Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Indian Millennials took an average of 3.5 international trips in the past three years, making them the most travelled generation, according to MMGY. Meanwhile, Gen Z travellers are setting the pace for future spending, with a 14.2% projected increase in travel budgets, indicating that younger Indians are prioritising travel.

Aloke Singh, MD, Air India Express, said Indian carriers’ capасity is set to outpace demand, potentially leading to lower fares. The airline will add about 15 aircraft in the 2025-26 fiscal year. This 45% capacity increase is expected to raise monthly passenger numbers to 2.5 million from 2 million next year.

According to a report by Phocuswright, Indian OTAs are exploring new revenue streams by offering travel ancillaries and white-label solutions to banks, retailers and loyalty programmes. As more non-travel brands enter the space, OTAs are enabling easy integration through plug-and-play systems.

Arunachal Pradesh Tourism has introduced a new policy to support homestays across the state. Tourism Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona said, “We will give incentives to homestays that are running well.” The government is also partnering with platforms like Airbnb and MakeMyTrip to increase bookings, he added.

Maintaining an asset-light strategy, Dusit Hotels & Resorts India’s tally touches 10 hotels with fresh signings in Raipur, Bhiwadi, Kolkata, Lonavala, Kasauli, and Manali. Siradej Donavanik, VP, Global Development, Dusit Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are aiming for 5-6 operation properties in the coming years and achieving the 3000 keys target in the next 5 years.”

Sharing his vision for Digi Yatra to be known as the ‘Travel stack of India’, Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra, said, “We would like to enable the next phase of our journey, enabling international end to end seamless travel and to make the app available for Indian and global citizens. We are working with IATA, ICAO and other ministries to make this dream come true.”

Calling India the second-largest producer of films and OTT content after Hollywood, Naveen Kundu, MD, Ebixcash Travel Services, said, “The film tourism market is anticipated to increase at a high CAGR of 6.8% during 2022 to 2032 and will boost filming, driving tourism to lesser-known Indian destinations. As per a report, it could generate $3 billion in revenue for India and boost tourism by 31% on average, with some locations seeing up to 300% growth.

As per new research by MMGY Travel Intelligence, passport-carrying adults in India intend to spend an average of $4,755 on leisure trips in the next 12 months, pinpointing a 14% increase in spending over the past year. Caroline Moultrie, President, MMGY Global, said, “India is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most influential outbound travel markets.”

VFS Global successfully concluded its six-city roadshow, attracting an overwhelming response from the travel trade community. More than 750 travel agents participated in the events held across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chandigarh, and New Delhi. Organised ahead of the peak travel season, the roadshow aimed to strengthen VFS Global’s engagement with travel agents – key partners in supporting visa applicants. The initiative was supported by leading travel trade associations such as the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), and the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), whose leadership echoed the importance of collaboration between industry stakeholders. “The response to our roadshows across cities has been truly heartening, and the positive feedback from the travel trade means a great deal to us,” said Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global. “Travel agents are an essential part of India’s travel ecosystem, often being the first point of contact for visa-related guidance. It’s important for us to remain connected with them, understand their concerns, and do all we can within our remit to support both them and the travellers. These roadshows reflect our continued commitment to working closely with travel trade.” During the roadshows, VFS Global introduced a dedicated referral programme for travel agents, designed to encourage closer collaboration and improve the overall visa application experience for its customers. Travel agents were also encouraged to advise customers to apply early for visas to avoid peak season delays. VFS Global reminded attendees that most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days in advance, with Schengen countries accepting applications as early as six months prior to travel. UK visa applications can be submitted …

Los Angeles Tourism invites you to the third and final webinar in its exclusive travel trade series on 8 April at 3 PM IST. Stay updated with the latest insights from the partners on the city’s vibrant attractions, experiences, and travel offerings. Attend all three webinars and qualify for a special prize! For more info or to register, please contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.