The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, hosted six journalists from across India, including from Delhi, Mumbai, and Aurangabad on a FAM trip to Oman from September 23 to September 29, 2022. The group had onsite inspections in and around Muscat, and other locations across the country. The guests visited renowned hotels and resorts such as Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, dusitD2, W, the View, Al Hamra, Jumeirah Muscat Bay, Shangri-la Hotel, Golden Tulip Nizwa, and Crowne Plaza Muscat among others and shared their experiences. The Indian journalists, who were transported to the villages of Saiq and Wadi Bani Habib, were sang paeans about the country. They also had onsite inspections at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar and clicked photographs of the Nizwa Fort before visiting the souq (market). The group also traveled to Wahiba Sands. After having an incredible experience, they went to Sur, including a temporary halt at Wadi Bani Khalid en route. The guests visited the fish jetty and the dhow factory after arriving in Sur, a town charmingly wrapped in a natural bay. Later, the Indian media conducted an onsite inspection at the Ras Al Jinz Scientific Center, followed by an overnight stay at the turtle reserve. Another was a trip to Muscat with a stopover at the marine museum. They were also invited to Sur, Sinkhole, and a photo shoot in Muscat (the Royal Opera House, the Grand Mosque from the outside, the Souq Muttrah). The tour was then followed by a site visit and dinner at The Chedi and followed it up by a visit to Jumeirah Muscat Bay, before moving on to Al Bustan Palace to see Al Alam Palace. On …

High Commissioner of India to UK Vikram Doraiswami has laid out steps that are being taken to ramp up capacity and address the difficulty in getting an Indian visa by travellers from Britain in a video message on Twitter.

Through this webinar, Switzerland will showcase unique offerings of some of its popular products: BLS Interlaken, Aletsch Arena, Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, Swissminiatur and FoxTown. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland. Write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. 

Travelers understand the power of their money and make choices that align with their own worldview. Travel advisors have an opportunity to help people connect with a trip that validates their own values.   According to recent Expedia Group research, most people (90%) look for sustainable options when shopping for travel, but many (70%) feel overwhelmed about how to be a more sustainable traveler. Advisors who understand sustainable travel can be an invaluable source for those actively seeking guidance about how to make more responsible travel choices. The rise in sustainably can be a benefit for traveler providers, too. Nearly two-thirds of travelers (59%) are willing to pay more to make their trip more sustainable.  Plus, nearly half (49%) will choose a less crowded destination to lessen the impact of over tourism.  Expedia Group is proactively tracking travelers’ opinions about sustainability and will continue to publish additional research results to its Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP) members. Environmental protection is not the only personal value shaping travel. The healing effect of travel is also important for many who are searching for a sense of contentment and mental well-being. Whether it’s reconnecting with old friends, a nature retreat, a spa or digital detox, traveling for mental health is on the rise. In fact, Expedia Group research reveals that more than a third of travelers (36%) say they would trade a pay raise for more vacation days. Finally, travelers value their financial safety. The uncertainty of the pandemic made flexibility and the ability to get a refund the most valued consideration when purchasing travel, even more than price. One in four people most value the ability to get a full refund across …

Naveen Kundu MD, EbixCash said that India needs to reposition itself as the biggest MICE destinations in the world. India is trying to demonstrate the government’s intention to market the country as a tourist destination in the world. 

Ministry is employing locally trained professionals at tourist sites, providing employment to locals there near their homes. “Employment generation in the tourism sector is one of the key agendas of our ministry.” said Secretary Tourism Arvind Singh. 

Vice President Jagdeep Dankhar described India as a ” heaven for tourism ” and urged Indians to explore domestic tourist destinations first before embarking on international travel. Referring to the long history of civilisation and rich cultural heritage of Bharat, he emphasized that most of the tourist attractions of the country have a deep connect with our history, folk arts and ancient texts. 

Turpal, a platform to boost post reservation sales, is organizing a webinar today at 3pm, where a live demo and introduction will be done for the travel trade. To register mail jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 9650196532. 

Between search, social media, 24-hour news, streaming platforms, and online marketplaces, we’ve never had so much information available at the click of a button. So, it’s no surprise that more than half of people (60%) share photos on social media while traveling and nearly a third (30%) use social media as inspiration for their next trip. With social becoming central to booking decisions, travellers are gaining more influence and feeling more empowered to leverage all the data at their fingertips. Travel is a large ticket item for many travellers, and protecting their financial investment is a priority. Social media and sharing reviews become critical to building confidence to book. In fact, most people (92%) want to see reviews before booking. They also look at multiple sources to validate reviews including hotel sites, online booking sites, TikTok and more. And the information they find can be consequential to their decision. According to Expedia Group research, one in three people (33%) opted not to use a travel brand because of a negative post they saw on social media. This is where travel advisors can play a pivotal role in helping a traveller find the right products to meet their expectations. While travellers trust that a highly rated hotel will deliver a great experience, a  travel advisor can add another layer of trust and security to reviews if they’ve vetted properties and apply their “stamp of approval.”

Expedia announces a 24/7 call centre facility for the Indian Market. The call centre is dedicated to the B2B Expedia TAAP (Travel Agent Affiliate Program) partners and will be operational 7 days a week including weekends and Public Holidays. The dedicated helpline will cater to the growing travel needs and will offer assistance to our customers 24/7. By calling the dedicated number (0124 4873873) our agents can choose from the required IVR selection, and the calls can be conducted in both English and Hindi language.