Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Seeking to attract investments worth Rs 15,000 crore and position Telangana among top five states in domestic and international tourist arrivals, the state government has tabled its ‘Telangana Tourism Policy 2025-2030’. The first-ever dedicated tourism policy, after the formation of Telangana, also aims to create additional employment opportunities for three lakh people in the next five years besides enhancing tourism contribution to 10% or higher of the Gross State Domestic Product.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said, “By 31 March 2025, we should achieve the same arrival figures we had in March 2020. Thereafter, we can focus on increasing those numbers further. Hotel rates should stabilise, airfare should stabilise, and the Government of India should immediately begin promoting tourism abroad through both print and electronic media to attract more business.” 

As per ixigo, domestic airfares to popular mountain destinations have surged due to rising demand. Flights from Mumbai to Dehradun saw a 13% increase in fares, while New Delhi to Srinagar fares jumped by 18%. Jammu emerged as a hot destination, with bookings up by 147% year-over-year (YoY). 

Julia Simpson, President and CEO, WTTC said, “We are keen to talk to the Indian government to ensure that it is reaching out to the aviation sector to help produce more sustainable aviation fuel because we can’t really do tourism without aviation. We need the aviation sector. We will have more people travelling by air and we need to do that more sustainably. And the only real opportunity right now is through sustainable aviation fuel. So we really encourage the Indian government to incentivize its production.”

According to ForwardKeys, in 2024, inbound travel to India shows a promising recovery trend, with a 9% increase compared to 2023 and a 5% increase above pre-pandemic level in 2019.  Key regional drivers of this growth are the Americas and Europe, which continue to lead the recovery.  The Americas demonstrate a strong demand for India as a destination, growing 7% year-on-year and 22% compared to 2019. 

Lily Beach Resort & Spa invites you to experience an unforgettable Festive Season in tropical luxury from December 22nd, 2024, to January 5th, 2025. This year’s celebration features captivating performances by renowned painter Elvira Carrasco, magician Adrian Chong, and the dazzling fire dancer Igor, all set to create magical moments throughout the festivities. The extensive program is designed for both adults and children, ensuring a truly memorable holiday for everyone. Festivities begin on December 23rd with early morning yoga and meditation, followed by exciting snorkelling excursions. In the evening, the enchanting Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place, accompanied by traditional carols—a must-see for guests of all ages. On December 24th, the day will start with sunrise yoga at Tamara Spa, followed by an island and snorkelling excursion. The evening will feature a sumptuous Christmas Gala Dinner, which Lily Beach is known for. As the award-winning All-Inclusive resort, Lily Beach most recently won the Wine Spectators Award for Excellence 2024 for the exquisite selection of more than 80 premium wines available at the resort. The dinner will be followed by a lively Bingo game, and performances from a live band and DJ, creating a fun-filled evening to dance the night away. Christmas Day, December 25th, brings an artistic touch with a live painting session by Elvira Carrasco, who will captivate guests with her distinctive style. Guests can participate in her art sessions, have their portraits painted, or simply marvel at her talent. Elvira will be on the island through January 1st, concluding with an art exhibition. The day’s festivities will continue with snorkelling, a lagoon-side Champagne toast, and an Asian Street Food dinner, followed by live music and karaoke to …

The Education Promotion Society for India successfully hosted a comprehensive Round Table Discussion and Felicitation Program on December 16, 2024, in New Delhi. The gathering brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and educational entrepreneurs to discuss the transformative role of the private sector in higher education in India. The programme commenced with an insightful inaugural address by Prof. Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Chairman of the National Board of Accreditation, setting the stage for thoughtful dialogues on the “Role of the Private Sector in Transforming Higher Education in India.” The round table discussion, moderated by Mr. Gurucharan Gollerkeri, Director of M S Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, featured eminent speakers such as Dr. Vedprakash Mishra, Pro-Chancellor of Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research; Dr. Amit Banerjee, Chancellor of Siksha O Anusandhan; Prof. Victor Gambhir, President of JECRC University, Jaipur; Prof. N J Pawar, Vice Chancellor of Dr. D Y Patil Vidyapeeth; and Dr. Ajit Parulekar, Director of Goa Institute of Management. The discussion highlighted innovative approaches to enhancing accessibility and bridging the skills gap in higher education. Private institutions bring in significant innovation, investment, and expertise, playing a crucial role in enhancing the quality of education, introducing cutting-edge technologies, and fostering industry-academia collaborations. Following the discussion, a session on Leadership and Excellence in Education was held, with Prof. T G Sitharam, Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education, delivering the chief guest address, emphasising the necessity for private sector involvement in education. Dr. MR Jayaram, President, EPSI Chancellor, Ramaiah University said, “The participation of the private sector is vital for creating a more inclusive and accessible education system that can cater to diverse populations and drive socio-economic development. It …

Clarks Resort announced the appointment of Sarvesh Kumar Singh as General Manager. With over 20 years of extensive background in hospitality, he has served in all the departments. His skillsets includes managing finances, promoting and marketing the business, grievance handling, ensuring the smooth running of the property, in his new role he aims to maximize revenue and optimize operational costs. Throughout his career, Mr. Singh has made significant contributions to renowned Domestic brands such as The Great Kabab Factory, Le Meridien, Brij Gajkesari Bikaner and many more. In his new capacity, he will be responsible for the development of strategies and asset management within Clarks Resort portfolio. His proficiency in enhancing business processes is expected to improve commercial effectiveness across all projects under the brand. His appointment is a testament to the brand’s commitment to excellence and reaffirms its position as India’s fastest-growing hotel brand. Mr. Prakash Bedi, VP, Clarks Safari, Resort & Collection shares,” Clarks brand is growing at a fast pace, with new property signing, and entering domestic market, Sarvesh would be perfect for the role. His extensive experience in managing properties, entering virgin markets, will help in increasing the revenue and the market share.” Sarvesh Kumar Singh shared “It’s a privilege to join Clarks Resort the Archis Castle, especially in the current time, when the brand has witnessed impressive growth in recent years. I am enthusiastic about playing a crucial role and contributing to the ongoing success of our new ventures throughout India. Together with my team, we can explore new opportunities and put the brand on the domestic map.”

South African Tourism on Friday concluded the third leg of its 10th edition of the ‘Learn South Africa’ workshop in Kochi, following successful events in Chandigarh and Nagpur. This initiative aimed to engage key travel trade partners across India, particularly focusing on the growing interest from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Over 100 travel trade partners from Kochi participated in the event, offering beyond its well-known destinations like Cape Town and Johannesburg and helping them to gain insights into South Africa’s hidden gems such as Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal India remains one of the largest source markets for South Africa, with increasing interest from smaller cities like Kochi. Indian travellers are on the lookout for diverse experiences that range from thrilling adventures to rich cultural explorations. In response to this demand, the workshop equipped travel partners with the necessary knowledge and tools to create customized itineraries tailored for travellers in India. The objective of South African Tourism is to position the Rainbow Nation as a premier choice for leisure and MICE travel. Commenting on the event in Kochi, Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager for Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East at South African Tourism, stated: “We have witnessed notable trends among Kochi travellers, such as a growing preference for experiential travel, wellness tourism, and adventure activities. Further, travellers from this region are rapidly emerging as a significant market for South African tourism, we have seen a notable increase in inquiries from local travellers seeking unique and offbeat experiences in H1 2024. Our collaboration with local trade partners has been exceptionally positive, reinforcing our belief that this will drive more Indian travellers to explore the lesser-known regions of South Africa. …

Sharing his views on the future of the traditional travel agent, Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, says, “Many debate whether the agent should now provide support or not, depending on their experience. Few have helped and won the client back, few have helped only to have the client book online again. Eventually, it comes down to the relationship and trust between both. Both OTAs and traditional travel agents are here to stay as long as they adopt the use of technology and grow their reach. Time is money! A client can either spend time to research and book online or get an agent to do it for him.”