Only 60% of the pre-COVID traffic is allowed to enter the country from a border control perspective, revealed a recent CAPA India report. The report states, “Although foreign business travellers and OCI holders are once again permitted to enter the country, India remains closed to leisure visitors, VFR travellers (unless they are NRIs or hold OCIs) and medical tourists. Only 60% of the pre-COVID traffic is allowed to enter the country from a border control perspective. Of which the majority is expected to defer travel given the risks and inconvenience associated with international travel at present.”

Rakesh Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, shares that there is a need to market India as a M!CE destination. “We have to aggressively market India as a MICE destination. The Government has to back the industry in bringing more events and conventions. Our missions abroad can be of great help. It impacts tourism, hospitality, event management and host of other people in the supply chain. India has great potential for MICE industry. The challenge is how to build a string brand India for conventions and events, while backing it up by delivering on the premises. The Government and the industry must jointly build India as a MICE destination.”

Learn about new business opportunities with Thomas Cook India in a webinar today at 3pm where Romil Pant, Senior VP – Holidays, Thomas Cook India, will take participants through its ‘Assured’ Program, and unique domestic products and services. Participants will also receive vouchers worth Rs 2,000. To sign up, contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Hasan Patel, Director of B2B travel portal Tripjack, says, “We conceptualised the Fantasy League to increase our engagement with our travel partners during these times. This innovative concept of the Travel Agent Fantasy League is now in the second phase and the excitement level has doubled. The competition has more than 3,000 winners till date and we are seeing more and more users participate daily. Visit Tripjack.com and start playing now!”

The ‘Tent City-Kutch’ in the Rann of Kutch is all set to open to welcome guests from November 12. The Tent City-Kutch offers a unique chance to visit one of the most beautiful and breath-taking locations in Gujarat – the White Rann of Kutch. Spread over 7,500 sq. km, the White Rann is one of the largest salt deserts in the world. “The Tent City-Kutch is spread over 5 lakh sq mt, and will open for guests from November 12 to February 28. It comprises more than 350 tents, which have been set up at Dhordo village near the White Rann,” said Bhavik Sheth, Finance and Operation Manager, Lallooji & Sons.

The Golden Chariot, to be run by IRCTC, will restart operations from January 2021 in a new avatar. The train was handed over to the IRCTC for operational and marketing purposes by the Karnataka Tourism Department in January 2020. IRCTC has said that the tours will commence from Bengaluru and cover places in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala before returning to Bengaluru. The IRCTC has introduced three packages for tourists.

IATO in association with TravTalk is organising a webinar with Art of Living on the topic, ‘Redesign Your Itineraries- Wellness Tourism’ on Thursday, November 5 at 11:30 am. During the session, Rajeev Nambiar, Director, National Teachers Desk, The Art of Living, will be sharing his thoughts on the topic with the audience and inspire them to do better planning. To know more and register, contact Jaspreet Kaur at Jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532.

Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, has announced that the price-cap system for domestic airlines will be extended further by another 3 months. It was earlier valid till November 24, and now it has been extended further till February 24, 2021. The ministry will relook at it in February.

Alex Dichter, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, has revealed that recoveries, of top 10 markets in tourism expenditures will happen earliest by 2022, and latest by 2025. India is at the 5th position in the list, expecting to recover by 2022-23, according to his presentation at Future Hospitality Summit.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) has approved 60 per cent of the capacity for Indian scheduled operators as directed by MoCA. As many as 12,983 departures per week have been finalised covering 95 airports for the domestic winter schedule effective from 25 October 2020 to 27 March 2021, down by 44.3 per cent from 23,307 departures per week in winter 2019-20.