Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, India, has said that Global M!CE business is worth ₹52 lakh crore today. “G20 events offer states an opportunity to showcase their capability to host such events. Similarly, through proactive measures, states can hope for a bigger share of the ₹440 lakh crore global tourism, travel, leisure and wellness industry.”

According to JLL’s latest Hotel Momentum India (HMI) Q4, 2022, Bengaluru emerged as the RevPAR growth leader in Q4 2022 with 110.6% growth over Q4 2021, followed by Mumbai and Delhi with a YoY growth of 105.3% and 94.3% respectively.

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has commenced an official partnership with the world’s preeminent Twenty 20 cricket league, the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL). An event to inaugurate the partnership was held in Mumbai today, attended by Secretary of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jay Shah, Vice President BCCI, Rajeev Shukla, and Honorary Treasurer of the BCCI, Ashish Shelar, along with representatives from the Saudi Tourism Authority, including Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC. Cricket is one of the most popular sports around the world. Through this partnership, STA aims to tap into a strong fanbase between the two countries, encourage affinity and increase awareness of Saudi as a leading destination for Indian travelers, especially among young people. With more than half of its population below the age of 30, India shares a similar demographic profile with Saudi Arabia, where 58 percent of the local population is in the same age group. As part of Saudi’s tourism strategy, India represents immense potential as it is expected to be Saudi’s largest tourism source market by 2030. The partnership is a strong example of Saudi supporting the country’s Sports sector. Saudi continues to strengthen its competitive advantage in the market, and it will look to welcome more than two million visitors from India this year. IPL is one of the biggest events on the international sporting calendar and the partnership adds to a growing portfolio of STA’s global strategic relationships. Partnerships like IPL are a key pillar of Saudi’s tourism strategy as they bring fans, athletes and nations together, while sparking curiosity from those that may want to be among the first to visit Saudi as a destination. The dynamic partnership …

The eighth edition of Travel M!CE & Corporate Show is scheduled from 18-19 March 2023 in Chennai. The travel show is India’s first and only corporate show focused on B2B meetings amongst suppliers and corporates. It delivers positive face-to-face events bringing corporate buyers from different regions in India to meet, network, collaborate, and do business with suppliers.

Rohan Khaunte, Goa’s Minister of Tourism, speaking at an event, shared that with a focus on the travel industry, Goa is exploring circuit tourism within the state, similar to the concept of the Golden Triangle.

G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNER, in his recent address on govt initiatives in Civil Aviation sector, said that the Ministry of Tourism also funds more than 50 routes and has approved another 10 under the RCS-UDAN Scheme .

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, has said that in line with the global launch of the Life Mission, it is time to rethink and reinvent tourism and let every Indian citizen in the tourism industry understand its impact on people and environment.

SriLankan Airlines will start operations from additional three cities in India, including Ahmedabad, to lure more Indian travellers to the island nation. Currently, it flies out of nine Indian cities, revealed Richard Nuttall, CEO, SriLankan Airlines.

Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, said that the MOT is very happy with the increased focus and attention on tourism. “All the stakeholders—central government, state government and private sector, will have to work together to take the mission that the PM has for the sector, to take it forward.”

Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, has said, “The budget is growth oriented and yet prudent and responsible. Coming as it does in a year when India has assumed the presidency of the G20, it is an object lesson in how an economy should be managed in a crisis.”