TravTalk hosted special panel discussions on ‘Importance of India Market in the GCC’ and ‘Enticing Indian Tourists’ at ATM 2024. During these sessions, Alhasan Aldabbagh, President, APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority; Markus Tan, Regional Director, India, South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Singapore Tourism; and  KD Singh, Founder and President, TravelBullz discussed strategies and initiatives to attract Indian visitors.

As per International Air Transport Association (IATA), in March 2024, there was 13.8 per cent increase in global passenger demand vis-a-vis the same month in 2023. International passenger demand saw a rise of 18.9 per cent compared to March 2023, while domestic demand rose to 6.6 per cent, showcasing a positive landscape for aviation industry.

While appreciating the development of temple corridors at a seminar in Varanasi, Hari Babu Kambhapati, Governor, Mizoram said, “Pilgrimage tourism is one of the growth engines of the country’s economic development. ” According to him, the temple economy plays a significant role in boosting other allied businesses like hotels, restaurants, transport, etc.

As per HVS Anarock, total air traffic in India reached 370 million in 2023, a 26 per cent increase over 2022. This includes 303 million domestic air traffic, and 66.6 million international air traffic, and 9.2 million foreign tourist arrivals. Fueled by favorable demographics, and increased investments both leisure and business travel increased in the country.  

The four-day Arabian Travel Market (ATM), 2024 begins at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The international travel trade event witnesses a 21 per cent year on year increase in the participation of hotel brands, while new travel technology products register a 58 per cent increase. Over 41,000 attendees are expected this year.

As per CAPA India, almost 250 narrowbody aircraft are likely to be deployed on routes up to 5 to 7 hours range from India. This would be 2.5 times the current deployment of aircraft. This expansion will create significant network deployment and strategic challenges for airlines to be able to find sufficient markets for such capacity.

Sharing updates about IATO during its monthly meeting, Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said, “After the general election when the new government is formed, ‘Chalo India Roadshows’ will take place. He revealed that they will launch a social media global campaign from ATM in Dubai which will start from 6-7 May aimed at fostering growth in M!CE.

According to CAIT, Knot Worldwide, and Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, India’s wedding market is the second largest in the world, next to the US. The forecast expects 40 crores weddings to take place in the next 15 years. As per Wedding Wishlist, over US$50 bn Indian Wedding market is expected to grow at a 30% CAGR.

Rail Europe invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on Eurail passes as well as booking passholder fares on agent.raileurope.com today at 3pm. Participate in the quiz and win exciting prizes! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

On Monday, April 29th, 2024, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (MNTO) kicked off its highly anticipated roadshow in New Delhi. This inaugural event showcased invaluable insights, networking opportunities, and an exclusive firsthand look at the latest offerings from Morocco’s vibrant tourism industry. The event, aims to foster closer ties between Moroccan tourism stakeholders and key players in the Indian travel sector. Jamal Kilito, Country Manager India, MNTO, led the destination presentation, providing valuable insights into Morocco’s unique cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and exciting tourism initiatives.