H.E. Ali Murat Ersoy, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to India, hosted a special luncheon in New Delhi to strengthen tourism ties and highlight the growing opportunities between the two countries. The event brought together key representatives from India’s travel trade to explore avenues for enhancing connectivity, promoting cultural exchange, and boosting visitor numbers both ways. Emphasising Türkiye’s diverse attractions, the ambassador reiterated the country’s commitment to deepening engagement with India’s outbound travel market and fostering closer people-to-people connections.

ITC Hotels announced the signing of definitive agreements with DSR Hospitality Services for two new managed hotels in Nellore and Hyderabad under its Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels brand. With these two additions, ITCHL is set to expand its presence in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Brand Welcomhotel continues to grow through the asset right strategy, expanding its visibility across India by associating with hotel developers for new management opportunities. Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Hyderabad Panjagutta will feature 117 rooms and over 800 sq m of meeting space. Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels Nellore will feature 127 rooms and over 2,600 sq m of meeting space.

At the Minor Hotels India Roadshows in Delhi, Rohit Chopra, Area Commercial Director, India, Minor Hotels, said, “The company is expanding across key segments including corporate, MICE, and weddings, with strong demand from families, HNIs, and solo women travellers.” He highlighted Minor’s strategic approach through Minor PRO, a seamless digital platform for travel partners offering quick bookings and instant incentives.

Agoda’s latest insights highlight growing interest in India for the five-day Diwali festival starting 20 October. Combined domestic and international searches rose 24%, with domestic searches up 18%. Notably, inbound interest surged 67% year-on-year, reflecting India’s increasing appeal to international travellers during the festive period, underlining the country’s strong tourism potential.

One Above Global DMC bagged the ‘Leading DMC for Island Destinations’ award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Receiving the trophy, Saroj Jena, COO, said, “This award means a lot to us. This is just the beginning. In the Indian Ocean, we cover all islands. We’ll continue striving to win this award every year.”

Highlighting the brand’s tech-forward strategy, Nikhil Sharma, MD & COO South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “Seamless digital check-in/check-out, self-service kiosks, and AI virtual assistants enhance guest experiences while freeing staff for personalised interactions. Backend AI optimises pricing, talent acquisition, and marketing campaigns, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and driving strong business outcomes.”

At the State Tourism Ministers’ meet in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, the Goa tourism department proposed two flagship tourism projects. A state-of-the-art 20,000-seat mega performance arena at Mandrem and a Lord Parshuram statue and museum at Loliem in Canacona, have been planned in the state to enhance visitor experience, create employment and strengthen Goa’s positioning as a global tourism destination, said Rohan Khaunte, Tourism Minister, Goa. The initiative will serve as an anchor project for hinterland tourism development in South Goa, aligning with the state’s vision of regenerative tourism and ‘Goa Beyond Beaches.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & DG Tourism, Govt of India, highlighted that tourism in India is at the cusp of a long-term growth cycle, presenting immense opportunities for youth. He advised the youngsters not to restrict themselves to traditional hospitality roles but to embrace entrepreneurship, particularly in under-leveraged areas like tourism products and experiential offerings. According to him, India needs innovative thinkers who can develop unique travel experiences and showcase them globally, making entrepreneurship a vital driver of the sector’s future growth and competitiveness.

Minor Hotels, an international hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of more than 560 properties across 59 countries, continues to deepen its commitment to supporting the destinations in which it operates. As part of this long-standing focus, the group’s global ‘Dollars for Deeds’ initiative has played an important role in connecting hospitality with meaningful community support. First introduced nearly a decade ago in Minor Hotels’ Anantara branded properties in Thailand, ‘Dollars for Deeds’ is now embedded into the social responsibility strategies of Minor Hotels worldwide. The programme invites guests to opt-in at check-in by contributing one US dollar per night of their stay. Minor Hotels matches each donation in full, with funds directed to carefully selected charitable and environmental projects tailored to each location. From coral conservation in the Maldives to child welfare projects in Hungary, the initiative has consistently sought to create measurable impact. In Sri Lanka, support has been directed towards the Turtle Hatchery near Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle and the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala through Anantara Kalutara and Avani Kalutara. Now, Minor Hotels Sri Lanka is taking this commitment even further by partnering with Ayati Trust, a national centre dedicated to supporting children with disabilities. Established in 2016 and operational since 2020, the Ayati National Centre for Children with Disabilities provides diagnostic, therapeutic, and educational services to children and families across Sri Lanka. The facility — the first of its kind nationally — was formed through collaboration between the University of Kelaniya, Hemas Holdings, MAS Holdings, Roshan Wijerama family Foundation, Rotary International, and several philanthropic partners. Ayati was built on the understanding that every child has potential — but children with disabilities often face social …

Speaking at the Philippines Itinerary Training in New Delhi, H.E. Josel Francisco Ignacio, Ambassador of the Philippines to India, revealed that the country welcomed 82,925 Indian tourists between January and September, a 7.93% year-on-year growth. In 2024, the country recorded over 78,000 Indian arrivals, up 12.4% from 2023. Filipino visitors to India have also rebounded close to pre-pandemic levels, underscoring growing reciprocal tourism between the two nations.