Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary for Tourism, emphasised that the tourism supply side is not growing due to unfavorable financial conditions. He urges tourism stakeholders to actively communicate their concerns to policymakers. He also emphasises that industry participation is crucial to shaping policies that drive growth. Encouraging states to adopt an entrepreneurial approach, he stressed the need for tourism to contribute beyond its current 5.04% of GDP.

According to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2025 Report, cost remains a key factor for value-conscious Indians, with 62% stating that flight prices play a crucial role in their decision-making process. To address this, Skyscanner has introduced a new feature that offers users options to secure the best deals.

Highlighting the uniqueness of Odisha, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism & Culture, GoI, says, “Odisha government must provide content to display at national tourism forums. We must establish the state’s flavours in the global market. Enhancing the tourism experience, expanding tourism product offerings, and developing holistic infrastructure are key to driving growth.”

Exploring the beautiful scenery of Thailand with Vietjet Thailand’s ‘Pay Day Hot Deals’ promotion, with fares starting from ₹8,900 (inclusive of taxes and fees) on daily direct flights between Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) – Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), domestic connecting flights to Thailand’s popular destinations—Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Krabi (via Bangkok, with check-through baggage service)—and the airline’s connecting international routes—Da Nang, Phu Quoc (Vietnam), and Taipei (via Bangkok, with a convenient stopover and check-through baggage service). Book from 25 – 28 February for travel between 1 April – 25 October (excluding public holidays; terms and conditions apply) at www.vietjetair.com. The special promotional tickets are applied to Vietjet Thailand’s daily direct flight services between Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) and Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi). Additionally, passengers can conveniently book domestic connecting flights from Mumbai to Thailand’s popular destinations—Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Krabi—via Bangkok with a seamless check-through baggage service. The airline also offers international connecting flights from Mumbai to Da Nang, Phu Quoc (Vietnam), and Taipei via Bangkok, ensuring a smooth stopover with check-through baggage service. The promotional fares are also available on all other distribution channels, including www.vietjetair.com, mobile app “Vietjet Air”, via Facebook at www.facebook.com/VietJetThailand by clicking the “Booking” tab, as well as travel agencies and booking offices. Payment can be easily made with international debit/ credit cards. Bangkok, the vibrant capital of Thailand, offers a captivating mix of tradition and modernity. Visitors can marvel at iconic landmarks like the Grand Palace and Wat Arun while immersing themselves in the lively atmosphere of markets such as Chatuchak, night markets, and floating markets. Renowned for its world-class street food, including Pad Thai and mango sticky rice, the city also boasts exciting …

During Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) India roadshow in Mumbai, Markus Tan, Regional Director, STB (India, Middle East, South Asia, and Africa), said, “In 2024, Singapore saw over 1 mn Indian visitors, making India its 3rd largest source market. We have big plans for 2025 as it marks 60 years of India-Singapore relations.”

Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali, Director, Tourism Malaysia, New Delhi Office said, “With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, we are focused on increasing arrivals from the Indian market. With the visa-free initiative, improved connectivity, and a strong focus on sustainable tourism, we aim to welcome more Indians.”

KR Naidu, MoCA, GoI, said, “India’s aviation sector will grow as the government intends to add 50 new airports in next five years. Currently, India has 159 operational airports, and by 2030, government plans to have 209 airports. “The government aims to drive India’s aviation sector to new heights,” he added.

Turtle Down Under, with Tourism Whitsundays and Brisbane Economic Development Agency, will conduct webinar on Romantic Australia: The Honeymoon Guide on 28 Feb, 2025 at 3 PM IST. Join and receive Amazon vouchers for top questions in Q&A session. Write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

VFS Global has launched a new Generative AI-powered chatbot to enhance customer support for travellers to the UK. The AI-Powered Chatbot not only utilises advanced Generative AI technology to offer human-like, conversational support, but does so through both voice and text commands, providing instant, accurate, and accessible information for customers travelling to the UK. Developed by VFS Global’s AI team, headquartered in Dubai, the AI-Powered Chatbot addresses the increasing demand for efficient customer support, allowing users to easily access the information needed to navigate the application process. Jen Vidler, Deputy Director, Cross Cutting Service Operations, Visa, Status and Information Services, Customer Services Group, UK Visas and Immigration, said, “The rollout of VFS Global’s AI-powered chatbot demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all customers. Providing instant access to accurate information about the visa application process will ensure we continue to offer the best service to our customers.” Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, added, “Technology and innovation have always been the cornerstones of our operations at VFS Global, and we are pleased to launch this AI-powered information solution which will significantly enhance the visa application experience for our customers travelling to the UK from across the globe. We are developing a range of AI and digital technology driven products to drive the next transformation in visa and consular services for our Client Governments and customers. We remain deeply committed to the responsible development of AI in accordance with the policies and requirements of our client governments.” The AI-Powered chatbot was developed using advanced Generative AI technologies, each trained exclusively on publicly available data from their respective VFS Global …

Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali, Director, Tourism Malaysia New Delhi Office stated, “Tourism Malaysia remains committed to attracting a growing number of Indian visitors, catering to their diverse preferences. The Indian market has been a significant source of visitors to Malaysia for over two decades. With the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign, we are focused on significantly increasing arrivals from the Indian market. With the visa-free initiative, improved connectivity, and a strong focus on sustainable tourism, we aim to welcome more Indian visitors and provide them with unforgettable experiences.” Tourism Malaysia intends to focus on niche products such as shopping, golfing, luxury tourism, soft tourism, theme parks and honeymoon packages to inspire the global campaign of Visit Malaysia 2026. Malaysia has witnessed an exceptional surge in Indian tourist arrivals, recording 1,133,331 Indian visitors between January and December 2024. This marks a 47 per cent increase compared to 2019 and a 71.7 per cent rise from 2023, highlighting the growing preference for Malaysia as a top destination among Indian travellers. India continues to be Malaysia’s second-largest inbound market after China for the medium-haul segment, and Tourism Malaysia remains committed to further strengthening this relationship. To further boost Indian arrivals, Malaysia has extended the 30-day visa-free entry for Indian nationals, making travel more convenient. This initiative has significantly shortened the travel decision-making period – from the previous 60-80 days to just two weeks – resulting in a rise in last-minute bookings.