Mugdha Sinha, Director General, Ministry of Tourism said that the country is likely to witness its next peak in foreign tourist arrivals in 2028-2029. She added that over the next three years, the government is investing ₹120 billion ($1.4 billion) in developing infrastructure creating only alternative and detour destinations.

Keeping with its new campaign, ‘Starring Great Britain,’ VisitBritain will conduct an exclusive webinar showcasing handpicked luxury experiences for the ultimate British journey across London, England, Wales, and Scotland, focusing on luxury and culture in 2025. Join the webinar on 24 March at 3 pm to learn more. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

TAAI hosted the ‘Women of Wonder Awards 2025’ in Delhi to celebrate women across India who have significantly impacted the travel, hospitality, and aviation industry. Among the awardees were Pravati Parida, Dy CM, Odisha, Mugdha Sinha, DG, MOT, etc. Out of 75 awards, 20 were received by TAAI’s Region and Chapter heads.

Travel and tourism start-ups have grown exponentially in Kerala in recent years, fostering innovation and generating jobs. According to the state’s Tourism department, 156 start-ups have been operating in the hospitality sector. Of these, 102 started operations in the past three years. Anoop Ambika, CEO, Kerala Startup Mission, said, “79 start-ups in the tourism sector were registered with us.”

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, said, “The government has approved the initiative to develop tribal homestays under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. The intervention includes the development of 1000 homestays with support of up to ₹5 lakh per unit (for new construction), up to ₹3 lakh (renovation), and ₹5 lakh for village community requirements.”

Join TourFox for an exclusive webinar tomorrow at 3 pm to explore their latest products and offerings. Learn how to book seamlessly on their portal and maximise your business. Europamundo Vacations will share key updates on their offerings as well. Gain valuable insights and stay ahead in the industry. For more details, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532.

With Holi just round the corner, Indian travellers are maximising the extended weekend by opting for a blend of vibrant domestic celebrations. According to Booking.com, Udaipur, Mumbai, and Rishikesh lead as the top three most searched domestic destinations while destinations like Vrindavan, Mathura, Pushkar, Jaipur, Shantiniketan and Hampi are witnessing a surge in searches during the festive period.

Highlighting the ways to promote tourism in India through concepts like ‘concert tourism’, Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister, Rajasthan, said, “We have come up with the concept of concert tourism in the state and try to organise as many such events as possible in the future as it is a growing industry that can have a huge impact on local economies.”  

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, Govt of India has said that including hospitality infrastructure investment for tourism in the infrastructure master list would increase the payback period manifold. The old notification, which says that investment for 3-star hotels in areas with less than 1 million population, will automatically come in the list, he added.

Rail Europe invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on the benefits of Eurail passes, how to use them and how to book passholder fares on agent.raileurope.com today at 3 pm. Participate in the quiz for a chance to win Amazon vouchers! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.