Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Addressing the session at The India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai: ‘Meet in India: Emerging Hub for Business and Social Events’, Rakesh Verma, Additional Secretary, MOT said, “India possesses excellent convention and hospitality infrastructure, unparalleled cultural, natural attractions and a rapidly growing economy all of which act as catalysts to India emerging as a hub of business and social events.”

The IATO wrote to PM seeking respite in travel norms and financial aid to overcome the crisis that, has worsened after international flights were postponed. Rajiv Mehra, President IATO, with 1,700 members, want the 7 day quarantine to be waived for vaccinated travellers with a negative RT-PCR report and urged the Centre for financial support to small and medium tour operators, to help save lakhs of jobs.

Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas unveiled the logo for the ‘Fam 2 Malabar 500’ initiative, that will bring around 500 tour operators from India and abroad to the districts of Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kasaragod this year to familiarise themselves with the region’s potential as a vibrant tourism hub.

At the India Pavilion in Expo2020 Dubai, Rakesh Verma, Additional Secretary, MoT said that India is a highly attractive market for exhibitions due to its rapid economic growth and rising demand from consumers and businesses. “India possesses excellent convention and hospitality infrastructure, unparalleled cultural, natural attractions and a rapidly growing economy all of which act as catalysts to India emerging as a hub of business and social events,” he explained. 

FHRAI has written to Prime Minister seeking a special relief package for the tourism and hospitality sector due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-induced lockdowns. The association has requested that the Centre treat it as the “most distressed sector due to Covid-19. The industry has reported losses of ₹140,000 crore and around 500 lakh jobs were lost due to the pandemic. 

In the wake of Omicron, 95% of international bookings and 80% of domestic bookings have been postponed or cancelled said Sunil Gupta, Chairman Northern Region, IATO. “We have been severely impacted by the surge and Omicron, it is disheartening since we work hard on bookings and itineraries and everything suddenly cancels” he added. 

New highways and airports have been the biggest help the government has provided to the tourism industry. The improved road network in Uttarakhand and the improved flight connections in J&K and Ladakh are set to benefit the states. “With the development of Jewar Airport, both Uttar Pradesh and Delhi are likely to witness an increase in foreign and domestic travel once things return to normal” said Jaideep Dang, Managing Director, Hotels and Hospitality Group, South Asia, JLL in CII Northern Region Summit on Tourism & Hospitality 2022. 

At the session, ‘Adventure & Wildlife: The untapped potential of Incredible India’, G Kamala Vardhan Rao, DG, MOT, said, “For adventure tourism, India will emerge as a major destination. Gulmarg is identified as an alternative skiing destination by international ski lovers as Alps are already saturated with traffic. While we have infrastructure but the international standard infrastructure needs to be created, to attract more skiers.”

Madhya Pradesh Government is offering land at 8 potential land parcels & 3 heritage properties in the state to set up tourism projects, through online bidding process on attractive conditions such as; long term lease for 90 years, minimum reserved price per hectare, 1% lease rent per year of the premium, properties can be mortgaged to avail loans.

As per the analysis by Forward Keys, there are signs to be optimistic about the future in 2022. Following four key trends show the potential to make a difference in the near future- while the international travel recovered, domestic travel remained strong, the gap between leisure and business travel is narrowing, the APAC region is to reopen soon and the pent-up demand is real, people still want to travel.