Waterways Leisure Tourism, which operates Cordelia Cruises, is planning to raise ₹727 crore through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company has filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The IPO, with a face value of ₹10, is a fresh issue of shares amounting to ₹727 crore, with no offer-for-sale component. The funds raised will be used for lease payments to its subsidiary, Baycruise Shipping and Leasing (IFSC) Private Limited, and general corporate purposes.

Sindhudurg airport is now linked to Hyderabad and Bengaluru with FLY91  direct flights to the two cities, operating four times a week. The new routes, with introductory fares, are in addition to the existing Sindhudurg–Pune route, offering enhanced air connectivity to south Maharashtra and north Goa.

Atmosphere Core has announced its debut in Himachal Pradesh’s Kufri with a luxurious boutique resort, Atmosphere Kufri. The property is set to open in early 2026, offering an exclusive retreat in one of India’s most picturesque hill stations. It will feature 58 opulent accommodations in its first phase, including deluxe rooms, suites, and presidential suites, with plans to expand to 100 keys in the second phase.

Amitabh Kant, Former Chief, NITI Aayog and G20 Sherpa, India, has stepped down from the post and begun a new journey, “after 45 years of dedicated government service.” Announcing the news on X, he said, “I now look forward to contributing to India’s transformational journey towards Viksit Bharat by facilitating and supporting free enterprise, startups, think tanks, and academic institutions. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey.”

To revive tourism and the region’s economy in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, key stakeholders in Ladakh’s tourism industry met with Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, GoI, who is on her four-day official visit to Ladakh. They advocated special relief for tourism and allied sectors in the UT and demanded restoration of budget allocations to FY 2025-26.

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has published the GSTC-Certified Hotels Directory, a comprehensive resource designed to help destinations, businesses, and consumers identify accommodations that have been certified as sustainable by GSTC-accredited Certification Bodies. It reinforces the importance of traceability and transparency from an assurance perspective, providing credible validation of sustainability certifications.

Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, says, “IATO members, after visiting Kashmir, as part of ‘Rubaroo with J&K’, will be better equipped to apprise their clients about the on-ground situation in the valley and how safe it is.” The association’s 22-member delegation is visiting Pahalgam and Srinagar to promote the destination after the unfortunate terror attack.

The Indian hospitality industry is experiencing significant growth in branded hotel rooms, particularly in major cities and popular tourist destinations. According to Hotelivate data, Dehradun leads this growth, with a staggering 67.5% increase in branded rooms, reaching 1,236 rooms in FY2023/24. Average occupancy rates remain strongest in tier-I cities, at 73.6%.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), representing major Indian carriers, has sought waivers on user development fee and aviation security fee for a year at Srinagar Airport to boost air travel demand to and from Kashmir. Currently, every departing passenger shells out ₹1,050 as UDF and ₹200 as Aviation ASF plus GST, as per FIA.  

In a bid to promote tourism in the hill State, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, launched border tourism activities at Shipki-La. He said, “We have eased restrictions for the tourists to enjoy the beauty of Shipki-La, and the tourism activities here would strengthen the economy of the local people, along with boosting tourism in the region.”