Category Archives: Breaking News (All Categories)

Anil Kalsi, Vice President, TAFI has shared that the TAFI Convention had vibrant business sessions focusing on burning issues of NDC, travel scenario in the Artificial Intelligence and discussions on new avenues for revenue generation. The members also learnt about innovative and historical venues in Ninh Binh for meetings and conferences.

Speaking about bridging the gap in terms of skilled labour in the hospitality sector, Dr Sagnik Chowdhury, Deputy Director General & Regional Director (West & Central India) at Ministry of Tourism say, “The Ministry runs 21 central institutes of hotel management across the country and there are a number of state institutes of hotel management. The skilled manpower requirement is expected to be plugged by students who undertake diploma courses, craft courses, certificate courses. We are planning to increase our capacity of training students for even these skill-based courses so that the growing demand for skilled manpower is met.”

Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO, Asego, has revealed that they will launch a new product called Chatmate, where the customer will get a global e-sim when they buy a product. “This e-sim will stay with the customer for life and they can use that number and top it up as they go. The cost is very low as compared to what they would pay to any domestic telecom provider,” he said.

According to Philippines Tourism Secretary, Christina Frasco, the country welcomed nearly 80,000 Indian visitors in 2024, an over 12% growth compared to the previous year. She said, “While this number is smaller relative to our ASEAN neighbours, it represents significant growth. We see tremendous potential in India’s outbound tourism market, and we are committed to making the Philippines a top destination for them.” Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs began introducing electronic visas for Indian nationals in the past year.

Lords Hotels & Resorts is embarking on a significant expansion plan following the impressive success and growth achieved in 2024.  The group currently manages a portfolio of 70 hotels and is planning to add over 15 new properties by the end of 2025. It is actively expanding its presence in key regions, including Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh, among others. Pushpendra Bansal, COO, expressed his enthusiasm stating “We are incredibly proud of the significant growth we achieved in 2024 and the enduring trust our partners and stakeholders have in our brand. Our iconic hotels, incredible food and beverage offerings, and unparalleled event venues reflect the commitment to delivering unmatched service and True Value Hospitality.” Vikas Suri, Vice President – Operations & Development added, “The demand for mid-segment upscale hotels is increasing and is expected to continue in the coming years, as travelers increasingly prioritize value for money. We aim to leverage this trend by expanding our operations further in Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities across India and internationally.”

VFS Global has launched its new user-friendly and efficient online platform to make Indonesia’s Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) application process seamless for travellers, promote inbound tourism, and enhance overall customer experience. The platform is in line with Indonesian government’s ongoing efforts to enhance its tourism infrastructure and services to welcome 14 million visitors in 2025. VFS Global’s new e-VoA platform, is available for nationals of 97 countries, including India. Travellers can now enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey through VFS Global by completing the entire process online and receiving a pre-approved e-VoA before departure. Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Business Development, VFS Global, said, “As a company, we are constantly working towards innovations which provide a seamless visa application submission experience to our customers. The launch of this innovative, secure, and user-friendly digital e-Visa on Arrival platform for Indonesia will undoubtedly streamline the visa application process, making it faster, easier, and more convenient. With Indonesia being a globally sought-after destination, we are honoured to assist visitors from 97 countries by facilitating their entry into this incredible country through this platform.”  

Southeast Asia has long been a favoured region for Indian travellers due to its connectivity, says Jia-En Poon, Senior Manager, Sales, Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), and this trend continued in 2024. “This past summer, Southeast Asian destinations that were the top choice for Indians included Singapore, Bali, and Bangkok. We have also observed travel demand from India to Koh Samui, Krabi, Penang and Malacca,” he says. In terms of traveller profiles out of India, he has observed mainly leisure travellers, workers, and VFR traffic. “India is an important market for Scoot. It is a country with tremendous growth potential as it rapidly establishes itself as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, fuelled by a burgeoning middle class, rising disposable incomes and the expansion of both domestic and international flights routes. Customer preferences are also continuously evolving, and it is important for us to stay close to the market and understand what customers want from a low-cost carrier,” Poon adds. The increase in the number of airports and low-cost airlines has significantly enhanced connectivity throughout the country and to global destinations, making air travel more accessible. He adds, “By 2025, the aviation industry is expected to be in a state of transformation, driven by technological advancements and significant infrastructure investment. While challenges remain, the overall outlook suggests a resilient industry adapting to new realities and striving for a more sustainable future. With these evolutions in the aviation and travel landscape, we need to continually adapt to ensure that these expectations are met. We aspire to find ways to differentiate ourselves from other low-cost carriers.” The airline currently operates to over 70 destinations across 18 countries and …

Sharing his expectations from the Union Budget 2025 for the hospitality sector, Vishal Kamat, Chairman, CII Maharashtra Chapter, said, “Our hopes for the Union Budget 2025 revolve around meaningful policy reforms and strategic incentives to stimulate growth. While we applaud the government’s hefty investments in infrastructure, the hospitality sector needs more than just highways and airports.”

Targeting wider expansion, Vikram Cotah, CEO, GRT Hotels & Resorts, said, “Our strategy is to saturate the south. With resorts in Kodaikanal, Yercaud, Wayanad, Mamallapuram, and Puducherry seeing surging demand during peak holiday season, the company wants to ride the leisure boom with more properties in scenic locales, such as its upcoming ultra-luxury property in Pachalur.”

Samual Machado, MD, India and South Asia, Sabre Corporation, has said that NDC and airlines will not kill GDS. “With NDC, we all will be able to consume the content in a manner where we can be relevant till 10-30 years from now. It has no objective of killing the GDS,” he said while speaking at the TAR Convention in Vietnam.