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.

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.