As families gear up for summer vacations, Air India has launched dedicated ‘Family Assistance’ counters to provide support services to passengers travelling with family members, including children, elderly passengers and those who require special assistance. Currently available at Delhi airport, this new initiative offers a one-stop solution for passengers who may require support with their baggage, seats, or even wheelchair assistance. Family members travelling together will be greeted at the dedicated ‘Family Assistance’ counter through a personalised meet and assist initiative. Passengers can seek support for specific requirements, such as last-minute special assistance, including wheelchair provision for a member with reduced mobility (that was not requisitioned for during booking), or requesting seats close to each other (depending on seat availability if these were not blocked together during booking). By offering focussed support, the initiative helps facilitate a smooth check-in process, and prompt baggage handling, thereby minimising wait time and enhancing the on-ground experience. Family members are also provided guidance on immigration and customs queries. For children travelling alone, who have not availed of our Unaccompanied Minor service, or for passengers with reduced mobility, assistance will be provided to help them navigate from the check-in counter to the designated boarding gate of their flight while completing all the airport formalities.

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the opening of Ginger Dehradun. This new addition to the Ginger portfolio brings the brand’s signature lean luxe philosophy to the capital of Uttarakhand. Ms. Deepika Rao, Executive Vice President – Hotel Openings & New Businesses, IHCL, said, “Ginger Dehradun reflects our focused approach to accelerating growth for the brand in high-potential markets. The mid-scale segment continues to see strong demand driven by rising domestic travel. Dehradun, with its mix of leisure, commercial activity as a state capital and presence of multiple educational institutions offers itself as a good market for diverse hospitality brands like Ginger.” Strategically located near major tourist attractions and commercial hubs, Ginger Dehradun offers 72 rooms designed for comfort. Guests can enjoy all-day dining at Qmin, a smart meeting room, the fully equipped fitness centre, and the vibrant community spaces. Nestled in the heart of the Doon Valley, Dehradun, serves as a gateway to several popular tourist destinations in Uttarakhand, including Mussoorie, Rishikesh, and Haridwar. Known for its prestigious educational institutions and numerous attractions including Robber’s Cave and Sahastradhara, Dehradun is one of India’s most popular hill cities.

VFS Global launches its optional CSP Assistance Service for Germany student and vocational training visa applicants in Bengaluru and Kochi, India, to provide seamless support with registration and submission on the Consular Services Portal. Applicants requiring support with the CSP process can book an appointment to visit our centre for step-by-step support with registration, assistance in completing the online application form and scanning and uploading required documents. VFS Global is the only official and authorised provider providing this service. Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global, said, “Many applicants are unfamiliar with online visa application processes and often rely on unauthorised third parties that charge exorbitant fees to complete tasks such as CSP registration, form filling, document scanning, and uploading. To ensure a secure, affordable, and accessible alternative, VFS Global is introducing an optional assistance service at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) designed to assist applicants in navigating the CSP platform with ease.”

Air India, India’s leading global airline, today announced the expansion of its non-stop service between Delhi and Tokyo Haneda, increasing from 4x weekly flights to daily flights, starting 15 June 2025. This enhancement strengthens connectivity between India and Japan, offering greater convenience for travellers and supporting growing trade and tourism between the two countries.   This move builds on Air India’s recent shift to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (from Narita) on 31 March 2025, which reduced travel time to Tokyo Station to approximately 30 minutes. The daily flights, operated with Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, provide passengers with faster access to central Tokyo, as Haneda Airport is just 18 km from downtown Tokyo.   “Expanding our Delhi-Tokyo Haneda service to daily flights reflects Air India’s commitment to meeting the rising demand for travel between India and Japan,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. “This daily service, combined with our deepened codeshare partnership with All Nippon Airways, makes it easier for our guests to explore Japan and connect conveniently to other destinations in the country beyond Tokyo.”   Through Air India’s expanded codeshare with Star Alliance partner All Nippon Airways (ANA), Air India guests can conveniently connect from Tokyo Haneda to six major Japanese cities—Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo—on a single ticket with baggage checked through to their final destination.   The daily flights enable seamless connections to domestic Indian destinations like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune, as well as international routes across Asia and Europe.   The updated flight schedule, effective 15 June 2025, is as follows: AI358: Departs Delhi (DEL) at 2020 Hrs, arrives Tokyo Haneda (HND) at 0755 Hrs next day (daily). …

New GBTA poll shows nearly one-third of global travel managers expect a 21% drop in 2025 business travel, citing US tariffs, entry restrictions and cross-border risks. Just 44% foresee no impact, while suppliers are more cautious, only 25% predict stability. With spending forecast at $1.63 trillion, a projected 20% cut could slash $88 billion from global travel budgets. 

RezLive.com, part of the Travel Designer Group, introduces Smart Match, an AI-driven feature will redefine the way travel agents compare and book hotel rooms. With the travel industry constantly evolving, the feature represents a pivotal innovation—transforming the room selection experience by using artificial intelligence to intelligently group, compare, and present hotel room options in a clean and consolidated view.   

As India’s tourism industry achieves notable growth, the country’s presence at ATM has increased by 30% this year, driven by a strong presence from exhibitors including the regional tourism boards from Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and airline carriers such as Air India and Air India Express.     

A new report by PATA highlights four key workforce challenges in Asia-Pacific tourism: attracting and retaining talent, skill development and readiness for sustainable travel. Post-pandemic labour shortages, low industry appeal, salary pressures and fast-changing skill needs recovery unless industry and academia act swiftly to bridge the gaps. 

Malaysia Airlines is ramping up its India operations with an ambitious growth strategy, reaffirming the country’s status as a priority market. The airline currently connects 10 Indian cities with over 76 weekly flights and recently launched services to Kolkata (CCU), reflecting its intent to explore untapped potential. “India remains a key growth market for Malaysia Airlines, and our expanding presence underscores our commitment to enhancing connectivity between India, Malaysia, and beyond,” said Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG). “In FY25, we anticipate flying approximately 1.3 million passengers from India—a 14% increase from the previous year—driven by our expanded network, seamless interline connectivity, and focus on hyper-personalized services.” With sights set on new destinations such as Trivandrum, Ahmedabad and Amritsar, the airline continues to build its presence through Malaysian Hospitality and tailored travel offerings.

According to MMGY, Indian outbound travellers still rely heavily on traditional planning methods, especially for complex international trips. Despite increased digital savviness, travel agents remain crucial for curated, multi-destination itineraries and group tours