WTTC’s 2023 Economic Impact Research reveals the Travel & Tourism sector is close to its 2019 peak, recovering over 95%. It’s expected to reach $9.5TN in 2023, just 5% below pre-pandemic levels. 34 countries surpassed 2019 levels. The sector is also predicted to recover 95% of its 2019 job level. 

Rajasthan aims to promote water activities and golf tourism alongside its existing attractions. Stakeholders predict a bright future for golf tourism in the state, with the RTDC already issuing an EOI for interested parties to develop and operate golf courses. 

The Tripura government plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore to improve tourism infrastructure and make the state a world-class destination. Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury expressed confidence that the funding will be sufficient for a tourism boom, with support from the Centre. 

G Kishan Reddy, Minister of tourism highlighted that under Hon. PM’s leadership the whole of government is focussed on addressing the issues faced by investors and urged them to consider greater investments in tourism and hospitality sector. 

IndiGoReach, the CSR arm of IndiGo and InterGlobe Foundation (IGF), the philanthropic arm of InterGlobe Enterprises, organised a heritage walk on April 23, 2023 in Shillong, Meghalaya. The walk is part of the ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the value and importance of heritage and culture in India. The objective is to set the tone for conversations and partnerships around the preservation of both tangible and intangible heritage. ‘My City My Heritage’ campaign kicked off November 2022 in Delhi, followed by heritage walks in Prayagraj and Bhubaneswar. The walk conducted in India’s rock music capital, Shillong, was led by Mary Therese Kurkalang and accompanied by Anees Ailynti Noronha, IndiGo senior leadership, staff members, members of local community and government officials. The walk explored iconic landmarks such as Dylan’s Café, St Edmund’s Church, Laitumkhrah Market, Don Bosco Square, the Catholic Cathedral, Ward’s Lake and concluded at Pinewood Hotel. Speaking at the occasion, Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “Shillong is a major tourist attraction and has carved a niche with its distinct culture and scenic beauty. We are proud to connect the Shillong with the rest of the country and overseas with 18 weekly flights. This heritage walk is an extension of our love for Shillong’s rich heritage and is a small effort towards helping in its preservation. Our unparalleled route network in India connects people and places, and we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to responsible practices and giving back to the community we serve, all while enhancing accessibility to these architectural marvels.” Rohini Bhatia, Chairperson, InterGlobe Foundation, said, “InterGlobe Foundation is proud to be part of the ‘My City My Heritage’ …

The International Hospitality Council, in collaboration with the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) under the mentorship of Dr Suborno Bose, successfully organised the International Hospitality Day (IHD) on 24 April 2023. The virtual event brought together speakers and hospitality industry experts from around the world for an international convention on hospitality. On this occasion, the Global Hospitality Awards 2023 were also held wherein the prestigious Hall of Fame Award was given to Nakul Anand, the Executive Director of ITC, for his invaluable contributions to the hospitality industry. Mr Anand has rewritten the rules of global hospitality with his ‘Responsible Luxury’ initiative and transformation of ITC Hotels into a future-forward, pro-sustainability green hotel chain. The event began with opening remarks from Dr Bose (CEO, IIHM Hotel School Worldwide), who highlighted the importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry. Professor David Foskett MBE (Chairman, International Hospitality Council London) delivered a thought-provoking keynote address on the hospitality industry and how the industry is transforming and becoming future-ready. The Special speaker, Megna Shankaranarayanan, Industry Head, Travel & Food Tech, APAC, Google, shared insights on Google trends for the hospitality industry. Celebrity chefs Sanjeev Kapoor and Ranveer Brar also shared their experiences and ideas on how to make the hospitality industry more sustainable. Dr Bose then unveiled his much-anticipated new book, The Art of Sustainable Hospitality, which offers a comprehensive guide to sustainable hospitality practices. He also felicitated Nayanjyoti Saikia, the winner of MasterChef India 2023, who interacted with Naureen Shaikh, the YCO 2023 bronze medallist, about their experiences in the hospitality industry. Their interaction was moderated by Sanjay Kak, Culinary Director of IIHM and Indismart. Nayanjyoti Saikia was also felicitated with the Special Jury award by Dr Suborno …

The tourism sector in the Governorate of Musandam is one of the main pillars of economic development in the governorate. Of late, the region is witnessing a growth in travellers and those visiting luxury cruise ships. Located to the north of the UAE and bordered to the west by the Arabian Gulf and to the east by the Sea of Oman, this location has made it a major tourist destination. The geographical location of the Governorate of Musandam is one of the most important features that the governorate enjoys in terms of its location on the Musandam Peninsula. It overlooks the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to its fame over the ages with many titles and names of tourist significance, such as ‘The Heads of the Mountains’ or ‘The Land of the Mountains’.   The number of historical and archaeological monuments in the Governorate of Musandam include 46 sites such as towers, mosques, forts, and castles. It also includes three ancient tombs and 115 historical lanes. Nawfal bin Mohammad bin Ahmed Al-Kamzari, Assistant Director, Heritage and Tourism Department, Governorate of Musandam said, “The governorate till last year-end received 76,011 guests 512 hotel rooms eight hotels. He stressed the Musandam tourism sector was witnessing an increasing growth in the number of ships that docked in Khasab port, as the number of cruise ships in 2022 till the beginning of 2023 reached 58 cruise ships of various shapes and sizes visited the Governorate, while as many as 13 docked at the port. There is also MCS OPERA ship, which recorded an average of 22 visits in two years, while the number of visitors arriving at the port reached 18,999 visitors. Travellers visiting …

Très 2023, an international trade event aimed at promoting experiential tourism in India, recently concluded its fifth edition on April 20-21 at Andaz Delhi. The by-invite event showcased 60 of the most exclusive properties and travel concepts from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, in the experiential and luxury segment. Attended by over 50 foreign travel operators from countries such as the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, USA, Germany, and more as well as over 250 registered buyers from niche travel companies, Très 2023 successfully brought the travel community diaspora under one roof. The showcase was supported by Uttar Pradesh Tourism as the Lead Sponsor and Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Rajasthan Tourism as the Associate sponsors. Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla. Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Govt of Madhya Pradesh, comments, “This is our third year supporting Très; at Madhya Pradesh Tourism, we have a clear-cut vision to promote responsible, authentic circuits and we feel our aims align. Très brings the perfect audience for us to showcase the various wildlife and heritage products we want to promote to the domestic and international traveller.” Deputy Director, Events and Marketing, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Yuvraj Padole adds, “The panel session ‘The Changing Narratives of Wildlife in Central India’ powered by Madhya Pradesh Tourism gave a platform to all our lodges in Madhya Pradesh to lead and voice their expertise to a mix of international and domestic buyers.” Anju Chowdhary, Regional Tourism Officer, New Delhi, Government of Uttar Pradesh says, “With bespoke one-to-one appointments between buyers and sellers and workshops, talks and panel sessions that deepen insights into the destination offerings, Très offers a fantastic platform for stimulating travel into and within the country …

Taking place at the Lusail International Circuit, the Qatar Grand Prix will be the second edition of the race happening in the peninsula of Qatar. Scheduled to take place from 6th October 2023 to 8th October 2023, the Qatar Grand Prix is the latest to be hosted in the middle east. Having established itself as a premium sports destination, Qatar additionally offers a range of quality hotels, excursions, and attractions. The country is all ready to host the ultimate festival of automotive excellence and has thrilling early bird offers for the Formula One fanatics. Qatar Airways is the Global Partner and Official Airline in collaboration with Qatar Tourism and their on-ground partner Discover Qatar have curated and launched special packages that include 3 nights of hotel stay with breakfast, entrance for all 3 days of the event, optional airport transfers, and a free access to the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) in Qatar. The available packages have three main categories T2 Grandstand with seating located at turn 2 and view of the T1 exit and T3 entrance, North and Main with seats at the main straight-line and podium ceremony views, and Paddock Club that allows a view of the formula one circuit from right above the pit lane. The packages cover unparalleled sporting experience with unrivalled entertainment activities. In addition to the optional tours facilitated by Discover Qatar, the destination also has a range of options for internal transfers like the metro, tram, and local buses. With special rates for trade and complimentary entry to the GIMS that is scheduled to be hosted from 5th October to 14th October, the early bird offer runs up to 31st of May 2023. …

We are thrilled to announce that the number of Indian arrivals to Oman in January 2023 has crossed 40,000, marking the highest ever in the past 15 years. This record is a testament to the growing popularity of Oman as a tourist destination among Indians. The surge in Indian arrivals to Oman can be attributed to a variety of factors, including its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and world-class infrastructure. Oman has been investing heavily in promoting tourism and has been attracting visitors from all over the world. Oman Tourism has undertaken a plethora of activities to promote tourism, such as conducting five-city roadshows and a four-city sales mission in India and collaborating with trade partners to jointly promote tourism and advertising through various media channels. The increase in Indian visitors to Oman is an indication of the growing preference for the Sultanate as a travel destination among Indians. To enhance its presence in the Indian market, Oman Tourism will sustain and expand its promotional efforts. This year, the tourism board will continue promoting Oman to B2B and B2C partners through joint cooperations, sales missions, FAM trips, and roadshows. Recently, Oman Tourism organized a sales mission in key markets such as Kochi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, which was graced by the delegation of MHT Muscat. The sales mission was a remarkable success, with 70 key outbound trade meetings conducted within a span of six days. “The remarkable growth in the number of Indian tourists visiting Oman in January is truly delightful. With the current positive trend, we are optimistic that Oman will become a preferred travel destination for Indian travellers,” said Arjun Chadha, Country Manager, Oman Tourism India office. Oman’s diverse …