The formal collaboration between the Cambodia Oknha Association (COA) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has formally given way to the establishment of the India-Cambodia Joint Business Council (ICJBC). Cambodia’s tourism ministry revealed that Cambodia welcomed 68,836 Indian guests last year, a jump of 102%.

HRAWI recommends reform in GST framework for restaurants within hotel premises. “The sudden jump in GST from 5 per cent to 18 per cent when room rates exceed ₹7500/-, creates uncertainty for guests and places hotels at a disadvantage. We have submitted a representation to the Government,” said Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI.

Malaysia moves ahead to become the 4th largest source market for inbound travel in India as per the PATA report. It will climb to the 4th spot in 2024 from 7th rank in 2019, beating Australia. In mild scenario, International Visitor Arrivals (IVAs) from Malaysia to India is expected to go up by 176.7% in 2024.  

Thailand is pushing for a long-term reciprocal visa-free scheme for Indians as the country is all set to become world’s third-largest economy by 2027. The current temporary visa exemptions for Indians have boosted the business for both countries. By 18 February 2024, almost 258,269 tourists travelled to Thailand.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “The boom in outbound travel from India is driven by the growing middle class. In 2020, only 37 million households had annual income between $10,000-$35,000, but owing to rapid economic growth, by 2030 it will rise to 177 million households.”

Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, said, “Last year, India ranked 2 in terms of tourist arrivals in Bali. This year, our global target exceeds 14 million tourists, with an aim to attract 700,000 from India alone, owing to increased direct flights.”

Homa Mistry, CEO, Trail Blazer Tours India said, “New routes are launched because new airlines and airports are coming in but they do not stay there for long. It becomes a real demand and supply issue and promoting a destination becomes a problem. Thus, continuity and commitment are important for inbound.”

70 per cent of Indians travelling overseas choose nearby destinations, with one-third choosing destinations in the Middle East, as per booking.com and McKinsey report. The UAE is the top choice in the Middle East for outbound visits, followed by Saudi Arabia. Around 1.9 million Indians visited Dubai in first 10 months of 2023.

To accelerate wedding tourism in Rajasthan, the state tourism department has announced to provide the luxury train, Palace on Wheels, for destination weddings. It will be available for pre and post-wedding shoots. This will increase revenue for the train and will create new opportunities in the tourism sector.

Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA highlights India’s unparalleled aircraft acquisition spree, with the country poised to witness the delivery of nearly three new aircraft per week over the next four years. This surge, coupled with initiatives like Air India’s restructuring, will enhance India’s competitiveness in the region.