Category Archives: Agents

According to Madhavan Menon, CMD, Thomas Cook (India), “We will see Indians travelling both short-haul and long-haul. I think we are witnessing the so-called saver becoming a spender. This stems from one fact of their confidence in the economy. This is not coming from anywhere. It is not just pandemic driven. It is also the fact that people are confident that the economy is growing, their jobs are secure, and they expect things will improve from here.”

Speaking about expanding overseas, Rikant Pitti, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com says, “I never dreamed of expanding overseas. Conquering a global market is never easy. But we always followed our path of building patiently. We chose the right market, started building local partners. If you are planning to expand into a new market, there are a few things you need to take care of first, like cultural differences. You don’t want your customers to feel that you are alien to them. Being aware of their unique culture, language, and habits is essential for growth.”

The recent Agoda Travel Trend Survey concluded that respondents predominantly selected an annual spending range of USD 201-500  when considering travel budgets. The study polled participants from Asia (including India), Australia, and the United States.  Krishna Rathi, Country Director India at Agoda said, “As a platform that is passionate about getting the best deals for our customers, we wanted to look at travel options that fit well within the expected travel spends”. He also added, “Capitalizing on additional discounts in the Agoda app, or using money-saving features like ‘price freeze’ are great ways to make your money go further, and enable travelers to create and discover many different travel options”. Mumbai to Aurangabad (Domestic) A history buff, an adventurer, or a wanderer of roads less traveled – it’s about time you plan your next vacation to Aurangabad, a hidden gem located in Maharashtra. With a plethora of pocket-friendly flight options to choose from. You can pack in a five-day first-rate itinerary. Book your stay at the Amarpreet, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar – AM Hotel Collection – boasting of a modern yet cozy and leisurely atmosphere. Taj of the Deccan – Bibi Ka Maqbara – a stellar sight of Mughal Architecture. Elevate the adventure with some time at the Daulatabad Fort – a medieval defensive citadel, atop a conical-shaped hill. You may also plan a day trip to Lonar Crater Lake (Rs 10,640), located in the Buldana district. A spectacular astronomical wonder, the lake was formed due to a meteorite collision and also holds pink water – truly unmissable. Delhi to Muscat (International) Muscat, Oman is the undisputed choice for you if you fancy short-haul flights and international vacays without burning a …

Commenting on the monthly domestic passenger traffic data for April 2023, ICRA states that numbers for April 2023 is estimated at 129 lakh, similar to that in March 2023, though 22% higher in comparison to 105 lakh in April 2022 and 17% higher than pre-Covid levels of 110 lakh in April 2019. It added that despite a healthy recovery in passenger traffic, the domestic aviation industry continues to face challenges on account of elevated ATF prices and depreciation of the INR vis-à-vis the US$ compared to the pre-Covid era, both of which have a major bearing on the airlines’ cost structure. While the ATF prices have witnessed a sequential decline over the past four months, they still remain at elevated levels as compared to the pre-Covid era. The airlines’ efforts to ensure fare hikes proportionate to their input cost increases will be key to expanding their profitability margins.

According to Schengen Visa Statistics 2022, Indian travellers have one of the highest rejection rates in the world when it comes to Schengen visa. It states that Indians filed over 6 lakh Schengen visa applications in 2022, which happens to be the third highest in the world, but also faced a steep rejection rate of 18 per cent.

After a prolonged gap of many years, tourist transporters have been permitted to register BS VI complaint diesel tourist vehicles with a capacity  of more than 7 +1, buses and coaches, following the order of the Hon. Supreme Court. The application was moved by Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA). This is major relief to the tourist transporters, who have been unable to register such new vehicles for 8 years. This will help the industry successfully cater to G20 summit. Also barring of registration was putting financial burden on the transporters and was restricting their growth. Most importantly it will also create valuable tourism transport capacities to propel Indian tourism to cater to increased foreign tourists & domestic tourists over the medium to long run which will boost GDP and will also lead to enhanced employment, said Amrit Mann, Board of Director, FAITH – Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality

Announcing its unaudited financial and operating results, MakeMyTrip said in statement that profit for the period was $5.4 million in Q4 FY23, as compared to a loss of $4.1 million in Q4 FY22. Loss for the year has reduced significantly; loss for FY23 was $11.2 million as compared to a loss of $45.6 million in FY22, being a reduction of $34.4 million. Rajesh Magow, Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, commenting on the results, said, “We witnessed robust recovery in travel demand with significant improvement in consumer sentiment during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. We capitalized on this trend to deliver strong results with over 120% YoY constant currency growth in Gross Bookings. Our profitability expansion has also been significant, as we delivered a YoY increase of over 200% in Adjusted Operating Profit for the reported fiscal year 2023. We are glad that our strategy of investing in the right areas coupled with our initiatives to optimize certain costs has helped us to preserve and strengthen our moat. We remain well positioned for the next fiscal year with a strong pipeline of product innovation to further enhance customer experience.”

Rail Europe is proud to announce the launch of its latest offer: travel professionals and the whole industry willing to buy seat reservations for their customers holding a Eurail or Interrail pass are now able to do so via Rail Europe’s API and B2B website. Rail Europe is thrilled to provide this exclusive feature: The seat reservation that goes with a pass is a valuable asset to its range of products and functionalities, as it offers travel professionals the necessary information to book tickets for their customers holding train passes with ease. With this feature, agencies can quickly determine whether an additional seat reservation purchase is required for specific routes (such as TGV, Lyria, Eurostar, Frecciarossa, among others), and if so, the associated cost. This new offer further enhances Rail Europe’s commitment to providing the best possible travel experience and options for its customers. “The possibility of selling seat reservations for passes greatly contributes to the expansion of Rail Europe and to our mission to make train travel easy. We are now able to provide information about the required reservation type for nearly every train trip within Europe, which extends well beyond train tickets. We are thrilled to offer this fantastic and almost unique feature and can’t wait for our partners and customers to make the most out of it.”, says Björn Bender, President & CEO of Rail Europe. The seat reservation in addition to a pass holder fare is available for a range of train services across Rail Europe’s network. API partners and agencies willing to book seats with Trenitalia or SNCF for their customers using Interrail or Eurail passes can now do it with more flexibility and convenience …

Stotrak Hospitality, an eco-friendly boutique hotel chain with a diversified portfolio of properties across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, has unveiled their latest property ‘ Takhat Villa Kumbhalgarh, by Stotrak ’ in Kumbalgarh, a charming town in Rajasthan renowned for its splendid fort, architecture and vibrant cultural heritage. ‘Takhat Villa Kumbhalgarh, by Stotrak’ is the third venture of the eco-friendly boutique hotel chain in Rajasthan and nine overall. Stotrak Hospitality has already established its presence in Rajasthan with the Earth Resort & Spa in Ranthambore and Sam Dunes in Jaisalmer. Tthe Takhat Villa Kumbhalgarh by Stotrak consists of seven rooms constructed using local Kota stone. Manish Goyal, Founder of Stotrak Hospitality, commented “Kumbhalgarh, a charming town in Rajasthan, is renowned for its picturesque Kumbhalgarh Fort. This magnificent fortress, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds t historical and architectural significance. At Stotrak Hospitality are endeavour has always been to capture the essence of the town’s rich history as well as its vibrant culture. Our private luxury villas embody traditional architecture, designed with local Kota stone and adorned with antique furnishings, creating a warm and cosy atmosphere. Furthermore, the prime location offers leisure travellers a modern and contemporary space to unwind and recharge.”

Sharing his views on the immediate repercussions of Go First bankruptcy, Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, says, “Aviation is a business fraught with uncertainties. With capacity being pulled out after the Go First airline development, airfares will increase further, especially since we are in the peak holiday season.”