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.

Fazlani Nature’s Nest, The Wellness Retreat won the Best Health and Wellness Ayurveda Retreat award at the India Travel Awards. Upon receiving the award, Jagdeep Nambiar, GM, Operations, Fazlani Nature’s Nest, The Wellness Retreat, said, “ITA is a reward that gives us the direction and motivation we need. Our retreat has been operating for approximately 6 years, and this award is a testament to our team’s hard work and our chairman’s vision and passion.”  

In a key initiative to showcase the Kurukshetra region’s historical and cultural richness, the Ministry of Tourism’s Northern Regional Office is hosting the second Mahabharata Circuit Conference and Familiarization Tour. The event, scheduled from 4-6 November, will gather around 130 participants, including tourism professionals, media representatives, and officials from various tourism departments.

Thailand has extended its visa-free entry policy for Indian citizens indefinitely. Under the program, Indian citizens can enjoy a hassle-free entry into Thailand for a stay of up to 30 days without obtaining a visa beforehand. As per reports, 1 million Indian visitors travelled to Thailand between January and June this year.

Kerala Tourism is all set to replace its traditional tourist information centres with robotic and automatic kiosks to digitalise the information delivery system. P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister, Kerala Tourism, highlighted that introducing robotic kiosks at railway stations is part of a broader effort to modernise and digitalise Kerala’s tourism infrastructure.

Nirav Kapadia, Owner, Get Set Go Travel won the ‘Best Customised Tour Operator’ award at the India Travel Awards 2024. Having completed 4+ years in the travel consultancy market, the company has set a benchmark for others in terms of exceptional work and satisfactory services.

“Demand for international travel is strong. We are exploring new markets and continue to add destinations,” said, Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, adding that the airline may launch flights to Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia in the coming months. Further, it will add three more international destinations before next March, increasing its global footprint to 40 destinations.

Suggesting that India has to create an enabling environment for the market forces to unleash with aggression in terms of investments in the sector to realise the sector’s true potential, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, MOT, said, “Tourism currently contributes 5.6% to the country’s GDP which is quite low. The task is to double it in the next 10 years by encouraging market forces to invest aggressively in the sector.”