Page 6 - Travel

Domestic travel, tourism sector ready to capitalise on upcycle: IHCL MD

The Indian travel and tourism sector is well-positioned to capitalise on an upcycle, driven by factors, including the demand-supply gap, penetration opportunities in Tier II and Tier III markets and rebound in foreign tourist arrivals, according to Indian Hotels Company Ltd Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal. In his address to shareholders in the company's Annual Report for 2023-24, Chhatwal said the Tata group hospitality firm is uniquely placed to capitalise on the opportunities provided by a dynamically growing industry. The company plans to make its 'Gateway' brand -- a full-service hotel offering in the upscale segment targeting emerging micro markets in metros, Tier II and Tier III cities -- 100 hotels portfolio by 2030, he added. "In India's evolving economic landscape, tourism has emerged as a powerful force driving not only economic growth but also forging a path towards a brighter and more inclusive future. With its rich cultural heritage and warm traditions, ...

Indian overseas spending hits all-time high of $31.7 billion in FY24

The yearly remittance data shows a robust inclination among Indians towards international travel, with expenditures totalling $17 billion in FY24

India to be power house for airline growth on travel eagerness: Report

India is expected to be a power house for future airline growth driven by the eagerness of people to travel and growing population, according to a report. In a report, the Netherlands-based ING Bank NV said India is set to deliver strong structural growth figures, and airlines are preparing for this with historically large orders for new aircraft from carriers Indigo and Air India. "The country plans to open a range of new airports, and strategically located countries such as the UAE, with the world's second largest airport in terms of passenger traffic in Dubai are anticipating strong transit passenger growth from Asia," it said. The report focusing on the outlook for the global aviation sector also noted that the long-term global growth outlook -- 20 years -- has generally been tempered in the post pandemic era to a range of 3-4 per cent annually instead of 5-6 per cent, with Europe seeing the lowest growth figure. Further, it said that one of the main reasons is that flying is

Visa free travel between Russia, India likely by year end, says Russian min

Consultations between Russia and India on a bilateral agreement to ease travel will begin in June, a Russian minister has said, adding that Moscow and New Delhi were set to strengthen their tourism ties by launching visa-free group tourist exchanges. "India is at the final stage of internal state coordination," Nikita Kondratyev, director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry's Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects, was quoted by RT News as saying on Wednesday. The minister at the sidelines of the International Economic Forum Russia - Islamic World: KazanForum 2024 in Kazan said the first discussion on a draft agreement was scheduled to take place in June, and a signing was expected by the end of the year. "Russia and India are set to strengthen their tourism ties as they gear up for the launch of visa-free group tourist exchanges. The first round of consultations between the two nations is scheduled for June, with an aim to finalise a bilateral

Slow travel is the next big thing & Ahmedabad is among top 10 destinations

Slow travel is an approach to travel that stresses on connection: to local people, cultures, food and music

Emirate of Ajman records 7% growth in tourism revenue in Q1 of 2024

In 2023, October recorded a 5 per cent increase in tourism activity, leading to a significant 11 per cent rise in visitor numbers

Planning a trip: Check out countries with mandatory travel insurance

Travel insurance covers various risks and expenses associated with travelling, both domestically and internationally

Travel, tourism sector expected to add 58.2 mn jobs by 2033: NLB Services

With a continued growth momentum, the travel and tourism sector is all set to add 5.82 crore jobs across the country by 2033, a top executive of global technology and digital talent solutions provider NLB Services said on Monday. "The growing synergy of the sector has led to steadfast employment generation across the country both in tier I and II locations. In the pandemic year 2020, the tourism sector accounted for 39 million jobs, constituting 8 per cent of the nation's total workforce. Post the pandemic recovery tenure, this was one of the sectors that saw the quickest recovery," NLB Services CEO Sachin Alug said in a statement. Incidentally, talent demand in tourism recorded a 44 per cent spike in August 2023, and 1.6 million additional jobs were expected to be added in the calendar year 2023, he said. With the continued growth momentum, the travel and tourism sector is all set to add 58.2 million jobs by 2033, throughout the country, he added. Serving as a crucial source of ..

Ayodhya to Ujjain: Indians prefer spiritual trips over family, solo travel

There is a notable interest in spiritual journeys within tier-2 and tier-3 cities, with searches for destinations with or around religious spots growing 97% in the last two years

Top searched travel destinations by Indians

MakeMyTrip has compiled insights from the travel searches of their 100 million+ users in its India Travel Trends Report. Watch the video and dive into where Indians are jet-setting off to and who they

Hilton Holdings Q1 result: Revenue up 12% at $2.57 bn, beats estimates

The company forecast annual adjusted profit of between $6.89 and $7.03 per share, up from the previous range of $6.80 to $6.94 per share

Gen Zs, millennials prioritising travel, spending more on experiences

The survey identified an emerging generation of travel-focused, value-driven 'savvy explorers' in APEC who seek to maximise their travel dollars and unique travel experiences

For summer holiday, discover 8 countries with visa-on-arrival for Indians

For their summer holidays, Indians can travel to 43 countries that provide visa-on-arrival

This is India's decade as global destination for investments, travel: VFS

India has a vibrant and diverse economy, a large young population and a rich cultural heritage which make it attractive for investors and visitors, according to the CEO of the world's largest visa outsourcing company. Zubin Karkaria, founder and CEO of VFS Global, said India is undergoing a rapid economic and social transformation. "This creates new opportunities for business, trade, tourism, and culture. I truly believe this is India's decade," he said. "In VFS global, we are very optimistic about the prospects of India as a global destination, as a source, both for inbound tourism and outbound travellers. India has a vibrant and diverse economy, a large young population, and a rich cultural heritage. These factors make India attractive, both for investors and visitors, he told PTI in a recent interview. Known for creating a new industry of visa and passport outsourcing, VFS Global in just 22 years of its inception operates in 149 countries through 3,353 application centers. So fa

Kerala sets record with 21.8 mn domestic tourist arrivals in 2023

Kerala has set a new record in domestic tourist arrivals in 2023 with 2.18 crore tourist footfalls, a 15.92 per cent increase from the previous year, Minister for Tourism and Public Works P A Mohamed Riyas said on Monday. In 2022, Kerala witnessed 1,88,67,414 domestic tourist footfalls. Significantly, domestic tourist arrivals recorded an increase of 18.97 per cent compared to 2019, the minister told a press conference here. In 2023, Ernakulam district witnessed the highest influx of domestic tourists with 44,87,930 visitors, followed by Idukki (36,33,584), Thiruvananthapuram (35,89,932), Thrissur (24,78,573), and Wayanad (17,50,267). The state also witnessed a healthy increase in international tourist arrivals with 6,49,057 visitors in 2023, as compared to 3,45,549 tourists in 2022, indicating a remarkable growth of 87.83 per cent. Ernakulam district was visited by 2,79,904 tourists from abroad, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (1,48,462), Idukki (1,03,644), Alappuzha (31,403), and

Visa applications to beat pre-Covid levels in 2024, says VFS Global

In 2023, visa application volumes saw a 16 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth compared to 2022, taking it to 93 per cent of pre-pandemic levels of 2019

Hotel industry's revenue expected to grow 7-9% in FY25, says ICRA

The Indian hotel industry is expected to report a 7-9 per cent revenue growth in FY2025 with occupancy likely to be at decadal highs, ratings agency ICRA said on Tuesday. Sustenance of domestic leisure travel, demand from meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), including weddings and business travel despite a temporary lull during the election period are likely to drive demand in FY2025, ICRA said in a statement. Spiritual tourism and tier-II cities are also expected to contribute meaningfully in FY2025, it added. ICRA said domestic tourism has been the prime demand driver in FY2024 and is likely to remain so in the near-term. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) are yet to recover to pre-Covid levels and the improvement would depend on the global macroeconomic environment. "Demand is expected to remain strong across markets in FY2025, as consumer sentiments continue to be healthy and corporate performance is stable," ICRA Ltd Vice President and Sector Head Corporate .

Hospitality industry expects 11-13% revenue growth on domestic demand

The hospitality industry is expected to clock 11-13 per cent revenue growth in 2024-25 on steady domestic demand and a rise in foreign travellers, a report said on Monday. This revenue growth will follow a likely 15-17 per cent growth in the current financial year, backed by steady domestic demand and ramp-up in foreign travellers, Crisil Ratings said in a report on Monday. The strong demand dynamics along with modest new supply will keep the operating performance of the industry healthy over the near term, the report added. According to the report, the healthy operating performance will augur well for the industry profitability where the EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization will continue the strong momentum over the current and the next fiscal. This, along with limited capital expenditure, will keep the credit profiles strong, the report noted. "The domestic travel demand, which remained a key driver this fiscal, will sustain next year as wel

Iran announces visa-waiver for Indian tourists for maximum of 15-day stay

Iran on Tuesday announced a visa-waiver programme for Indians entering the country by air for tourism for a maximum stay of 15 days. The visa-free entry has been rolled out for Indian citizens from February 4 subject to four conditions, the Iranian embassy said. In December, Iran approved a new visa-free programme for India and 32 other countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. The Iranian readout said individuals holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter the country without a visa once every six months, with a maximum stay of 15 days. "It is important to note that the 15-day period cannot be extended," it said. "The visa abolition only applies to individuals entering the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran for tourism purposes," it said. It said Indians wanting to stay for a longer period or make multiple entries within a six-month period or requiring other types of visas must obtain necessary visas fro

Lyft guarantees weekly earnings in a bid to lure more drivers

Last year about 15% of Lyft drivers across United States earned less than 70% of what riders paid, after external fees, but Lyft assured to pay difference if drivers made below 70% at end of week