Believing that more competition will make air travel cheaper, KR Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister, GoI, said that the govt wants more airlines in India and doesn’t want a duopoly situation. We are facilitating new airlines to come in even if they are looking to start with one or two aircraft and are ready to provide support and aid to them to start their business, he said.

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Baywatch Travels and Baywatch Stayz won the Best Holiday Homes – South India award at the India Travel Awards. Manish Kriplani, Managing Director, Baywatch Travels and Baywatch Stayzz, said, “I am incredibly excited about our industry’s future and envision an amazing industry taking shape. We offer holiday homes to clients to escape the hustle and bustle of the city without having to get into a flight.”

Phillipa Harrison, Managing Director, Tourism Australia, leading a delegation of 15 CEOs from the Australian tourism industry to meet with senior travel trade officials in New Delhi and Mumbai, has said that India is the 5th largest inbound market for arrivals for the year ended August 2024, with total arrivals for the year ended August 2024 were 423,400.

According to the 2024 Cirium Fleet Forecast, the Indian passenger aircraft fleet is forecast to rise from 720 at the end of 2023 to more than 3,800 over the next 20 years. The data analytics firm for the aviation industry said that aircraft growth will drive Indian airlines’ share of Asia-Pacific’s entire passenger fleet from 8% today to 18% in 2043.

According to its secretary general, MP Bezbaruah, the Hotel Association of India is considering asking the government to provide incentives to small hotel operators for adopting sustainability practices. While big luxury and five-star operators are leading the way on this front, the smaller members of HAI are lagging behind due to the cost of taking up the initiatives.

Accepting the ‘Best Resort- Bengaluru’ award at the India Travel Awards, Manivarma A, Group General Manager, The Odyssey Retreat Resort, Bengaluru said, “The award enhances our popularity within the hospitality industry. For independent properties like ours, it is a valuable affirmation of our business practices. Our resort’s operating procedures align with those of star-rated hotels, and we commit to prioritise the well-being of both our guests and employees.”

India has recorded the second-highest increase in domestic airfares in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) and West Asian regions, climbing by 43% in the first half of 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, second only to Vietnam (63%), according to a study conducted by Airports Council International (ACI). India ranks third in fare increases during the same period in international skies, behind the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative to attract more foreign tourists to India, the Ministry of Tourism is all set to launch the Chalo India promotional campaign on the sidelines of the ongoing World Travel Mart in London. Under the initiative, the government will allow one lakh free e-visas for “friends” of diaspora members. Five foreign nationals nominated by each Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder on a special portal will be eligible for a gratis e-visa (visa granted without fees).

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister for Culture and Tourism, GoI, announced that under the decongestion and new product development initiative, several big-ticket projects worth ₹8,000 crore have been submitted by states. In Jammu & Kashmir, three new tourist destinations are being developed under a budget of ₹5,600 crore.