Booking.com’s Travel Trends for 2024 revealed that to make the most of monsoon, Indians are looking at exploring the mountains, the beaches and soaking in some natural beauty. Besides metros, leisure destinations such as Lonavala, Udaipur, Jaipur, Ooty and Mussoorie are among the most searched destinations this rainy season.

Cleartrip, a Flipkart company, announced the launch of its latest offering, ‘Cleartrip for Work’ (CFW). This solution, specifically curated for business travellers, urban entrepreneurs, and startup founders, provides access to exclusive corporate flight fares and additional benefits. How is Cleartrip for Work different? Save up to 10% on travel expenditures through exclusive fares and GST input credit Avail complimentary in-flight meals, low/zero cancellation fees and free seat selection Earn Supercoins, an exclusive reward benefit available only to Flipkart, Cleartrip and Myntra users on every transaction and use them to make your CFW booking further beneficial For the first time in the industry, compare all fare types in one place for easy decision-making CFW stands out for its hassle-free, one-click onboarding process and ease of use. Users can sign up using their mobile number and access its features directly from the  Cleartrip home page, making it incredibly convenient, especially for frequent fliers. Speaking on the occasion Anuj Rathi, Chief Business and Growth Officer stated, “Of the 30mn+ micro-entrepreneurs in India, most travel often and need flexible travel benefits including cancellation, seat selection and meals at affordable prices. With CFW, Cleartrip has brought all the flexibility along with special airline fares, combining it with Supercoins to make it the most flexible and affordable destination for business travellers. We will continue to invest in CFW and are committed to introducing innovative and value-based offerings to our customers.” CFW allows users to make multiple bookings with the same login, offering flexibility and convenience for frequent travelers. It is available on Cleartrip’s Android and iOS app and on the mobile web. The desktop version will be launched soon.

Opening the International Kayaking Facilitation Centre at Pulikkayam in Kodenchery, PA Mohamed Riyas, Public Works Department & Tourism Minister, Kerala, said it will be ideal to have off-road championships regularly within Kerala, and Kodenchery that will boost the tourism sector. ‘We will attract not just locals but participants from all over the globe,” he said.

Ahead of the Union Budget, Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, said, “To make India a preferred travel destination, the Union Budget 2024-2025 must focus on infrastructure, more favourable GST rates and GST credit, industry status including travel operators, development of new airports, and rapid expansion in rail, road and waterways.”

FHRAI’s 54th Annual Convention will be inaugurated by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister for Tourism, GoI from 16-18 October. The theme of this year’s three-day convention is “Tourism @2047: Incredible to Inevitable India”. The event focuses on driving sustainable growth and innovation in India’s tourism sector.

KB Kachru, President, HAI, said, “The forthcoming Union Budget offers an opportunity to unleash the potential of India hospitality in its contribution to India Vision 2047. We request the government to make key policy shifts in the sector by giving infrastructure status to hotels rather than categorising them as luxury, elite or even ‘sin’ goods”.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO said, “We requested the Prime Minister for financial support to be provided to tour operators based on their foreign exchange earnings. Additionally, we urged the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, to allocate a Unof rupees ₹1000 crore or more for the revival of incoming tourism.”

Bidisha Mukherjee, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, shared, “Madhya Pradesh Tourism aims to position itself state as a premier multi-speciality destination. There has been nearly a threefold increase in footfall numbers, from 32.1 million visitors in 2022 to 112 million in 2023. Inbound tourism is also on the rise, with travellers from Poland expressing interest in participating in the Khajuraho Festival. Scandinavian countries, have shown significant interest in Madhya Pradesh, with Finland being one of the largest source markets.”

According to a new WTTC report, India’s travel and tourism sector has recovered significantly with domestic tourism playing a pivotal role but international travel spend continues to remain below pre-Covid levels. Consulting firm McKinsey and Company had earlier projected that India will become the fourth-largest domestic travel market in terms of spending by 2030.

Advocating for promoting domestic tourism during her maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha, Sudha Murty, Philanthropist highlighted India’s cultural richness, noting that while the country boasts 42 World Heritage sites, an additional 57 are awaiting recognition. She emphasised the need for well-packaged tourism initiatives, with adequate infrastructure to attract more visitors and boost revenue within India.