The 4th edition of Goa International Travel Mart is all set to commence from 3-4 April at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa. It will also be held virtually from 3-9 April. Suneel Anchipaka, Director Tourism, Goa said, “GITM 2024 aims to redefine Goa’s tourism landscape by focusing on regenerative, spiritual, and hinterland tourism, setting new standards for sustainability and inclusivity. Over 250 national and int’l buyers are expected to participate in the event.”

In a significant development, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India has initiated legal action to seek appropriate remedies for hotel members affected by adverse provisions from the Delhi HC for the hospitality sector from the DGFT. “The hospitality sector must receive fair treatment under the Foreign Trade Policy,” said Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI.

To mark the reopening of Notre Dame after 5 years, a 3-day reopening ceremony is planned from 7-9 Dec 2024. “There will be a worldwide telecast of the reopening ceremony. Individual visitors can visit the church from 17 December onwards and it will be open to groups only by June 2025,” Olivier Josse, Secretaire General, Notre Dame. 

CareEdge Ratings in its report highlighted a 12-14% revenue per available room growth for the hospitality industry in FY2024, followed by a 9-11% growth in FY2025. This will make it the third straight year of an upcycle. Pan-India, ARRs are expected to be around Rs 7,200 to Rs 7,400 in the current fiscal, which is likely to rise further to Rs 7,700 to Rs 7,900 in the next fiscal.

ITA Airways is expanding operations in the UK market in the summer season by launching a new nonstop flight between Rome–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and London City Airport (LCY) starting March 31st, 2024. The route will be served by the Airbus A220-100 with 12 weekly frequencies. LCY is London’s most central airport and known internationally for punctuality, speed of service and smooth customer experience. Passengers will benefit from the proximity of both hubs by flying to-and-from London’s and Rome’s most centrally located airports. In addition, travelers can enjoy seamless connecting flights from ITA Airways’ main hub of Rome Fiumicino to the domestic and intercontinental network, including Mediterranean destinations (in Italy, Spain and Greece) and those in South America including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Buenos Aires. Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer ITA Airways and CEO Volare, said: “We are proud to launch this new direct service between Rome Fiumicino and London City, which is an airport of reference for business traffic but also very interesting for leisure flows. The UK is confirmed as an increasingly strategic market for ITA Airways, offering travelers 100 weekly flights between the UK and Italy in the current summer season.” The new connection follows ITA Airways introducing a four-daily service between Milan Linate and London City earlier this year. The airline will soon add an extra daily service in April 2024, bringing the total number of weekly frequencies to 31 in the peak of the summer season. This rotation will also be operated with an Airbus A220-100. As a further confirmation of the strategic importance of the UK, starting June, operations to the British market from Rome Fiumicino will be completed with an additional connection …

Rail Europe invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on train travel in Europe on April 2 at 3 pm. It successfully managed to train more than 5,000 agents last year together with its NTO partners and GSAs. Participate in the quiz and win exciting prizes! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

The next edition of Rendezvous France is scheduled to take place on 1-2 April 2025 in Lyon. This year, the country is all set to offer a sports and cultural extravaganza with the Olympic Games Paris 2024. “We are expecting over 100 million international visitors,” said Caroline Leboucher, MD, Atout France.

Kean Bon, Area Director- India, South Asia & Africa, Singapore Tourism Board, said, “India is one of our top markets for foreign tourists’ arrival and M!CE is a very important segment of visitors for us. We deeply appreciate and honour the support of our M!CE partners in the market and hope that everyone continues to support Singapore M!CE business and continue to work closely with us this year.”

Skyscanner Horizons 2023-2024 report revealed that Indians have budgeted more for travel in 2024. According to the report, 63% of Indians are planning to spend more on travel this year, the highest of any country followed by the UAE at number 2, with 56% of travellers planning to spend more. Indians are also willing to spend on comfort during travel such as upgrading to business or first class or seat selection and access to airport lounges, it added.

Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and NEON have announced that Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), Singapore, will host the Asia Premiere with the largest-ever engagement of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic. This unique multimedia spectacle will be shown within RWS beginning in Fall of 2024. Harry Potter: Visions of Magic created by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and NEON is an evocative and interactive art experience exploring some of the most mysterious corners of the wizarding world across more than 40,000 square foot venue. Discover a series of immersive environments inspired by enigmatic places in the magical community, like the Room of Requirement, Newt’s Menagerie, the Ministry of Magic, and more. Responsive video content, bold architecture, and original soundscapes create breathtaking multi-sensory installations, while interactive technology invites guests to illuminate the invisible, revealing visions of magic that bring the entire experience to life. Following the sensational success of its world premiere in Germany, Harry Potter: Visions of Magic is now ready to welcome guests in Southeast Asia. Fans of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts can look forward to a newly enhance journey created specifically for Resorts World Sentosa. An additional 10,000 square feet of expanded spaces will be unveiled making this a truly unique, and never-to-be-forgotten journey to be found exclusively in Singapore at this premium lifestyle destination resort. Fans around the world have truly embraced this experience which is now close to a complete sell-out in Germany. The overwhelming demand for tickets, surpassing a remarkable 138,000 tickets prior to the grand opening, speaks to the uniqueness of this experience. Notably, Ticketmaster Germany honored NEON with the Highest Pre-sale Award, affirming the immense success achieved in the previous region. …