Baku Life Travel appoints India-based travel agency representation Vertical of SSR Travel Solutions ( SSRTS ) to strengthen its position in the travel trade and accelerate sales to the ‘land of fire’ in the upcoming years through networking and robust sales initiatives.

ISRO has started the feasibility studies for India’s suborbital space tourism mission on a liquid propellant stage booster. India is well poised to enter the space tourism market and is expected Indians may be able to take a space trip within 7 years.   

Sudesh Kumar Poddar, President, FHRAI, has said that the key area of focus as the President for him is to urge the government to have more M!CE tourism on the lines of G20, or national & international games in India. “When such mega events happen in the country, direct benefit goes to the transport and to the hospitality industry,” he said.

Juan A. Gomez, Head of Market Intelligence at ForwardKeys said, “As a source market, India has also managed to recover some ground and some regional leisure destinations are set to post growth on arrivals from India in Q2 versus 2019.”  

Manisha Saxena, Director General, Tourism said, “Word of mouth publicity and international showcasing, as part of the G20 Presidency events, will go a long way in promoting tourism as a whole and we need to take this opportunity to also learn from international experience and see what we can do better to leverage this as our strength.” 

Experience Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau (ADCEB) have successfully concluded a three-day India roadshow, with visits to Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) showcased a range of destination highlights alongside 23 key partners, including Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE; and Miral Destinations, the one-stop trade and promotional partner for Yas Island and Saadiyat Island. More than 730 travel trade delegates attended the roadshow across the three cities, from 27-31 March, to learn about the unique and diverse experiences Abu Dhabi offers Indian travellers, while paving the way for long-term partnerships in the sector. With this India roadshow, The Department of Culture & Tourism – Abu Dhabi targeted Tier 2 cities in India for the first time and aims to conduct workshops this year in 11 more cities. The India roadshow strengthened existing relationships and built new connections with travel trade partners, offering a programme of one-on-one meetings, and presentations– showcasing the emirate as a leading tourism destination for leisure, business, and incentive travel. With an aim to make travel seamless to these cities Etihad, Air Arabia, and Indigo announced direct flights from India to Abu Dhabi. Etihad started a daily flight service to Kolkata, India from Abu Dhabi providing a total of seven weekly nonstop services to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU). Air Arabia also launched direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Kolkata three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Additionally, Indigo also announced its direct daily flights from Hyderabad to Abu Dhabi & Chennai to Abu Dhabi. Throughout the roadshow, partners learned more about Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness as …

As per the American Express Travel® 2023 Global Travel Trends Reportbased on survey data from travelers across the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and the United Kingdom,90% surveyed Indians are prioritizing travel plans focusing on personal wellness with 87% planning on spending more money on luxury experiences than conventional luxury goods this year. “Indians are planning to travel for gaining new experiences, learning about a city and its culture, breaking away from monotony and trying new food or cuisine. New trends like solo and bleisure travel is also picking up amongst Indian travellers,” says Sanjay Khanna, CEO, American Express Banking Corp India. “With the ongoing demand for travelling, we are backing our Cardmembers with compelling offers and benefits, helping them get better value for their trips and creating joyful memories.” Pop-culture and social media are influencing the rise of “set-jetting”. The top sources of travel inspiration for surveyed Indians include Instagram (63%), Facebook (63%), online blogs (49%) and TV shows (49%). 48% Indian respondents agree that they have been inspired to travel this year by a recent TV show/movie, with Game of Thrones and Emily in Paris topping the list. 95% surveyed Indian GenZers agree that they are inspired to visit specific travel destinations after seeing them featured on TV shows, news sources or movies. Culinary delights driving the travel preferences of Indians. Highest amongst all the surveyed countries, 86% Indian respondents shared that they typically book travel destinations based on popular restaurants located there. Participating in the local restaurant scene and food festivals are top experiences they are looking forward to during their upcoming travels. When it comes to food inspiration, more than 98% surveyed Indians agree …

Spree Hospitality, a leading hospitality company with a portfolio of hotels and resorts across India, has announced the launch of its latest property Zip by Spree Hotels Purple Orchid. This 4-star property is located near Hope Farm, Whitefield in Bangalore. The property’s doors will open to guests on April 25th, 2023. This is Spree Hospitality’s fifth property in Bangalore. The upcoming property is set to become the ultimate destination for business and leisure travellers looking for stylish accommodation options in Bangalore. As part of EaseMyTrip, Spree Hospitality provides unbeatable service, comfort, and style. Spree Hospitality currently operates 30 plus properties across India in the hotel, club and guesthouse industry and more than 7 hotels will be launched this quarter. Expressing happiness on the latest addition to the portfolio, Vice President of Spree Hospitality Mr. Sagar Khurana said “We are excited to offer a unique and luxurious experience to our guests at our upcoming hotel in Bangalore. Our goal is to provide affordable yet high quality accommodation to travellers in key locations across India. We are confident that our hotel will become a sought-after destination for business and leisure travellers alike due to its state-of-the-art amenities, impeccable service, and prime location. As we welcome guests from around the world to Bangalore, we look forward to providing them with the best experience possible.” Featuring 60 spacious rooms, Zip by Spree Hotels Purple Orchid offers a modern-looking interior that is designed to make guests feel comfortable and relaxed. Hotel guests can enjoy both local and international cuisine at the hotel’s in-house restaurant, which features elegant décor and cozy ambiance. Zip by Spree Hotels Purple Orchid offers guests a well-equipped fitness center as well …

According to Forwardkeys, post-Covid, non-stop connections and simple flight itineraries have become decisive factors for travellers concerned about the inconveniences of varying travel requirements and the likelihood of flight disruptions. Despite travel restrictions now being lifted in most destinations around the world, this trend is expected to persist in 2023.  

Prem Krishnan, Additional Director, Kerala Tourism, stated that Caravan Tourism has been recently launched and is gaining momentum. As part of the initiative, 14 tourist hubs are planned to be established along with caravan parks. Private players interested in investing in the caravan business are being offered incentives by the government.