Tag Archives: India

India has extended a free e-tourist visa to the Philippines’ nationals. This decision comes after the Philippines declared a 14-day visa-free entry to Indians. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, made the announcement following the bilateral talks with Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, on his official visit to India.

India has emerged as the world’s fifth-largest aviation market, handling 241 million passengers in 2024, according to IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics. The Mumbai–Delhi route ranked 7th among the world’s busiest airport pairs. Asia Pacific dominated the ranking, with only Jeddah–Riyadh, located outside the region, in the top 10.

Nepal saw a surge in tourism with over 70,000 tourist arrivals by air in the first seven months of this year. Sharing the details, Nepal Tourism Board said among the international tourists, Indians topped with 27,152 (38.7 per cent) visitors in July.

Rajiv Mehra, General Secretary, FAITH, emphasised that the upcoming FAITH Conclave will spotlight the need for unified policies, improved infrastructure and global marketing to boost India’s inbound tourism. Addressing issues like visa bottlenecks, taxation, and destination readiness, the event, which is slated to to held on 12 – 13 August in Delhi, will focus on collaboration, sustainability, digital transformation, and skilling to position tourism as a national economic driver.

In a written response, Kirti Vardhan Singh, MoS, External Affairs, informed the upper house that India has granted over 96 lakh e-visas to foreigners from 2020 till July 20 this year, the government informed Parliament. The number of countries eligible for the e-visa facility has increased from 171 in 2020 to 181 in 2025, she added.

The latest GBTA Business Travel Index forecasts global business travel spending to reach $1.57 trillion in 2025, with a 6.6% year-over-year growth. A stronger 8.1% rebound is expected in 2026. Notably, India ranks among the fastest-growing markets in the top 15, highlighting its expanding role in global corporate travel.

Balitrip Wisata is set to bring Bali’s best to India with a four-city B2B Sales Mission in August. The roadshow will be held in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kochi, and Kolkata on 4, 5, 6 and 8 August, respectively, featuring direct hotel partners and exclusive deals. Travel trade professionals can discover new products and connect with Bali’s top hospitality brands, driving economic empowerment and a more resilient future for India’s evolving travel industry.

Speaking at the PHDCCI event, Rajeev Jain, Director, Rashi Entertainment, said, “The way this industry is expanding, I truly feel we’ll have a Wedding Ministry in 10 years. State ministers, central ministers, even the Prime Minister are now talking about weddings and concert tourism.” He hailed the wedding industry as a ‘serious contributor’ to the economy and national tourism strategy.

“The government is targeting to increase tourism’s share in the country’s economy to 10% by 2047, in line with global standards,” said Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, at the CII Annual Business Summit. He emphasised the role of tourism as a powerful generator of jobs and called for trained human resources for the sector.

“India’s medical tourism market is set to surge from $18.2 billion in 2025 to $58.2 billion by 2035”, said Someswara Koundinya, Director, KPMG India, at the FHRAI Summit in Delhi. The country ranks 10th in the medical tourism index and 7th in wellness tourism, attracting 2 million international patients from 75 countries, he added.