To empower B2B partners and transform them into certified ‘Experience Abu Dhabi Experts’, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi launched the ‘Abu Dhabi Experts’ e-learning platform. The platform offers specialised content across nine comprehensive modules, covering various facets of Abu Dhabi’s tourism sector. These modules provide in-depth knowledge about the emirate’s rich culture and heritage, landmarks and attractions and accommodation options.

To exploit India’s vast potential in the tourism industry, Jagdeep Bhagat, President, TIA, said, “We are leaving no stone unturned to expand its outreach and make new members across India and abroad to unlock new horizons for tourism growth. TIA has reached 225 members, aim is to cross the 1,000 membership mark within this fiscal (2024-2025).”

Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Booking.com, said, “Indian travellers are increasingly seeking unique experiences while travelling. One such experience is shopping, which is more than just an activity, but a gateway to the destination’s heritage and culture enabling travellers to make authentic connections with the places they visit and bring those memories back home. According to the company’s Travel Trends data for 2024, 43 per cent of Indian travellers stated that shopping had an impact on their destination decisions.”

With the hospitality sector in India experiencing a significant surge, Sebastien Bazin, CEO, Accor, said, “The country holds a strong place in Accor’s global vision, embodying not just a market, but a place of opportunity and growth. It’s impossible to ignore the immense potential that the country presents in the sector.”

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, UAE announces that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has a new unified tourist visa called “GCC Grand Tours,” which would allow travellers to visit all six Gulf countries and stay for over 30 days. This initiative aims to boost tourism and make travel across the GCC region more convenient. by simplifying travel across Gulf countries, with an estimated 128.7 million visitors by 2030.

As slow travel gains traction as a prominent travel trend, Agoda shares insights into the top Asian destinations ideal for prolonged stays. It showed Ahmedabad as the top slow travel destination in India and Asia to discover. The concept of slow travel advocates for a leisurely approach to exploration, encouraging visitors to extend their time at a destination.

Goa Tourism’s pavilion at ATM 2024 was the centre of activity, attracting buyers from around the globe. The pavilion provided a valuable opportunity for the co-exhibitors to showcase their offerings and forge valuable partnerships. From community-based projects to conservation efforts, the aim is to highlight the holistic approach that underpins the vision for sustainable tourism.

South African Tourism announced ‘Africa’s Travel INDABA 2024’ to take place from 13 to 15 May in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal. The event will host over 40 trade partners from India. Nearly 95 per cent of the participants will be from tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The highlight of this year’s event will be the showcase of new and untapped regions within South Africa.

VIDEC’s 2023 Indian Traveller Behaviour & Insights Report says 59% of Indian travellers prefer short weekend trips, and 79% choose domestic over international destinations. Of the international travellers, 84% were first-time travellers, with Thailand, the UAE and Singapore as the top destinations, chosen for their proximity, climate and cultural appeal.

Speaking at a special session titled ‘Attracting the Indian Travellers into the GCC’, Alhasan Aldabbagh, President, Asia Pacific (APAC), Saudi Tourism Authority, said, “The diverse experiences that Saudi Arabia is offering will attract Indians to the destination. We have eased out the visa and offering free transit visas for Indians for 5-8 hours.”