As airports embrace digital innovation, India positions itself to lead the world with its vision of a fully biometric-enabled and contactless airport experience. The Indian government and aviation authorities are keen on developing a robust framework for biometric systems that aligns with global practices. India is poised to lead the charge with the upcoming implementation of facial authentication technology for international air travel, scheduled for a pilot project in June 2025, said Siddharth Sharma, Head- IT Operations, Digi Yatra.

Travel among India’s senior citizens has evolved over the years with tour agencies observing a rise in demand, especially post-pandemic for adventure and non-traditional international destinations such as Antarctica and, the North Pole. According to KareVoyage, senior citizen travel is growing 17% year-on-year while its outbound senior travel numbers have tripled between March 2021 and March 2024.

Keen on developing infrastructure for night skiing in Auli to attract tourists from all over the world, Anil Baluni, BJP MP, Uttarakhand pitched for developing the spot from a popular ski resort destination to a world-class tourist attraction for the sport wherein world-level competitions among skiiers can take place and training being given to them.

The luxury travel sector has shown remarkable resilience. According to McKinsey, the industry is projected to grow from $1.4 trillion in 2024 to $2.2 trillion by 2030 globally. The Asia-Pacific region is leading the surge at a compound annual growth rate of 8.6% from 2024 to 2030. This growth is driven not just by affluence among the wealthy but by younger travellers.

According to a report by CRISIL Ratings, branded hotels are expected to post double-digit revenue growth of 13-14% this fiscal and 11-12% in the next, fuelled by demand outpacing supply. While domestic leisure and business travel will continue to be the primary demand drivers, growing traction in the MICE segment and pickup in foreign tourist arrivals will provide an additional fillip.

In a significant change for the hospitality sector, the GST Council has decided to allow high-end hotels to choose between two indirect tax rates for restaurant services provided on their premises. Starting from 1 April 2025, such hotels will have the option to choose between two GST rates: 5% without Input Tax Credit (ITC) or 18% with ITC.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s commercial airlines flew 1.42 crore passengers on domestic routes in November this year, representing a robust 12% increase compared to the same month in the previous year. IndiGo maintained its position as the market leader with a 63.6% share of air traffic, followed by Air India 24.4%, Akasa Air 4.7% and SpiceJet 3.1%.

In a significant milestone for the country’s tourism industry, MOT revealed that India witnessed a record-breaking 18.89 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in 2023. It added that Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism surged to ₹231,927 crore, signalling a vibrant recovery in the sector. Among these visitors, 9.52 million were foreign tourists, while domestic tourism also saw a remarkable boom with 2,509 million DTVs.

Willie Walsh, Director General, International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed confidence that India would ease bilateral flying rights, especially as Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo broadened their fleets with wide-body aircraft. He underlined the benefits of such agreements, highlighting that an increase in the rights will enable Indian airlines to offer more direct international connections.

Goa tourism is bouncing back, with over 71 lakh visitors recorded till September, marking a strong recovery from the pandemic. The state tourism department said efforts have been made to boost tourism through initiatives like enhanced infrastructure, improved connectivity, and active promotion in global markets, ensuring that “Goa remains a sought-after destination for travellers from across the world.