segments we serve.” Commenting on the partnership  Sandeep Dwivedi, Managing Director, Travel Sellers, India Sub Continent, Amadeus, added: “We are delighted to welcome Riya Travel to sign up for the Travel Marketplace. Riya’s unmatched scale and presence across multiple segments makes them a powerful force in South Asia’s travel industry. Together, we aim to accelerate digital adoption and empower more travel businesses to innovate, collaborate, and thrive.” This partnership underscores Riya’s focus on driving digital innovation, while supporting Amadeus’ vision to build a smarter, more connected, and technology-enabled travel ecosystem across South Asia.