Category Archives: Agents

As per the India State Ranking Survey by Hotelivate in collaboration with World Travel & Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII), Gujarat experienced the most significant upward shift in rankings, moving up by 7 positions. Telangana demonstrated a remarkable shift, advancing from the 27th to 6th position, more than doubling its tourism spending. On the other hand, Punjab experienced a contrasting trend, dropping from the 9th to the last position.

To delve deeper into the dynamics of sustainable tourism, KPMG in India, in collaboration with HAI and FHRAI, has released a report titled ‘Sustainability in Tourism: Reimagining India’s Sustainable Tourism Evolution’. It stated that eco-tourism, one of the key segments of sustainability, in India is expected to grow at 15.7% between 2019 and 2027.

Deep Kalra, Chairman, WTTCII and Founder, MakeMyTrip, has said that there is a big pick up in religious tourism spurred on by Ayodhya. “A lot of people are looking at this, and not just seniors, we see a lot of younger people also looking at spiritual tourism in different parts of the country,” he added.

Sunny Sodhi, Managing Director of FCM Travel India suggestion to the corporate travel managers out there is to focus on content and user experience. “We are heavily investing in these two areas to ensure we have quality data and can use these insights to craft relevant business travel policies and programmes,” he says, adding, “With regards to corporate travel, we see a lot of inclination around consolidating the travel spends through use of technology where everything is available on a single platform.”

Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board and Universal Studios Hollywood interacted with key trade agents in Mumbai to share product updates. Andrea Blackman, International Sales Manager at Universal Studios Hollywood and Ms. Seema Kadam, Regional Director, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board interacted with key trade partners and travel trade media in Mumbai. The event was designed to share key updates of Los Angeles as a destination and the crucial partnership with Universal Studios. The event highlighted new and upcoming developments in Los Angeles.  The biggest event of 2024 is IPW – The travel industry’s premier market place which will be taking place in LA. Universal Studios Hollywood has a major role and will be hosting the closing night.  2024 also marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Studio Tour Los Angeles is the epicentre of entertainment, sports and art. LA is proud to be hosting the opening Men’s National team FIFA match in LA. Alongside, the city is gearing up for the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2028. Major art events like PST art, opening of Destination Crenshaw make it an exciting time to visit Los Angeles. “This year is truly special for LA as we gear up to welcome guests for IPW 2024. The city has so much to showcase with new museums, the opening of Destination Crenshaw – a $100mn outdoor art and culture experience and various sporting events in the pipeline including FIFA in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2028. Our partnership with Universal Studios is timeless as it offers an array of adventure, nostalgia and the true essence of cinema with one of  the oldest working studios!” says, Seema Kadam, Regional Director, …

To mark International Women’s Day, VFS Global Academy at Deoghar inaugurates its all-women batch for the Travel and Hospitality Certification Programme. This milestone event was launched by Dr. Nishikant Dubey, Honourable Member of Parliament from Godda, setting a new standard in empowering women through specialised education and career opportunities in the travel and hospitality sector. The opening batch was selected from among the students of the Rama Devi Bajla Mahila Mahavidyalaya in Deoghar. The three-month certificate programme comprises industry-aligned modules on basics of tourism, introduction to hospitality business, event management and communication skills. The initiative aims to increase employment opportunities for women in the travel and hospitality sector and encourage social inclusion. The programme will be offered at no cost to the students. “VFS Global has made a significant step in supporting women’s empowerment by starting an all-women batch. This move will surely motivate young women towards independence. Congratulations to VFS Global Academy for focusing on skilling the youth in Deoghar, especially for creating tailored programmes that empower young women”, said Dr Dubey “We are launching an all-women batch to encourage women to pursue careers in the hospitality industry, responding to their growing interest in this field. This initiative supports the Indian government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign and aligns with the International Women’s Day 2024 theme of #InspireInclusion,” said Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, VFS Global. Opened in August 2023 on the Software Technology Park of India campus in Deoghar, VFS Global has become a beacon of hope and opportunity for the community. VFS Global Academy, a part of VFS Global, the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, was established with …

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on Lucerne, on March 7 at 3 pm. Sited on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Lucerne provides travellers access to numerous excursions, activities and experiences. It is also the perfect gateway to exploring Central Switzerland. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.  

Underlining strong airline connectivity between India and the UK, including to regional destinations, Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, says, “Airline seat capacity from India to the UK is also showing strong recovery and growth. Looking at September 2023, seat capacity was up 53% compared to the same month in 2019. India is forecast to be a £1 billion inbound visitor market by the end of 2024, making it one of the UK’s fastest growing major tourism markets.”

Kenya Tourism Board has launched strategic marketing campaign that will provide incentives to travel agents to promote Kenya as their preferred destination. The campaign which will enhance awareness and drive conversions in the Indian market will involve engagement of both trade partners and consumers simultaneously. Kenya Tourism Board Ag CEO John Chirchir, stated that the board was looking forward to embark on the campaign and recognized the importance of the Indian market to Kenya’s tourism “India stands as a pivotal market for Kenya in the realm of travel and tourism, and we believe that this initiative will significantly contribute to strengthening our foothold in this dynamic landscape. With high expectations riding on this campaign, we aim to forge a robust bond with the travel trade and cultivate lasting relationships. We are confident that through this concerted effort, we will not only meet but exceed expectations, propelling Kenya to the forefront of travelers’ minds in India.” Said Chirchir While commenting on this, Director of Intrepid Marketing and Communications Neeti Sharma said that KTB would reap the benefits of partnering with a well-known platform in the Indian market that would help in showcasing the Kenya to potential Indian visitors. “We are thrilled to partner with Network 18 and our travel partners in this market to showcase the wonders of Kenya to the Indian audience,” she said “By engaging both trade partners and consumers, we aim to create a powerful synergy that will drive demand and position Kenya as the ultimate travel destination in Africa. We are confident that this campaign will not only drive conversions but also strengthen the bond between the travel trade in India and Kenya”. This campaign aims to create …

Sharing his views on some of the key drivers that is facilitating business travel in India, he said, “There are multiple factors that are contributing to this. Corporate growth in terms of revenue and EBIDTA margins are growing and by this FY end we will see India grow 18℅. FDI into India is at record levels. Moreover, the aviation boom in India with 700-odd aircraft in Indian skies right now is pushing business travel. It is a super exciting time in India. “