The FICCI-Nangia knowledge paper reveals that India’s outbound tourism market is projected to reach over US $55.3 billion by 2034, from the estimated more than US $18.8 billion in 2024, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.4 per cent. India’s online travel market is expected to grow at 10.5 per cent CAGR between 2024-29 — from US $17.24 billion to US $28.40 billion.

Indian tourism consultancy firm Auxilia Networks has been appointed as the exclusive India representative for the iconic global hop-on hop-off bus tour brand, Big Bus Tours Group. Auxilia will promote the Big Bus portfolio of open-top sightseeing bus tours in over 25 of the world’s most popular cities across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. They will also promote the company’s other multi-national brands including leading UAE travel company Tour Dubai. Alexi Tabrizi, Executive VP of Global Sales, Big Bus Tours, said, “India has become a key source market for our global tours across all 4 continents that we operate in. Engaging with this market is critical for us to achieve our global growth targets. The Indian traveller is aware, aspiring, and forever looking to explore new cities and destinations and there’s no better way to do that than to take one of our open-top bus tours with accompanying commentary. India is a vast and varied country, so we sought a partner with a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the market along with a solid network of trade and media contacts. Auxilia ticked several boxes for us and we’re delighted to be working with PB and his team.” Phil Boggon, Chief Commercial Officer, Big Bus Tours, said, “We very much look forward to working with Paramjit and his team at Auxilia Networks in our new partnership to bring the Big Bus Tours Group global portfolio of experiences to the Indian market.  We can’t wait to welcome many more Indian customers to the cities that we showcase, where we can provide them with a range of experiences, from hopping on one of our Big Bus Tours buses, splashing aboard …

HVS Anarock in its ‘Hotels & Hospitality Overview’ of June stated that Kochi registered the highest increase in occupancy rate, growing by 7% year-on-year, a notable rise compared to other cities. Meanwhile, both Hyderabad and Mumbai experienced declines in y-o-y occupancy rates but saw substantial increase in average rates, with Hyderabad leading with over a 9% y-o-y increase and Mumbai up by 7%.

Ahead of the Mahakumbh-2025, the new policy of star classification of hotels and resorts which was introduced in December 2023 by Yogi Adityanath government to promote the tourism industry in Uttar Pradesh will now be implemented in Prayagraj to boost tourism. The system will classify hotels based on their quality, services and guest experience, thereby boosting tourism.

According to IBEF’s report on ‘Growth of Tourism and Hospitality Industry’, travel and tourism are the two largest industries in India with a total contribution of about $178 billion to the country’s GDP. With this, the travel market in India is projected to reach $125 billion by FY2027, while the foreign tourist arrival is expected to touch 30.5 million by 2028.

Israel Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar to gain insights and updates on the destination. From the ancient streets of Jerusalem to the serene shores of the Dead Sea, experience Israel’s exciting offerings. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

German National Tourist Office India (GNTO India) is delighted to announce that Germany’s culinary landscape has reached unprecedented heights, boasting an impressive 340 Michelin-starred restaurants. This milestone solidifies Germany’s position as a gastronomic haven, offering a diverse and authentic culinary experience for Indian travellers. Food is a significant travel motivation for Indians, and besides indulging in their native cuisine, they also have a penchant for authentic German and international flavors. Germany’s vast culinary options cater to this demand, showcasing traditional dishes, modern twists, and innovative fusions. Out of these 340 prestigious restaurants, 50 hold two stars, and 280 have one star. Ten restaurants are allowed to carry the highest Michelin award in 2024 and adorn themselves with three stars. With a total of 12 Michelin stars, Saarland, a small state in the southwest of Germany, is one of the most popular regions for gourmets due to the high number of top-rated eateries, especially in relation to its population. Reinforcing its reputation as a culinary gem, Baiersbronn, a small town in the Black Forest region, was recently named the gourmet capital of Germany. Additionally, 199 restaurants in Germany have been awarded a Bib Gourmand, a recognition for meticulously prepared dishes with a top price-quality ratio, and 77 establishments have received a Green Star for the commitment to sustainability. The MICHELIN Green Star is a newer concept that was introduced in 2020 as an increasing number of restaurant owners are working towards conserving resources and treating food respectfully by using seasonal and local products, as well as meat from animals raised in their natural environment, for example. “Germany’s culinary scene is a reflection of our rich cultural heritage and traditions. From the …

Uttar Pradesh Chapter of IATO conducted two chapter meetings in Varanasi and in Agra on 21st of July and on the 26th of July respectively. Both the meetings were attended by about 40 members of IATO at each location and many attendees were new members who have recently joined IATO from UP. Uttar Pradesh is a very important state and in the last financial year only it has added 35 new members to the impressive membership list of IATO. Both the meetings were conducted by Prateek Hira, the Chapter Chair of Uttar Pradesh. Guest of Honour in Varanasi meeting was Rajendra Rawat, Deputy Director – UP Tourism and similarly In the Agra Meeting the Guest of Honour was Deepti Vatsa, Regional Tourist Officer along with Harish Kumar of Ministry of Tourism, GoI. Regional Chapter Chair, Sunil C. Gupta presided over the Agra meeting along with Prateek Hira. Uttar Pradesh Chairman of IATO and Varanasi meeting was chaired by Prateek Hira. The meetings discussed and deliberated on issues and problems faced by members in the state of Uttar Pradesh and solutions to these were instantly provided by the attending government officers and the IATO’s Regional chairmaen Sunil C. Gupta and UP Chapter Chairman Prateek Hira. Sunil C. Gupta enumerated the achievements of IATO and invited all members to register for the upcoming IATO Convention in Bhopal and take advantage of the knowledge sessions and familiarization tours planned thereafter. Prateek Hira on another hand spoke about the schemes of the governments and informed the members how each of them can take advantage of the schemes after registering with the state government. He also heard all the problems being faced by the members …

As the 39th IATO Convention is set to take place in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the association records 300 registrations within the first few days. More than 1,000 delegates from all over India are expected to take part in the convention. The key focus will be to promote the lesser-known destinations in Madhya Pradesh through post-tour activities.

“Tourism and hospitality play a crucial role in the growth of the Indian economy. However, there has been no policy announcement to facilitate the development of hotels and the promotion of inbound tourism”, says KB Kachru, President, HAI. The industry will continue to ask for a grant of infrastructure status for the hospitality sector, he said.