Taiwan Expo 2024 is all set to make a comeback to India after five years and is scheduled to be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from July 8-10. The expo is being organised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, International Trade Administration (TITA) and Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and will feature five key themes namely Smart Manufacturing, Smart Medical, Green & Sustainability, Halal and Intelligent Lifestyle, fostering international trade and partnership between Taiwan and India. This year, over 120 Taiwanese exhibitors will participate in the expo, showcasing their products and services at 224 booths across five themes.

Thomas Cook India & SOTC in its India Holiday Report 2023 highlighted a 70% surge in cruise holidays. Speaking on this, Daniel D’souza, President, SOTC Travel, said, “Cruise holidays offer an all-inclusive experience onboard a luxurious floating hotel.These include a wide range of services, from entertainment and exciting activities to diverse cuisines, wellness spas, shopping, and exploring new locales. We are witnessing strong growth in this segment from regional India’s tier II-III markets, besides metros and mini metros.”

Jaiveer Singh, Minister of Tourism & Culture, UP, said, “Uttar Pradesh has an immense potential for tourism, particularly spiritual tourism. Our government’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime has improved the law and order situation of the state that led to the surge of 48 crore footfalls in UP in 2022 and 2023, a number double the population of the state.”

Speaking at the ‘Bodhi Yatra’ conclave, V Vidyavathi, Secretary, MOT, GoI, said, “Govt of India in collaboration with the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh aims to not only create a memorable experience for the Buddhist pilgrims but also ensure the development and better employment opportunities for the local communities. We are also keen to enhance the infrastructure and amenities of Buddhist Museums in the state as they are a living source of history.”

According to Reserve Bank of India data, Indians are spending more on overseas travel. They took out (outward foreign exchange remittances) almost $1.42 billion (₹12,500 crore) a month on an average in 2023-2024 compared with just $400 million (about ₹3,300 crore) a month on an average five years ago in 2028-2019.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is coming up with another exciting project named ‘Cinnamon Life‘ in Colombo. Sharing more details, Radhey S Tawar, Chief Commercial Officer, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, said, “The entertainment complex comprises 687 rooms and includes a shopping mall. In addition to two office towers and two apartment complexes, there will also be a gaming complex opening next year, managed by an international gaming operator.” Cinnamon Life is set to transform the landscape of Colombo and attract new tourists to Sri Lanka. As India remains one of the top markets for the island nation, hopes are high that this new property by Cinnamon will further attract more tourists from India, especially youth.  

The 3rd edition of the NRAI summit held at the LaLit Ashok on 26 Jun, was a huge success, with over a 1000 participants from all over the country being part of the biggest food industry event. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar, inaugurated the summit by the traditional lighting of the lamp. He threw some light on how the hospitality industry is one of the most dynamic and fast paced businesses. He also said that his government is open to offer support to the industry in any way it can. The Cloud Kitchen & Food Delivery Summit, hosted annually, brings together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from the food delivery ecosystem to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities. The event provides a platform for thought-provoking discussions, insightful presentations, and networking opportunities. This year’s theme was the intersection of technology and sustainability in food delivery- From cutting-edge tech solutions to eco-friendly packaging, the focus was on innovation, sustainability, and environmental consciousness to shape the future of food delivery. The keynote address was delivered by Sriharsha Majety, group CEO and founder of Swiggy. During the course of the summit, various restaurant owners participated in various panel discussions to share their knowledge and exchange ideas and learning’s from their day to day experience. Some of the topics of discussion included branding and packaging, introduction of ONDC, trends in food delivery cuisines, the battle for order acquisition, how AI is going to disrupt the food business and how prepared the industry is etc. The final session also witnessed “The Food Fight” about fund raising for cloud kitchens. The event ended with a music performance by Lagori.

Dimitris Manikis, President, EMEA, Wyndham Resorts and Hotels, said, “India wants to be one of the fastest-growing hospitality countries in the world. Its growth in infrastructure means that it will need brands like Wyndham. Thus, we plan to have 150 properties by the end of 2025 as India is the market with the biggest potential for us.”

Riya Group announces its strategic alliance with Air India Express. The collaboration integrates Riya’s comprehensive visa services on the airline’s website, enabling customers to promptly access and apply for visas to any destination worldwide. This progressive step is conceived to ease the visa application process and enhance a traveller’s holistic booking journey on the Air India Express website.

Sales of global sports tourism packages are forecast to increase by 15% this year. This was released by Google in its list of key travel trends for 2024. It predicts that travel demand will reach record levels this year with Europe set to see a real influx of tourists due to many sporting events such as the Olympic, Paralympic Games and Euro 2024.