The Indian hospitality industry is primed to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy, according to Pradeep Shetty, President, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI). Addressing the 54th FHRAI Annual Convention on Day 1, Shetty projected that the sector will contribute a substantial $250 billion to India’s GDP by 2030, supporting 137 million jobs. To achieve this ambitious target, Shetty emphasised the need for long-term financing and regulatory reforms. The industry aims to contribute $3 trillion to the GDP by 2047. FHRAI Calls for Regulatory Reforms Shetty highlighted the critical need for long-term financing in the sector, noting that current funding options are limited to 7-8 years. He urged the government to implement regulatory reforms, such as streamlined licensing procedures and single-window systems, to unlock the industry’s full potential. Hospitality Sector Outperforms Other Industries The Indian hospitality industry is already making a substantial impact on the economy, contributing 12-13 per cent to the GDP and employing over 12 per cent of the workforce. These figures surpass those of the automobile and IT sectors, highlighting the industry’s economic significance. Sector to Add 50,000-60,000 Rooms in Next Five Years The President announced that the hospitality sector is set to expand significantly, with plans to add between 50,000 and 60,000 new hotel rooms over the next five years. This expansion will further boost employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic growth. FHRAI Submits Ease of Doing Business Report To address the challenges faced by the industry, FHRAI has submitted a comprehensive report on the ease of doing business in hospitality to the government. The report focuses on critical areas for reform, including simplifying regulatory compliance, reducing licensing burdens, …

ITA Airways continues to offer its new direct flight between Rome Fiumicino and Bangkok through the 2025 summer season. This route will be operational from 16 November, 2024. The new Rome-Bangkok flight is available for purchase through all ITA Airways’ channels also for the summer season, beginning 30 March, 2025. During the winter season 2024/2025, the flight will operate with five weekly frequencies from Rome Fiumicino every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and from Bangkok every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. In the 2025 summer season, flights from Rome Fiumicino will operate with three weekly frequencies on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, while departures from Bangkok will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Accepting the ‘Best International Group Tour Operator’ on behalf of Kesari Tours, Zelam Chaubal, Executive Director at Kesari MICE, said, “This recognition is inspiring. India Travel Awards have become an integral part of our industry. Receiving this motivates us to strive for even better performances.”

To empower the travel fraternity through knowledge sharing, engagement, and exchange via business networking, a two-day GPS event was held in Kochi. The GPS iConnect app was also launched for ease of doing business. Over 500 buyers and 40 exhibitors participated in the event.

At the grand reveal of Disney Cruise Line in Singapore, it was announced that the cruise liner will set sail on 15 Dec 2025 and bookings will start from 10 Dec 2024. Details on pricing and sailing dates will be released on 14 Nov, 2024. It will have experiences specially created for guests in Asia.

Uttar Pradesh’s upcoming airport Noida International Airport (DXN) will commence commercial flights to domestic and international destinations on 17 April 2025. Airlines have submitted applications for international destinations, with route approvals contingent on bilateral licensing agreements.

Travelport is the leading distributor of Air India content globally for travel agencies. NDC content to be available on Travelport+ in the fourth quarter of this year. Travelport, a global technology company that powers travel bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide, and Air India, India’s leading global airline, announced that they are accelerating the launch of NDC content and servicing for Travelport-connected agencies. Travelport is the leading distributor for Air India content globally, connecting the airline to its network of travel agencies around the world via the Travelport+ platform. Agencies using Travelport+ will be able to quickly and easily view and compare the airline’s NDC offers alongside traditional content in the fourth quarter of this year. “Globally, Travelport is the leading aggregator of Air India content for travel agencies,” said Damian Hickey, Global Head of Travel Partners, Travelport. “Our partnership is centred around our shared belief that agencies are an essential retailing channel to provide travellers with seamless, personalised experiences for every trip, even after booking. That is why Travelport’s end-to-end NDC solution will empower agencies to directly service Air India bookings, so they can manage changes across NDC and non-NDC content seamlessly.” Travelport’s latest enhancement to the Travelport+ platform, Content Curation Layer (CCL), simplifies the process of accessing retail-ready content and identifying the most relevant options from airlines like Air India. Travelport’s CCL uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) to filter through aggregated multi-source content to deliver accurate search results that are standardised, making offers easier to understand and compare. This ensures that agents can then book the best options for their travellers from any source of Air India’s content, based on their unique needs …

Joining in the festive spirit of the city and as the state gears up to commemorate the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival, Nagaland Tourism, supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is all set to host the eagerly anticipated third edition of the Autumn Festival on 18th, 19th and 20th October, 2024 in the lawns of Nagaland House in New Delhi. Following two successful editions, the Tourism department is bringing the festival back with a bang with renewed enthusiasm and extending it to include an additional third day. This festival intends to provide Delhi residents with a glimpse of the vibrant Hornbill Festival, particularly for those unable to travel to Nagaland, while also offering insights for those interested in experiencing this unique festival firsthand. Temjen Imna Along, Minister of Tourism and Higher Education, Government of Nagaland, expressed his delight, stating, “Nagaland is all set to host the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival but before the mega event, our objective is to offer an immersive experience for individuals who are unable to attend in Nagaland through the Autumn Festival. Simultaneously, we aim to enhance the understanding of those who intend to travel for the festival, ensuring they know what to expect. This effort also helps to foster friendships and cultivate a sense of familiarity with each other’s cultures. Given that Delhi is the capital and a melting pot of diverse communities and cultures, it is an ideal location for this festival.” As in past years, the three-day event will feature a diverse array of Nagaland businesses and artists. The best selection of cuisine, handicrafts, textiles, art, and music will be available for everyone to enjoy. Prominent brands …

Kerala government has announced that all pilgrims visiting Sabarimala, regardless of online registration status, will be able to have a seamless darshan. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring a smooth and comfortable pilgrimage for all visitors. To achieve this, extensive coordination has been established among various departments and agencies to enhance the facilities at Sannidhanam, Pampa, and the base camps.  

India’s aviation is undergoing a period of unmatched growth. To meet the soaring demand for Indian air travel, the sector will need to make significant investments in infrastructure and equipment. According to a report by S&P Global Ratings, Indian airlines will need to spend $150 billion to finance outstanding orders for 1,700 aircraft. Additionally, $24 billion will be required to build new airports and expand existing ones. This substantial investment is essential to accommodate the projected doubling of domestic passenger traffic to 300 million by 2030. The Indian government authorities aim to double the number of airports by 2030, creating world-class aviation hubs that can compete with established centres like Singapore, Dubai, and Doha. S&P Global Ratings believes that the timing is favourable for the aviation sector to raise capital. Rising passenger traffic, relatively cheaper domestic financing rates, and supportive government policies on foreign ownership are expected to boost funding prospects. While borrowings for airlines and airports will increase, the reliance on aircraft lessors and domestic banks could help mitigate the financial burden.