Amid visa woes, Germany has earmarked an investment of about ₹4.5 cr on marketing in India to be a preferred destination amongst Indian tourists. To address the lingering visa-related concerns, Germany is making its visa procedures smooth, and reducing the processing time which currently spans up to eight weeks.

Manoj Saraf, MD, Gainwell Travel, said that Indian cruise traveller have evolved and are now amongst the top sailors in Asia – Pacific region. “From 3 nights, they have now moved to much longer and more experiential itineraries,” he said.  

According to a report by Visa & EY, tourism sector is on track to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2047. The report also mentioned that data-driven tourism, emerging technologies to be major driving force behind this growth

Another exciting roadshow was held in the South Indian city of Chennai by the Philippines Tourism, which received a positive response from the industry. The dedication of the Philippines Tourism to promote its destinations and culture was brough to the fore. Important industry professionals and stakeholders participated in detailed dialogue about the varied offerings of the Philippines.  Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Undersecretary for Tourism, Regulation Coordination & Resource Generation, and the concurrent Director, Regional Office VII, commented, “The Philippines acknowledges Indian influence as a primary wellspring of tourists to our nation. We expect the Philippines to increase in terms of tourist footfall.” Fourteen entities from the Philippines took part in the Chennai roadshow. These included Ark Travel Express, bai Hotel Cebu, Department of Tourism Central Visayas, Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Gi Philippines, Lalaguna Villas Luxury Dive Resort and Spa, Okada Manila, Philippine Airlines, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Scoot, Shangrila, Shroff International Travel Care, The Farm at San Benito, and Uni Orient Travel.   Other than the Philippine entities who took part in the roadshow, as many as 60 Indian travel agents also participated in the Philippines roadshow in Chennai.   “Chennai holds a special place of mention in our hearts as a distinctive market. The latent potential that reverberates Chennai fills us with optimism, and we are assured that there would be a significant increase in the number of visitors from Chennai to the Philippines,” said SanJeet, Managing Director, Buzz Travel Marketing.   

Every Indian dreams of travelling abroad. However, it is critical to possess a Visa for it. Indians make mistakes which has an impact on their Visa application and immigration history. 10 common mistakes Indians do when applying for visa: Wrong selection of category: Visas can be applied for various purposes like tourism, business visits, attending a conference or visiting a family or friend. Applying for visa in the wrong category leads to incorrect application being submitted and thus refusal of Visa. Multiple purpose of travel: The purpose with the highest priority should be selected to apply for Visa as selecting multiple purposes arouses suspicion regarding the intent to leave the destination at the end of trip. Duration of the trip: While applying for Visa, it is recommended to present application for a moderate and short trip as longer stay in their travel might get their Visa rejected. Delay in Visa application: The Embassy of each country has many Visa applications to be processed. It is advisable to apply for Visa as soon as your trip is planned. There are many formalities and procedures in between. Visa process of every country is different: Assuming that Visa procedures is same for every country is one of the most common mistakes Indians do while applying for it. For example: Schengen provides Visa-free travel to 27 countries, but requirements and criterias are different. On the other hand, US Visas have a compulsary interview round. Lack of Awareness: Most Indian citizens do not have idea about what is Visa, their category and duration. Also, they not have an idea about time it takes to apply for Visa, or fees. Thus, ignorance makes their Visa application rejected. No professional …

Another roadshow by the Philippines Tourism was held in Kolkata, and it received a fantastic reaction from the sector. The roadshow served as a demonstration of Philippines Tourism’s dedication to showcasing the country’s appealing travel destinations and cultural attractions. Stakeholders, business leaders, and enthusiasts had a forum to interact and have deep conversations about the variety of tourism attractions the Philippines has to offer. In the roadshow, 14 illustrious companies from the Philippine private sector took part. Addressing the gathering, Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Undersecretary for Tourism, Regulation Coordination & Resource Generation, and the concurrent Director, Regional Office VII, commented, “The Philippines values India’s enduring partnership and proudly acknowledges the country’s (India) contribution as a primary wellspring of tourists to our nation. We anticipate the Philippines to ascend greater heights in terms of visitor statistics.” The Philippines Tourism presented an array of captivating tourist encounters, encompassing exhilarating off-road escapades, exploration of historical landmarks, and the opportunity to engage in the genuine village life of the Philippines. Participants also indulged in the enchanting narrative of the nation’s history and cultural legacy. Giving her comments, Nerissa Jean B. Cruz, Market Specialist, Tourism Promotions Board, expressed, “We are overtly pleased with the positive reaction received from our trade partners. Our interactions with agents have showcased an exciting and enthusiastic dedication to positioning the Philippines as a foremost selection for their clientele.” The tradition and intrinsic natural attractiveness of the “Pearl of the Orient” are attested to by the abundance of attractions, historical buildings, UNESCO World tradition sites, and rich marine life. The Philippines also provide a variety of opportunities for thrill-seekers to engage in activities including surfing, diving, mountaineering expeditions, trekking forays, and cave …

Investment of Merlin Entertainments Group in India is about driving outbound visitation; as we are seeing positive growth in Singapore, Japan, England and Australia. By end of 2024, we will be back to 2019 guest figures,” said Shannon Bailey, Regional Trade Sales Director – APAC, India, Merlin Entertainments Group, during her recent visit to Mumbai.

According to recent analysis by OAG Aviation, Mumbai to Delhi is India’s busiest domestic route. The route secures  9th place internationally, with 623,933 seats. It also displaces Jakarta – Denpasar route, which drops out of Top 10 this month.

Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism said that the Vibrant Villages Program that is being developed in a sustainable manner. For that, we need to keep in mind the carrying capacity of the area and undertake development accordingly.

Switzerland Tourism invites travel trade to attend a webinar highlighting the Interlaken Holiday Region today at 3pm. Attend all the webinars for opportunity to win a trip to Switzerland in 2024! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.