Dr Jyotsna Suri, CMD, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, revealed plans to develop a mid-segment hotel in Chitrakoot as part of a broader focus on religious tourism. “We also have an interest in developing the religious circuit. We’re not really keen to do more hotels in the metros. I now want to move to offbeat locations,” she said. Suri emphasised a shift from metro cities to emerging destinations.

Willie Walsh, DG, IATA, said India is committed to addressing environmental challenges in aviation. He highlighted that India’s fleet is very young compared to the global average. With new aircraft orders, the average age of planes operating in India is expected to remain one of the youngest fleets worldwide, supporting greener air travel.

According to Skyscanner, 96% of Indian travellers plan to travel the same or more this summer, with 95% prioritising maximising their summer vacations. A notable trend is the growing preference for quieter, less-crowded destinations, chosen by over 52% of Indians. This shift, along with rising interest in off-season travel, reflects a move towards more mindful and crowd-free holiday experiences. 

In a joint visit led by MTOA, key travel associations including ADTOI, TAAI, TAFI, OTOAI and IATO met Farooq and Omar Abdullah in Kashmir to discuss tourism revival. “The situation is normal with most experiences open,” said Dharmendra Singh, Chairman-Maharashtra Chapter, ADTOI. “Inquiries have started, and I believe things will improve by June-July,” he added. 

Julia Simpson, President and CEO, WTTC, revealed India’s travel sector reached ₹21 trillion in 2024, driven by ₹3.1 trillion international and ₹15.5 trillion domestic spending. For 2025, spending is forecast at ₹3.2 trillion international and ₹16.8 trillion domestic, with overall contribution expected to hit ₹22 trillion. By 2035, the sector may nearly double to ₹42 trillion. 

Shalini Nair, Founding Member and Director – Product Development, Marketing and Hotels Operations, TravelBullz.com, said, “Over the past year, we’ve seen phenomenal growth in our global hotels business, driven by strategic partnerships and robust demand. Our goal is to scale this success tenfold within the next two years. To achieve this, we’re doubling down on technology-driven solutions, enhancing efficiency and user experience.”  

René de Monchy, Chief Executive of Tourism New Zealand, said, “Visitor numbers from India is experiencing double digit growth and the travel trade has been integral in shaping this. We are focused on enhancing these commercial partnerships and through improved connectivity and strategically targeted high-impact marketing campaigns, we are keen to convert this interest into bookings and visitation.” 

Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, said, “There must be a synergy between all associations working in tourism. When inbound and outbound tour operators collaborate and exchange insights, it benefits the entire tourism ecosystem.” Gosain highlighted that countries like France and Spain have successfully leveraged a balanced mix of inbound and outbound tourism. “We need to adopt similar strategies to strengthen India’s position in the global tourism market.” 

Ministry of Heritage & Tourism, Oman, invites travel partners to an exclusive webinar on 28 May at 3 pm (IST) to discover its incredible destinations. From ancient forts to breathtaking wadis, gain insights about their tourism offerings for your clients and win exciting prizes. For more information or to register, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 96501 96532.   

Digital travel platform Agoda announces a strategic partnership with the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), one of India’s largest hospitality companies. This collaboration expands Agoda’s premium offerings across the globe enabling travelers internationally to access IHCL’s world-class portfolio of properties through Agoda’s platform. The partnership brings 250 of IHCL’s operating properties — including iconic brands such as Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, Ginger, and the newly launched Claridges Collection — to Agoda’s global customer base. As Agoda celebrates its 20th birthday this year, the collaboration underscores the organization’s continued focus on enhancing customer choice, value, experience and industry partnerships in key travel markets. “IHCL is an iconic name, and that says something in a market like India where hospitality is in a league of its own,” said Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer at Agoda. “Under the leadership of MD & CEO Puneet Chhatwal, IHCL continues to set benchmarks in the industry. One of Agoda’s strengths is working together with the best wherever we operate, and with this partnership, we’re doing exactly that. I’m thrilled to combine IHCL’s portfolio of heritage palaces, luxury city hotels, and more with Agoda’s tech-driven solutions and global reach.” Through this alliance, Agoda connects IHCL to its growing user base of international and intra-regional travelers, particularly from Asia Pacific and the Middle East — two regions where demand for culturally rich, luxury travel is rising fast. The collaboration is also aligned with IHCL’s strategy to grow its portfolio to over 700 hotels by 2030 and build deeper connections with the digitally savvy traveler. “This partnership with Agoda supports our ambition of driving global awareness for IHCL’s diverse brands,” said Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL. “As travel demand continues to grow, we are confident that Agoda’s strong …