Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2024 reveals, 55% travellers prefer to embark on their journeys without set plans, while 69% opt for loose itineraries, allowing them to adapt as they go. With this, AI is set to become a mainstream feature of travel next year. 48% of travellers now trust AI to plan their trips.

Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary Madhya Pradesh Tourism said, “Long distance, intra-state cruises will be a new attraction for 2024. We have a buoyant plan for cruise tourism in 2024. The main attraction will be the nearly 130 km inter-state cruise on river Narmada.”

Mani R. Lamichhane, Director, Nepal Tourism Board mentions that arrival of 1 mn foreign tourists in 2023 is pivotal moment for its tourism sector. Indian tourists constituted the largest contingent among the visitors, displaying connections and diplomatic relations between two countries.

Joel Bartlett, General Manager, Mamaka by Ovolo, said, “As part of our strategy for the upcoming year 2024, we want to keep collaborating and networking with Indian travel trade to provide best guest hospitality and accommodation experience to them. We are hopeful for 2024″.

KB Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor, Radisson Hotel Group, South Asia highlights that looking ahead to 2024, the emphasis is expected to shift towards technology-driven conveniences, a lot of learnings, sustainability, and experiential travel.

According to Indian government owned website Invest India, the tourism and hospitality industry in the country is projected to generate revenue of over $59 billion. It also highlights that Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) are anticipated to reach 30.5 million by 2028.

India is our third largest market globally. Our strong performance in this market gives us confidence to grow and Indian travel demand remains buoyant, mentioned Shivani Singh Deo, Country Manager – India, Virgin Atlantic. 2023 proved to be transformative for them, she added.

According to recent report released by Booking.com, lodging revenue back to 80% of pre COVID levels; steady growth projected for 2022-2024. The robust recovery is evident in the surge of lodging outlets, revenues, and revenue per available rooms (RevPAR).

Puneet Dhawan, SVP, Operations India & South Asia, said that Accor is poised to open 30 properties in the next 3-5 years. Accor has experienced unprecedented growth, reaffirming our commitment to delivering unparalleled hospitality experiences across India.

P A Mohammed Riyaz, Tourism Minister of Kerala, urges and says, “There is a huge potential for beach tourism in Kerala, and 580-km coastline will be utilised effectively. It will also investors has expressed their intent to investing in beach tourism and it would be under the public-private partnership model”.