Arvind Singh, Former Secretary, Tourism, said that just like domestic travel boomed post-COVID, he is hopeful that inbound will boost with India’s G20 presidency. “Hopefully tailwinds of G20 will get inbound tourists to preCOVID levels and surpass it as well,” he added.

DCT Abu Dhabi is organizing exclusive webinar with theme Summer in Abu Dhabi for the travel trade on 7 June at 3pm. It will educate agents about fun-filled new attractions, adventures and traditional Emirati hospitality. Contact jaspeet.kaur@ddppl.com, +919650196532.  

Jagdeep Bhagat, National Coordinator, Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) has resigned from the NIMA due to personal reason.  “I am submitting my resignation as a Director from NIMA with immediate effect due to some other pre-occupation,” he said.

Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia, shared Australia’s tourism recovery surpasses 88% of 2019 levels, eyes , shared that Australia’s recovery has been 88% of pre-Covid levels. “India is the fastest growing market for Tourism Australia, and possibly the first market to recover to pre- COVID levels”.

To enhance tourism in Ladakh, officials have unveiled a plan to make all the forbidden zones in Ladakh accessible to tourists. This will include allowing tourists to bike towards the strategic and forbidden Chang Chenmo sector, near the patrolling points of Pangong Lake.

New report from Amadeus revealed that the traveler expectations have changed over the past four years. The global hotel average daily rates (ADR) are above pre-pandemic levels, standing at US$216 for June this year, compared to US$184 in the same month of 2019. 

Vietjet has announced 50% off on SkyBoss and SkyBoss Business class ticket on the latest wide-body A330 aircraft, valid on all domestic and international route networks. Passengers are given the opportunity to fly like leaders, with exclusive benefits available on their website. Vietjet has launched its latest mega sale on every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (GMT+7). One million of promo tickets priced from ₹5,555 can be purchased from website or the Vietjet Air app, which is subjected to availability, to fly between India and Vietnam for traveling from 10 Aug – 31 March 2023. Passengers can save 50 per cent off on SkyBoss and SkyBoss Business tickets by using the special codes SKYBOSSALL50 and BUSINESS50 until June 30, 2023, which are valid for all the routes flying across Vietnam and internationally to Australia, Kazakhstan, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. Nguyen Thanh Son, VP, Vietjet said, “Vietjet has just received new wide-body A330 aircraft to respond the needs of SkyBoss Business passengers, we have also increased the frequency of the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi route (more than 24 flights per day), and opened new international routes across five continents. Sharing his concern on sustainability, he welcomed businessmen to experience its SkyBoss Business class with different services, green cuisine, macrobiotics, support for use of recycled products, eco-friendly and bamboo material, towards the goal of green future”. SkyBoss Business ticket holder can have access to the luxury lounge, enjoy private cabins, a cocktail bar, a flat bed seat, fresh and tasty organic meals, 18 Kg cabin baggage, 60 Kg checked baggage and a golf club set, and travel insurance and priority treatment throughout the flight.  

The delivery ceremony of ITA Airways’ first Airbus A330-900 held on April 26, 2023, at the Toulouse Airbus Delivery Center in the presence of Philippe Mhun, Executive Vice President Programmes and Services Airbus, Christophe Molus, Senior Vice President Airbus at Rolls Royce, Alex Khatibi, Vice President Marketing and Commercial Affairs Air Lease Corporation, Riccardo Privitera, Director Flight Operations ITA Airways, and Francesco Presicce, Chief Technology Officer ITA Airways. Airbus was delivered to Italy’s flagship carrier the first fully configured A330neo for ITA Airways’. The delivery flight from Toulouse to Fiumicino will be powered by 16 per cent blend of sustainable aviation fuel. ITA Airways’ first A330neo further strengthens the airline’s strategy of building a fleet entirely featuring Airbus aircraft, with 68 currently in operation. The A330neo expands ITA Airways’ long-haul fleet and will enter operation in June to serve the airline’s new intercontinental destinations. Francesco Presicce, Chief Technology Officer of ITA Airways’ was glad to be present at the ceremony, “Today the strategic partnership with Airbus takes one step forward”. He added, “With Airbus, the unique aircraft supplier for our fleet, we have created a special synergy from the beginning, involving different areas of collaboration and business development, always with the aim of realizing a more modern, comfortable and fuel-efficient air mobility, equipped with cutting-edge technologies”. ITA Airways’ new Airbus is dedicated to Gelindo Bordin, the marathon runner and Olympic champion, and follows the airline’s strategy of dedicating its Blue Savoia liveried aircraft to Italian sports champions. Award-winning Airspace cabin provides the highest levels of comfort and increased cabin space, a new lighting system, sophisticated in-flight entertainment systems and full Wi-Fi connectivity inside the cabin. It features a three-class configuration: …

Clarks Inn Suites signs a new property and enters pink city, Jaipur. The luxury property will cater to luxury travelers, corporates, and clients seeking out destination weddings. The brand already has multiple properties spread across the country but Jaipur being the preferred wedding destination, propelled the brand to open doors here. It is close to the corporate hub and lies on the Ajmer road. The property will have 88 rooms spread across categories. They will also have two banquet halls spread out at 2000 sqft and one banquet hall of 4000 sqft. The banquet halls will be equipped to handle large gatherings, they will have a swimming pool, gym, sauna, lawn, lounge bar, and coffee shop. They will have an open coffee lounge area, where guests can enjoy their coffee while watching the setting sun in the Jaipur sky. Mr.Prakash Bedi, Vice President, of Clarks Inn and Suites shares, “We are planning to expand pan India and targeting 65% occupancy in the coming financial year. We believe experience plays an important role in the hospitality industry, and we are designing personalized itineraries for our guests. We plan to showcase our newly signed property as a major hub for mice and weddings. But all this luxury will not come at the cost of the environment, as a national hospitality player, we have policies in place for responsible tourism.” Sustainability and responsible tourism are the key focus areas of the Clarks Inn and Suites. Various experiential will be curated targeting different sets of audiences. Apart from solo travelers, and families, the brand is heavily eyeing the wedding segment, corporate, and MICE

Sourabh Zamsingh Pardhi, Managing Director & Commissioner of Tourism, Gujarat: Development of better connectivity and logistic facilities offered by the state to the producers have gone a long way in encouraging film tourism in the state.