Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Benchmark Travel Representations is proud to announce its appointment as the Indian Representative of Speke Holidays-Uganda & Rwanda. Founded in 2008, Speke Holidays is one of Uganda’s premier destination management companies and the first to foray into the Indian market offering high-quality, full-service travel & safari arrangements across Uganda & Rwanda. Speke Holidays is committed to sustainability and environmentally responsible practices and does everything they can to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever they operate. Speke Holidays also employs an extensive team of safari guides to ensure every safari is spectacular. “Partnering with companies renowned for their innovation, commitment, and personalized approach is crucial to our global strategy. Our collaboration with Benchmark, bolstered by their network as well as their sales and marketing prowess, is poised to drive our long-term growth in the Indian outbound market,” affirmed Tony Mulinde, Founder and Managing Director of Speke Holidays. Benchmark Travel Representation will oversee business development for the brand across the key source markets of India. Commenting on the recent partnership, Savio Pereira, Managing Director, Benchmark Travel Representations stated, “As a travel representation company we are delighted to associate with Speke Holidays. Leveraging our industry expertise, we are poised to unlock new business opportunities, provide sales & marketing support to Speke Holidays and enhance ROI nationwide.”

ITTA has elected Satish Sehrawat as the new President of its management committee. Other newly elected office bearers include: Krishan Dutt Yadav as Vice president; Bobby KS Sawhney as General secretary; Mahesh Shukla as Joint secretary. Moreover, the newly elected executive committee comprises of Jaspal singh, Amarjit singh, Rajesh Tokas, Madhukesh Malhotra, Sanjay Nagar, and Paramjit Gujral.

–  International Museum Day on 18th May – The first City Museum of the state will be built in the left wing of Moti Mahal in Bhopal, while the right-wing will house the Mahapratapi Raja Bhoj Sangrahalaya – New cultural experience to be gained at Tribal Museum with 7 additional houses of 7 major tribes of the state In a historic move, the Government of India has approved the establishment of the first-ever City Museum in Bhopal. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is setting up the Bhopal City Museum at the left wing of Moti Mahal is a one-of-its-kind project of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board to bring forth a Tourist Interpretation Centre / Citizen Engagement Centre for the heritage and culture lovers. Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture and Managing Director of the Tourism Board Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla said that Moti Mahal is an important heritage site in the city and with the high significance of the building, the proposed museum with 11 galleries will focus on the rich history of Bhopal and Madhya Pradesh covering the Historical and Geographical context of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal district and the formation of the city of Bhopal in particular. This highly anticipated museum will showcase the rich tapestry of the region’s history and culture. Visitors can expect to be dazzled by a collection of prehistoric rock paintings, stone tools, archaeological finds, stamps, attire of king and queens from Bhopal and surrounding areas, ancient sculptures, temple remains, and exquisite art from the Bhopal Nawab period. Modern technology will be utilised to create an engaging and informative experience for all age groups. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh is …

Recently concluded PATA Annual Summit in Macao has set a new record for industry, attracting an impressive turnout of over 400 delegates from more than 25 destinations. This remarkable number of registrations marks the highest in PATA’s history since COVID, signalling the unwavering determination of industry professionals to rebuild and reimagine tourism.

Euromonitor International Voice of the Consumer and Lifestyle Survey 2024 has unveiled a notable decline in consumer interest and engagement in sustainable initiatives. With this shift, the onus falls on governments, key stakeholders and destinations to address this shift in consumer behaviour and drive meaningful changes to promote responsible tourism.

Olivier Ponti, Director of Intelligence & Marketing, Forwardkeys, shared that high airfare posed a significant obstacle recently due to strong demand and limited supply. As capacity returns, airfare is beginning to see a dip, although remaining 4% higher than 2019 levels by the end of April 2024. Despite some fluctuations, the global trend indicates a positive shift.

Leading the visionary path of the new wave in cruising is Avalon Waterways. Avalon Waterways has redefined river cruising by blending luxury, customization, and attention to detail to create unparalleled travel experiences. With their innovative Suite Ships, featuring the only Open-Air Balconies, and delivering immersive local experiences, Avalon invites travelers to see the world from the unique perspective of the legendary European rivers. In the mission to ensure their travel partners receive a sample of what the experience offers, Avalon Waterways, in partnership with Ottila International hosted a memorable river cruise familiarization on the Danube River, sailing from Vilshofen, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. The select partners sailed on “Danube Dreams” which is a favorite program with many discerning cruisers. They were hosted aboard “Avalon Envision” from amongst the youngest fleet of ships on Europe’s waterways – and witnessed some of Europe’s most spectacular picture postcards views. Mr. Varesh Chopra, Managing Director – Avalon Waterways, South Asia & Middle East said, “Along with Ottila International, we got the privilege of introducing our esteemed partners to the magic of Avalon Waterways cruises and also enriching the knowledge of those already familiar with the brand. The feedback from the advisors has been truly overwhelming!” This demonstrates our dedication to providing unforgettable travel experiences and fostering lasting relationships within the travel agent community. It also underscores the growing interest in river cruising, with Avalon Waterways leading the charge of Mission River Cruising in India. Adding more excitement to this entire effort are the unbeatable deals being offered aboard Avalon waterways in 2024 – so, if your savvy travelers have been looking to explore Europe in a whole new way – There is no comparison …

Vietnam Airlines started its maiden flight from New Delhi to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh on 15 May. Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager India, Vietnam Airlines, said, “The move symbolises our commitment to providing passengers with world-class travel experiences.” They have also opened an informative centre for travellers’ convenience.

Air India has partnered with Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based, family entertainment, for Air India’s Flying Returns (FR) loyalty programme, effective from 8 May 2024. Now, Flying Returns members will earn reward points when they buy tickets to Merlin’s ‘Madame Tussauds’ across nine locations around the world.

European Commission in recent data revealed an increase in Schengen visa applications in 2023. India has emerged as the key contributor in this, securing the third spot in the rankings for the number of short-stay visa applications. The country has lodged 9.66 lakh visa applications in 2023, an uptick from 6.7 lakh applications in 2022.