Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Go City® (formerly Leisure Pass Group), the world’s largest attraction pass business, re-establishes its presence in India through Global Destinations. It is present in over 30 destinations from London, New York, Singapore, Dubai, to cities across America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Talking about the APAC & Indian market, Dan Penner, Senior Commercial Director – APAC says, given the importance of Asia Pacific, over the last few years Go City® has invested heavily in building a presence in the region. “We are seeing India emerge as a very strong market and our passes are well received by trade partners and consumers. We have seen a huge increase in outbound travel from India this year, with most purchases to London, Singapore, Dubai and Paris. Our expectation is that New York and the rest of the US will return significantly next year. In 2025, India is expected to hit 29 million outbound travellers which accounts for 6% of the urban population. We believe by appointing Global Destinations we will be in the best position to capture this market.” Pranav Kapadia, Founder, Global Destinations comments “We are happy that Go City® has recognised the potential in outbound travel from India and to represent Go City® once again. Post Covid, India has become one of the fastest growing outbound markets, hence now is the perfect time for Go City® to re-stablish its presence in India.”

Referring to MOT’s recent partnership with MakeMyTrip in which the OTA will showcase India’s 600-plus offbeat destinations via a microsite, Union Minister of Tourism Kishan Reddy, said, “We welcome MakeMyTrip’s initiative to present India’s diverse destinations and to promote domestic tourism. We invite more such initiatives to realise our collective dream of showcasing our country to the world.”

The Ministry of Tourism has selected Lakshadweep for a holistic mission to be developed as a sustainable and responsible destination under its Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme. Meanwhile, the Lakshadweep administration is planning to develop eco-tourism projects in 11 islands in public-private partnership, according to federal policy think tank NITI Aayog which has sought proposals from consultants.

Vietjet, Vietnam’s low-cost carrier, inaugurates a direct route connecting Kochi (India) and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), opening further opportunities to travel easily between the ancient commercial port of Southwest India and Vietnam’s leading economic and cultural central; additionally promoting the development of economic relations and cultural exchanges between the two cities, two countries. Vietjet has once again demonstrated its pioneering spirit by becoming the very first Vietnamese airline to operate direct flights between Kochi and HCMC. Four weekly return flights – departing every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday – promise passengers a swift journey of just over 5 hours, rendering distant destinations remarkably accessible. This achievement follows Vietjet’s successful establishment of direct flight routes to India’s foremost economic, cultural, and political centers, including Mumbai, New Delhi, and Ahmedabad. Departing from Kochi at 23:50 (local time), the flights will gracefully touch down in Ho Chi Minh City at 6:40 (local time), facilitating seamless journeys for travelers. Return flights from Ho Chi Minh City will take off at 19:20 and land in Kochi at 22:50 (local time), ensuring convenient options for both outbound and inbound travelers.

IndiGo is opening up new gateways between India and Central Asia, with the announcement of new flights between to Baku.  The capital city of Azerbaijan will be connected to Delhi four times a week, starting August 11, 2023. Baku is the 30th international destination and 108th overall destination in the 6E network. This fascinating new route will not only provide enriching experiences to business travellers but also mesmerize leisure travellers seeking culturally immersive journeys. With the inauguration of this flight, IndiGo proudly stands as the sole Indian carrier to operate direct flights between the two destinations. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, said, “We are delighted to introduce our new direct flights connecting Delhi and Baku, the capital and commercial hub of Azerbaijan. This is the 30th International destination in the 108 cities in the IndiGo network and has been driven by the increasing demand for travel from India. Moreover, as a popular destination known for its thrilling F1 city track and modernity, Baku promises to offer a captivating experience, while also serving as a gateway for travelers from Azerbaijan to explore India’s rich culture & heritage. IndiGo continues its commitment to providing affordable, on-time, courteous, and hassle-free travel experiences across an extensive network for our valued passengers.”

Sharing an interesting update about a possible improvement in air connectivity between India and the Philippines, Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Undersecretary, DOT, said, “The DOT secretary, Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco, is more focussed on developing routes. Our President has just signed the Airlines Services Agreement between Philippines and India. Both the governments will now discuss better air services between the two countries which will lead to direct flights soon.”

Clarks Collection signs a new property in Pune under its umbrella. The brand Clarks Collection Pune will cater to business travelers, upscale tourists, and experiential-seeking travelers. The brand is already making a presence in the western part of India, by opening many properties in different cities of Gujarat. They are now entering Maharashtra by opening the first property in Pune. By the end of the financial year 2024, the brand will add 10 more properties to the current portfolio. They are looking for geographical expansion in Ajmer, Udaipur, Kumbalgarh, Ahmedabad, etc. The newly signed property is centrally located and enjoys good connectivity. It is spread over an area of 22000 sqft. The property will have 87 rooms inventory spread across categories, each room will be furnished with all the amenities, needed by the travelers to make their stay comfortable. The resort is equipped with all the facilities, for a family picnic, couple celebration, corporate gathering, or for a memorable outing. They will also have banquet space spread in an area of 2000 sqft, along with a small lawn for conducting functions, corporate meets, or any other event. Various experientials will be curated targeting different sets of audiences. The in-house restaurant will serve multiple cuisines, chiefly North Indian, continental, and also Maharashtrian food. Mr. Prakash Bedi, Vice President, of Clarks Collection shares, “We are planning to expand pan India and targeting 65% occupancy in the coming financial year. We believe experience plays an important role in the hospitality industry, and we are designing personalized itineraries for our guests. We plan to showcase our newly signed property as a major hub for mice and family outings. But all this luxury will not …

According to Statista India market insights, the largest segment in Travel & Tourism is package holidays with a projected market volume of US$8bn in 2023. The revenue in this market segment is projected to reach US$19bn in 2023.

Natalie Kidd, Managing Director, Asia, Intrepid Travel shared, “This year when India has reopened, and we are back to operating at more or less at normal circumstances. India has been slow to recover than much of Asia and visas has been part of the reason.”

KB Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group shared that Radisson Group is setting its sights on growth and have a remarkable number of properties in the pipeline. “Our goal is to build a hotel every four hours both from north to south and from west to east,” he said.