Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Happy Valley, Pennsylvania, is steadily emerging as one of the East Coast’s most compelling tourism destinations. With its unique blend of natural beauty, local culture, and a thriving hospitality sector, the region is positioning itself as a go-to choice for both leisure and business travelers. Located just four hours from major metropolitan areas like New York City and Washington, DC, Happy Valley is capitalizing on its strategic location to attract visitors looking for authentic experiences away from the crowded cityscape. The Backbone of Tourism: Penn State University At the heart of Happy Valley is Penn State University, a key driver of tourism and local economic growth. Known not only for its academic excellence but also for its sports culture, the university draws thousands of visitors each year. Beaver Stadium, home to the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, is one of the largest stadiums in the country, with crowds that can exceed 100,000 on game days. In addition to sports tourism, Penn State’s numerous events—such as alumni reunions, academic conferences, and cultural festivals—serve as major attractions. The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, for example, draws more than 125,000 visitors annually, highlighting the area’s commitment to community-driven experiences and its growing appeal as a cultural hub. A Thriving Hospitality Sector To meet the increasing demand from visitors, Happy Valley’s hospitality landscape has evolved significantly in recent years. The region now offers a range of accommodations—from boutique hotels in downtown State College to quaint bed-and-breakfasts nestled in the countryside. Local initiatives aimed at expanding lodging options are well underway, ensuring that Happy Valley remains competitive with other East Coast destinations. The hospitality sector’s growth is also tied to its strategic push for business tourism. With new investments in …

IRCTC introduced ‘AskDISHA 2.0’ Al assistant to enhance user experience. AskDISHA 2.0 (Digital Interaction To Seek Help Anytime) is an AI, Machine learning and NLP based virtual assistant/ ChatBot/ VoiceBot that helps users perform various transactions like end to end train ticket booking including payment, canceling train tickets, change boarding station, check refund status, check PNR status, get offers and answer queries pertaining to various services offered by IRCTC, and more.

FLY91 will soon have direct flights between Goa and Solapur, further strengthening its commitment to enhancing last-mile air connectivity across underserved regions in India. With this addition, FLY91 connects eight destinations across the country, including four in Maharashtra, namely Pune, Jalgaon, Sindhudurg and now, Solapur.

NIMA and Jaipuria School of Business (JSB) have entered into an MoU to enhance career readiness of students in the tourism sector, with a focus on the MICE industry. The MoU was officially signed on 28 May, 2025, marking a significant milestone in industry-academia collaboration. This partnership is designed to enrich student learning through an industry-aligned curriculum, hands-on internships, live projects, and expert-led workshops. The initiative also extends to faculty development and tailored training programmes, reinforcing JSB’s position as a premier management institute specialising in tourism & hospitality. The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries from both organisations, including Dr Rajiv R Thakur, Director General, JSB; Dr Tapan K Nayak, Dean, JSB; Gajesh Girdhar, Founder & Chairman, Governing Council, NIMA; Rakesh Arora, Founder, Coordinator, Admin, Finance & Membership, NIMA and Vikas Khanduri, Advisor, NIMA. The MoU was formalised by Gajesh Girdhar, along with Dr Rajiv R Thakur and Dr. Tapan K. Nayak. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to bridge the gap between academic training and industry requirements, ensuring that graduates are future-ready for the dynamic demands of the MICE sector.

Agoda and Tourism Malaysia entered a strategic partnership to position Malaysia as a top travel destination in Southeast Asia, aligning with the national campaign for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). This partnership aims to leverage Agoda’s digital prowess to highlight Malaysia’s diverse attractions to a global audience.

Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, has revealed that in the next one year, they will launch 10 new international routes, which includes the recently announced Manchester and Amsterdam flights from July. Apart from this, the airline is planning to expand its long-haul network to London, Copenhagen (B787s) and Athens (A321XLR).

Highlighting the association’s vision during its Members’ Meet in Delhi, Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI, said, “We want India to be ranked amongst the best 10 in the world for adventure tourism by 2034. Due to our continued hard work in the past, our ranking has increased to 38 which is not good enough given our potential.”

Highlighting India’s SAF potential at IATA AGM, Amitabh Khosla, Country Director India, Nepal & Bhutan, IATA, said, “There is likelihood of domestically produced SAF in India for airlines from 2026. Air India & Indian Oil have joined global SAF registry. An MoU between NABCB & ISCC will enable certification, clearing rollout hurdles.”

Skål International India officially launched its Jammu & Kashmir Chapter with a special ceremony in Srinagar. This marks a proud moment for the sector as Skål becomes the first tourism association to enter J&K post Operation Sindoor, reinforcing confidence in the region and opening new avenues for tourism growth.

“We have seen a 25% increase in ITTA membership so far this year and expect the number to grow further with the target to reach 500 members by the end of this year,” said Satish Sehrawat, President, ITTA. New members from Delhi NCR and Agra have recently joined, reflecting the growing trust in our association, he added.