Category Archives: Agents

In a paradigm shift from one-stop location-specific approach, Kerala has firmly marked itself as a destination for extended holidays for all segments of visitors with diverse experiences across the state like homestays, drive holidays, wellness vacations and adventure activities, State Tourism Director, V R Krishna Teja, announced. “Year 2022 is going to be the year of Kerala Tourism. The year ahead is packed with events and festivities including the Kerala Travel Mart in May, Champions’ Boat League (CBL) and Kochi Muziris Biennale besides several cultural and literary fests and adventure tourism activities,” he said.

G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, has launched an e-marketplace platform at a special event organised to coincide with the International Women’s Day at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Gwalior. This portal will be similar to platforms like OLA, Uber, etc, which would help Incredible India Tourist Facilitators & Guides (IITFs/IITGs) to get business opportunities and work as a bridge between the customer and the service provider.

In a strategic initiative to capitalize on the high pent up travel desire post the third wave, Thomas Cook (India) Limited – India’s leading omnichannel travel services company and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have organised India’s first physical consumer roadshows – across over 30 cities pan India. The holiday roadshows have been organised over weekends at viable catchment areas of India’s metros, mini metros like Pune and Tier 2 markets, including, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Hubli, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Indore, Bhopal, Mangaluru, Coimbatore, Kochi, Vijayawada, Surat, Baroda, etc.  On the back of positive announcements on easing of restrictions, reopening of borders, vaccine acceptance and reduced infection rates, the Companies’ internal data reveals high pent up travel demand from Indian consumers. With the upcoming long weekends and school spring and summer breaks, over 85% of its customers have expressed keen interest to plan their holidays.  To support its customers, Thomas Cook and SOTC’s holiday roadshows have been organised at central locations across high potential catchments across over 30 of India’s key cities. Weekends have been selected to offer families the convenience to walk-in at leisure and plan their holidays together with the companies’ experts present on-ground to guide/assist them on travel and health & safety related queries. The Companies’ product range includes India and international favourites, and a diversity of options to delight consumer segments across multigenerational families, millennials/young professionals and couples/honeymooners. In addition to special group tours (accompanied by an experienced Tour Manager), the holiday portfolio includes personalised tours for a group of friends/extended family, individual/solo trips and customised options, specially designed based on the customer’s unique preferences.  Special Offers: Buy One Get One – Companion Free* across select India & International …

During the pandemic, Australian Tourism interacted with the Indian tourism industry through a series of webinars and virtual meetings, strengthening their ties. Also, the Australia Global Summit had the highest participation from the Indian travel industry. Australian tourism reported a doubling of agents’ participation in their Aussie Specialist Agents (ASP) programme in India in 2022 in comparison to 2019.

The 06th edition of the Bengal Travel Mart, East & North East India’s largest B2B travel show, was held at Mayfair Tea Resort in Siliguri from March 5th to 7th, 22. Gautam Deb, Mayor Siliguri Municipal Corporation was the chief guest. BTM’s aim is to create Siliguri as a hub for the Eastern Himalayas’ inbound domestic market, providing opportunity for buyers and sellers to closely interact on a productive platform.

From 1ST March 2022, there will no longer be a quarantine obligation requirement even for those arriving from non-EU countries. To enter Italy, any of one of the Green pass certificates like vaccination certificate, certificate of Covid 19 recovery or negative test result will be sufficient. This was established by an ordinance signed by the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza. We are moving more and more towards the relaxation of the Covid containment measures. The Italian government has decided to further simplify arrivals from abroad to support the tourism sector. The end of the quarantine regime for arrivals from abroad is another fundamental step in the government’s plan, for a new phase of co-existence with the virus. The executive order has already lifted the mandate to have a swab test for those arriving from European Union countries. The measure goes hand in hand with an improvement in the epidemiological situation after the recent re-opening of night clubs and the end of the mandate to wear a mask outdoors. This will put an end to the state of emergency by 31st March 2022. Among the measures envisaged in the Government roadmap that is put forth by the Minister of Tourism Mr. Garavaglia, is the elimination of the Super Green Pass mandate in hotels. At the moment, this law mandate which was enforced in Christmas 2021 still remains in force in all hotels and accommodation facilities. Starting April 2022, in view of the Easter holidays, it should be easier for Italian and foreign tourists to stay in hotels with the abolishment of the mandatory use of the Reinforced Green Pass as it will be no longer necessary to have a Covid vaccination …

Kerala Tourism will roll out aggressive promotional campaigns across the country, targeting diverse segments. The campaigns will be based on various themes and will be bolstered by a series of travel trade networking activities, including participation in trade fairs, and B2B roadshows. Dr. Venu V, Addl. Chief Secretary (Tourism), said, “The theme-based projects have been made after meticulous planning. Some of the new projects, like the biodiversity circuit, and Caravan Holidays, in particular, will take the travellers to Kerala’s unexplored areas while observing all the pandemic protocols, thus helping the state go beyond established destinations.”

With Maharashtra opening up for tourists, its tourism department has started rigorously promoting various tourism segments. Maharashtra tourism department has organised 20 mini festivals all through February and March. It will also conduct FAM tours for tour operators in March from various cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru.

The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has decided to include cruise ride, water and adventure activities at 20 tourist destinations in the state. Scuba diving, water rafting, speed boats and banana boats among other activities are expected to begin soon as a regular sport for tourists at 20 water bodies of the state. It has invited expression of interest (EOI) from investors for organising cruises. Umakant Choudhary, deputy director of adventure and water tourism at MPTB, said, “We have 22 notified water bodies. Recently we have issued expression of interest for cruise operations. Other water sports such as scuba diving, water rafting, speed boats and banana boats will also be introduced at selected locations.”

Abu Dhabi has updated its Covid-19 travel protocol as on March 1, 2022 and has removed the requirement for PCR test to travel to the country for fully-vaccinated Indian travellers. Key changes include no rapid test required under six hours at the airport and no RT PCR test required under 48 hours. Children under 16 are exempted.