The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, in collaboration with the Marriott Group, recently hosted a highly successful promotional trip to Oman. The initiative aimed to highlight Oman’s potential as an ideal destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). The country’s strategic positioning as an attractive MICE destination is underlined by its world-class facilities, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Delegates can immerse themselves in Oman’s unique blend of tradition and modernity, providing an enriching and memorable experience. Oman’s excellent connectivity from India further enhances its appeal. With convenient flight options and seamless travel experiences, Oman positions itself as a hassle-free destination for MICE travellers. The collaboration with Marriott Group, featuring stays at renowned properties such as JW Marriott, Anantara and Jumeirah, showcases the commitment to providing top-notch hospitality, ensuring that every visitor’s stay is both comfortable and memorable. Mr. Arjun, Country Manager, India, highlighted the substantial increase in the number of travellers, attributing it to Oman’s unmatched appeal as a destination. The cultural affinity, coupled with Oman’s commitment to providing excellent hospitality, has contributed to the growing popularity among Indian tourists, he said. He further highlighted how Oman is an ideal destination to promote both small and big groups. “With a convention centre boasting of a capacity to accommodate over 5,000 participants, Oman emerges as a compelling choice for event planners and MICE partners,” Arjun said. ‘’We extend a warm invitation to MICE partners, urging all to include Oman on their bucket list of preferred destinations,’’ he added. He also emphasized on the unique opportunities Oman offers for hosting events, conferences, and exhibitions of varying scales. As Oman continues to position itself as a premier MICE …

The last edition of Global Panorama Showcase in 2023 has commenced in Guwahati. Harmandeep Singh, Managing Director, GPS, said that there is a need to sell ancillaries for travel agents in the Northeast to compete with OTAs and other service providers. 

Minister of State Gen. (Dr) V. K. Singh (Retd) outlined MoCA’s initiatives for carbon neutrality in Indian airports, standardizing carbon accounting, advising operators on emissions mapping. Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru attained ACI’s Level 4+ Accreditation, becoming carbon neutral, while 66 airports operate on 100% green energy, as per his Rajya Sabha statement.  

Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI said, “We are now offering 100-plus online courses for free to our members– from how to be a better travel consultant, how to be an effective counter staff and many soft skills. It is rich in content, and we hope our members will take advantage of this”. TAFI has also tied up with another firm to provide 100+ skilling courses on various subjects.

Union Tourism and Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy shared in Lok Saha that Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India haven’t yet rebounded to 2019 levels. In 2022, 85.9 lakh foreign tourists visited, contrasting with 3.14 crore in 2019. Figures dropped significantly in 2020 and 2021 to 71.7 lakh and 10.5 lakh, respectively.

Digital travel platform Agoda collaborated with the Government of Goa and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to organize a Hotel Sustainability Training for industry professionals from November 28 to 29, 2023, at Park Regis, Goa. This two-day program brought together local hoteliers for a series of sessions led by influential industry experts, aiming to provide them with the competences and tools necessary to enhance their sustainability practices. Throughout the training, participants immersed themselves in real-world insights drawn from best-in-class sustainability practices and actual hotel case studies. Using as a checklist the GSTC Industry Criteria for hotels, globally recognized as a standard for sustainability in travel and tourism, attendees were empowered to assess their current performance and then set achievable short-, medium-, and long-term sustainability objectives.  Krishna Rathi, Agoda Country Director India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, sharing his views on the initiative, said, “We are honored to announce our partnership with the Government of Goa and the GSTC for the inaugural session of our Hotel Sustainability Training in India. This initiative, a modest yet important step, aligns with the Goa Roadmap and ‘Travel for LiFE,’ contributing to our collective vision. Agoda is committed to fostering responsible connections between people and destinations. Embracing sustainability practices is more crucial than ever for a more sustainable future in the hospitality industry. With the right knowledge and tools, we aim to accelerate this evolution.” Mr. Suneel Anchipaka, Director of Tourism (Goa), at the opening ceremony of the training, commented, “Our government has made sustainable tourism a top priority, and this initiative by Agoda aligns seamlessly with our vision. By equipping hotel professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt sustainability practices at their …

During the Industry Roundtable on Developing India as a MICE destination, Neeraj Dhawan, Director, Falcon Exhibitions, raise a crucial need for certified MICE professionals to bolster the MICE industry in India. He underscored the importance of skilled expertise in advancing India’s capabilities and reputation as a leading MICE destination.

According to a study by Booking.com, post-COVID, India is expected to surpass earlier momentum in the travel industry, possibly occupying first position amongst the top markets with 10-12% growth in total travel expenditure from 2023 to 2027. India led the way on tourism expenditure recovery in 2022 by reaching 78% of 2019 levels, vis-à-vis 52% for Asia.

Cyril V. D. Diengdoh, Tourism Department, Government of Meghalaya said, “We have approved a PPP policy aimed at developing tourism as a full-fledged industry. As part of this initiative, we are enabling private operators to construct greenfield hotels. The government has identified specific land areas where private sectors can invest in hotel development.”

Travellers have seen an increase in travel prices for the past 3 years. The average international trip cost in 2023 is USS6.574, up 21% from last vear. Sauaremouth survey reveals, 82% of travellers foresee their travel spending either rising or staying the same in 2024.