Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

Caroline Bremner, Senior Head of Travel Research at Euromonitor International, said destinations that deliver safety, relaxation, value, good quality food and drink and access to natural attractions would continue to do well. She noted that younger (Gen Z) travellers, much preferred personalised, authentic local experiences, with price not so much of a consideration, relative to much older baby boomers who seek value.

Mauritius Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on the destination and get valuable insights and updates for your clients today at 11:30am. Join the webinar and stand a chance to win a fam trip! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Oman Air has unveiled a significant enhancement to its distribution capabilities, ushering in a new era of convenience and choice. Partnering with Accelya, a global leader in software and technology solutions, the airline has introduced cutting-edge functionality that will enable its trade partners to seamlessly manage their customers’ travel needs. Part of the airline’s ambitious retail transformation programme, it leverages the latest IATA New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology, representing a substantial advancement from the previous booking tools available to travel agents. “NDC stands as a pivotal tool, empowering us with enhanced flexibility and control over our distribution channels. Oman Air’s NDC journey has yielded significant growth in recent years and our partnership with Accelya marks an important milestone in this journey” commented Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “Not only does the new upgrade support us to streamline our customer experience and enable us to scale up and provide more robust services, it also represents a significant reduction in our distribution costs, paving the way for more efficient operations and revenue diversification.” Sam Gilliland, Chick Executive Officer at Accelya, added “We are delighted that Oman Air has chosen Accelya to take control of their retailing future and help them on the journey to Offer & Order transformation. More and more airlines, covering a range of scale and operating models, are choosing Accelya’s FI X Platform due to our track record of delivering fast, impactful results. Our partnership with Oman Air is an example of how Accelya is leading the market in modem wtail solutions and bringing the benefits of our technology to customers.” In addition to enhancing its distribution capabilities, Oman Air is bolstering its loyalty system, also …

According to data from Adara, a RateGain Company, an impressive 62% of all hotel searches from India in the last two months have been for France. The allure of witnessing the Olympics, combined with the romantic and cultural magnetism of Paris, has captured the imagination of many. Contrary to the search data, Germany has outpaced France in actual hotel bookings, receiving 19% of all bookings from India, compared to France’s 16%. Several factors contribute to this trend, reflecting practical considerations over aspirational searches.

Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its three-city roadshow in India. Led by MTPA’s Director, Mr. Arvind Bundhun, and featuring a delegation of 21 esteemed partners from Mauritius, this roadshow exemplified the robust bond between India and Mauritius and the promising potential for collaborative growth within the tourism sector. The roadshow commenced in Pune, followed by Chennai on the 29th of May, and Jaipur on the 31st of May, catalysing synergies within the industry. Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), expressed his delight regarding the success of the three-city roadshow in India. He stated, “I am immensely pleased with the success of our three-city roadshow in India. With increased activities and more flights from India to Mauritius, this roadshow was crucial for us as MTPA is committed to facilitating seamless travel experiences and showcasing the diverse attractions Mauritius has to offer. We extend our sincere gratitude to all those who participated in making this roadshow a resounding success.” The Chennai leg of the roadshow was graced by Mr Donald Payen Chairman MTPA. His esteemed presence underscored the paramount importance of India as a key tourism partner for Mauritius and laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation. Sunil Mathapati, Country Manager MTPA India, conveyed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled with the responses of the travel agents in all the three cities. The enthusiasm and interest shown by attendees reaffirm our belief in the appeal of Mauritius as a top tourist destination. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to promote Mauritius and strengthen the ties. With such positive feedback, we are motivated to further enhance our outreach activities and provide travelers with …

The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), the official destination marketing organization for Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA, appointed Indiva Marketing to drive leisure visitation, awareness and visibility in India. Indiva Marketing will be responsible for sales and marketing activities, communications, and media relations, to position and develop business and media exposure for what is known as Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. This region, located in the middle of Pennsylvania, is home to Penn State University’s main campus. The population center of the county – the Centre Region – includes State College Borough and the townships of College, Harris, Patton, and Ferguson. Additional communities include historic Bellefonte and Boalsburg, and the charming towns of Millheim, Aaronsburg, Centre Hall and Philipsburg. Happy Valley’s central location provides convenient access to major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. “We are delighted to announce Indiva Marketing as our representative in India to position and promote tourism to Happy Valley,” said Fritz Smith, President and CEO of The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. “We look forward to welcoming travellers from India to discover our scenic valleys and agricultural corridors, and abundant outdoor recreation in our six state parks and forests, as well as to savour our authentic farm-to-table cuisine. Additionally, we parents of prospective college students seeking a first-class education in the United States to visit Penn State University while on their university tour. “Penn State University’s new Palmer Museum of Art, which is located next to the beautiful Penn State Arboretum, houses an extensive collection spanning ancient ceramics to 20th-century American art,” Smith continued. “Nearby Beaver Stadium – the second largest stadium in the nation – stands as the spirited home to the Penn State Nittany …

Girisons Airways India, the Direct Selling Agent of Cyprus Airways, along with Cyprus Airways announces special flight-hotel packages for Indian travellers. Cyprus Airways is the national carrier of Cyprus operates flights to all major cities of Europe & Dubai from Larnaca. Indian travellers can now visit Cyprus on their European holidays. To facilitate this, we have now introduced “Flight + Hotel” packages. This package includes return flight from Rome/Milan/Zurich/Paris/Brussels to Larnaca (Cyprus) plus three nights hotel accommodation on all inclusive basis. Shreyder Elena of Cyprus Airways and Vivek Jain of Girisons Airways, are very excited about this package and wish to introduce Cyprus as a holiday destination to Indian travellers. These packages can now be booked in India through Girisons Airways located in Colaba, Mumbai via +91 9820060421

As reported in Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2024, globally, 44% of travellers are using AI to help them plan and research travel, but its use varies a lot depending on the market. 45% of Indian travellers, for example, are already using AI on their phones compared to just 8% in the UK. The next logical step is to use the AI technologies now available to us to help these travellers in the discovery phase of their travel planning journey.

To increase the number of visitors from India to South Africa and address the visa challenge, Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism of South Africa, said that the tourism ministry is in talks with the president about a visa waiver of up to 90 days for Indian travellers. The ministry must collate a joint report with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of State Security regarding this matter. She has recommended that India should also enjoy the BRICS visa waiver of 90 days, as is done for Brazil and Russia.

Tourism Malaysia, along with Sarawak Tourism Board, invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on discovering Sarawak – the Gateway to Borneo and the Land of the Hornbills – on May 21, 2024 at 3pm. Participate in the quiz and win exciting prizes! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.