V.R.K. Teja Mylavarapu IAS (KL 2015), Director of Tourism is transferred and posted as Director, Scheduled Caste Development Department. He will hold the existing additional charges. P.B. Nooh IAS (KL 2012), Chief Executive Officer, Life Mission is transferred and posted as Director of Tourism. The officer will hold the additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Life Mission.

Bhutan is set to reopen its borders for tourists from September 23, focusing on the sustainability of the tourism industry. Indian tourists, for now, will pay the previously stipulated fee of Nu 1,200 per person per night. The rate will be revised at a later date. “COVID-19 has allowed us to reset – to rethink how the sector can be best structured and operated so that it not only benefits Bhutan economically but socially as well while keeping carbon footprints low. In the long run, our goal is to create high-value experiences for visitors, and well-paying and professional jobs for our citizens,” said Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan and Chairperson of the Tourism Council of Bhutan.

Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has appointed Tekla Maira as the Regional Director of Sales – India for its five key hotels and resorts in Thailand, namely Banyan Tree Bangkok, Banyan Tree Phuket, Angsana Laguna Phuket, Cassia Phuket and Homm Bliss Southbeach Patong. “We are pleased to have Tekla, a well-known industry professional joined our team as Regional Director of Sales. Having created successes for different hotel brands in the luxury and premium space, Tekla’s expertise and rich experience will see her implementing innovative sales and marketing strategies for our Thailand hotels post-COVID and create greater awareness for the global multi-brand ecosystem of Banyan Tree Group in India.” said Benjawan Meksakul, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing – Thailand & Laos of Banyan Tree Group Currently, with direct flights operating to both Bangkok and Phuket and relaxed entry guidelines, these five distinctive hotels will be very attractive to the Indian travelers seeking purposeful travel – by catering personalised experiences to the wedding, meeting and leisure market segments alike.

At the CAPA India webinar, India’s financial outlook FY22-23 revealed that domestic traffic may reach FY19-20 levels this year, but international will take until FY23-24. There is a visible softening of demand due to fuel prices and economic conditions. 2022 is predicted to be another loss-making year, losses will be trimmed, but will remain substantial.

IATO has thanked Finance Minister, GST Council and the Chairman CBIC for favourably considering  two of its recommendations- removal of, GST on services provided outside India to foreign tourists if they take combined package of India and neighbouring countries and  secondly GST for the ferry service hired for transport of passengers including tourists used as public transport from point to point transport in Andaman & aNicobar Islands,  in the GST Council meeting held in Chandigarh.

Abhay Sinha, Director General, Service Export Promotion Council (SEPC), has said that it is highly unlikely that Government will continue with SEIS in the current format anymore. “However, SEPC will continue to urge for an alternative incentive scheme to help the tour operators get back to their pre-COVID levels.”

FHRAI has submitted a representation to Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, highlighting problems faced by inbound tourists with filling the online Air Suvidha form and has requested for its immediate withdrawal. With several passengers having missed their flights to India, the Association has appealed for the Ministry to at least provision physical forms as an alternate to the online forms.

Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General (ADG), Ministry of Tourism will be repatriated to her parent cadre after a proposal of the Ministry of Tourism for her premature repatriation was approved on the grounds of availing the benefit of promotion in the cadre. Rupinder Brar joined the Ministry of Tourism in August 2019.

According to GlobalData’s latest forecasts, on a global scale, international departures will reach 68% of pre-COVID levels in 2022. This is expected to improve to 82% in 2023, and 97% in 2024, before fully recovering by 2025 at 101% of 2019 levels.

Airport Authority of India’s (AAI’s) Coimbatore Airport introduces AI-based robots to provide enhanced airport experiences to flyers. AAI believes that innovation plays a significant role in civil aviation sector & can change the way airports function and provide better facilities to air travellers.