Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, President, DOT said how ‘Love the Philippines’ will promote tourism. He said, “Campaign will improve travel experience, build infra for ease of travel, promote regional products”. Will be guidepost for Philippines tourism industry, he added.

‘Meghalaya Tourism Policy, 2023 in Shillong’ aims to develop tourism sector as a game changer for the state and effectively augment its meagre resources by exploiting the abundantly available natural bounty that can attract visitors from across the globe.  

Gaurav Khanna, GM (Products & Industry Relations), FCM India, commented “The travel & tourism sector relies heavily on skilled manpower. The lack of workforce is a concern as it pressurises existing employees and resources, which is not sustainable for businesses in the long-term.”

SC Kamra, Advocate & Taxation Consultant, IATO questioned regularity with which govt. reduced turnover threshold from ₹500 cr to ₹10 cr. “Industry apprehends it to be ₹5 cr, taking tour operators’ compliance cost of e-invoicing,” he added.

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, accomplished the historic feat of transporting 50 million passengers in just eight years of operation. This accomplishment shows Vistara’s rapid expansion and the confidence that users have in the brand. Since its inception, Vistara has continuously strived to redefine air travel in India by delivering the highest standards of service, safety, comfort and reliability. Over the years, Vistara has attracted millions of customers over the years by providing a world-class product and the “new feeling of flying” while quickly growing its network and fleet. With a fleet of 61 aircraft, Vistara now connects 32 airports in India with 15 foreign locations via approximately 280 flights every day. Celebrating the milestone, Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara said, “We are filled with gratitude and delight as we celebrate this remarkable feat of serving over 50 million customers. This milestone stands as a testament to the trust and confidence reposed in us by millions of customers. In a short span of time, we have also emerged as the ‘16th Best Airline’ globally, and this extraordinary success is credited to the passion and dedication of our employees reflecting in every aspect of their work, regardless of the challenges they faced. We would like to thank our valued customers for their continued support and patronage over the years which has played a vital role in establishing us as a world-class airline. As we continue our journey, we are resolute in our commitment to deliver exceptional service and memorable experience to our customers.” Vistara has launched a special campaign – #50MillionFeelings, that aims to capture the fond memories, emotions, …

Rakesh Verma, Additional Secretary, Tourism, has said that currently there are 0.4 million cruise passengers who board cruises from India. “The target is to take it to 4 million by 2040. For that, there is work already going in strengthening of infrastructure and developing new circuits,” he added.

Speaking at a programme in Ponda-South, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said there is a vast scope in the tourism and hospitality sector in Goa. “The way star hotels are established in Goa and increasing footfall of tourists, in future Goa will become tourism capital of India,” he added.  

Naveen Kundu, MD, EbixCash termed the hospitality industry as the ‘sunrise industry’ having an immense potential. “80 per cent growth is expected from the hospitality industry over the next 5-7 years. Today, 25 % of the FDI coming to India will come through hospitality industry,” he said. 

According to the global tourism body, WTTC has forecasted that the sector will grow its GDP contribution to ₹ 36.8TN by 2033, approximately 7% of the Indian economy and will employ over 58.2 million people across the country, with one in 10 working in the sector. 

McArthurGlen has recently made an addition to its portfolio with Designer Outlet Paris-Giverny. The centre offers its guests the opportunity to experience the very best of French savoir vivre with a perfect combination of fashion, art and gastronomy from nearby Normandy, shares Matthias Sinner, Head of Tourism, McArthurGlen Group. Could you tell us more about the new MAG centre in Paris? Designer Outlet Paris-Giverny is McArthurGlen’s new luxury and premium shopping destination, located just to the west of Paris. The centre offers its guests the opportunity to experience the very best of French savoir vivre with a perfect combination of fashion, art and gastronomy from nearby Normandy. Spanning over 20,000 square metres, the centre boasts a thoughtfully curated brand mix of international fashion favourites including Missoni, Stella McCartney, Moncler, Philipp Plein, Vivienne Westwood, BOSS, Furla, Karl Lagerfeld, Tommy Hilfiger, Maje, Angelo Vintage, New Balance, Adidas, Claudie Pierlot, L’Oréal and Roberto Cavalli at a minimum of 30 per cent off. It also plays host to an exceptional line up of food and beverage options, including the globally recognised luxury Parisian establishments Ladurée and Angelina, famous for their delicate macarons and iconic hot chocolate respectively. For guests looking to treat themselves further, French gelato brand Amorino and an elegant champagne bar offer the perfect places to pause and relax while shopping, and the popular American burger chain Five Guys caters to customers craving a quick bite between visiting their favourite stores. How is this different to other centres? Not only does Designer Outlet Paris-Giverny have the McArthurGlen DNA, delighting visitors and providing them with an extraordinary day-out experience, it is also home to an exclusive Maison des Métiers d’Art, GVRNY, newly launched …