As per Raja Yaqoob Farooq, Director Tourism, J&K, in 2024, the Union Territory witnessed 2.7 million tourist arrivals. Furthermore, the J&K administration launched an ambitious plan to develop 75 new tourist destinations, 75 heritage and cultural sites, 75 Sufi and religious sites, and 75 adventure treks, to attract tourists across all four seasons.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, GoI believes that a well-thought-out policy framework is essential to address existing challenges in the tourism sector. “We should undertake carrying capacity studies to assess factors such as vehicular traffic, room availability, waste management, disaster resilience, etc.,” he added.

As per Cleartrip report, in 2024, Southeast Asian destinations have emerged as travellers’ top choices due to affordable travel and payment innovations adopted by Gen Z and senior citizens. Bookings to Denpasar (Bali) surged by 73 percent compared to 2023. However, on domestic front, bookings to Agatti Island in Lakshadweep rose by 94 per cent, due to increased air connectivity.

FHRAI suggested Ministry of Tourism to establish a central portal by NCHMCT to address the ongoing human resource shortages and skill gaps faced by the hospitality industry. It also suggested updating curriculums every 3-5 years as per industry trends, and balancing the allocation of seats for both managerial and frontline roles.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi urged the Centre to announce a special package for the eastern state, stating that about ₹10,000 crore of investment was needed to create a world-class tourism infrastructure in Odisha. He made the demand at the pre-budget consultation meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

The Ministry of Tourism expects 30.5 million international visitors to come to India by 2028. According to Pradeep Shetty, Vice President, FHRAI,  hotel occupancy rates are anticipated to rise to 75 per cent or higher, driven by increased leisure and business travel and a surge in foreign arrivals. The MICE segment is set to contribute significantly, with India hosting multiple high-profile global events.

Omar Abdullah, CM, Jammu and Kashmir urges to explore untapped potential of diverse tourist destinations in Jammu beyond Vaishno Devi. He said, “One crore plus yatris every year visit Jammu for darshan. If I could divert even 15 per cent of those yatris to other tourist destinations, it will do wonders for tourism in the region.”

Malayasia has extended visa exemption for Indians until 31 December 2026. Awang Alik Jeman, Secretary General, Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), Malaysia said, “As part of this plan, 30- day visa exemption is granted to Indians and it is in line with our preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.”

India’s outbound travel market is poised for extraordinary growth, with passenger numbers projected to reach 39 million by 2028, reflecting a robust 8 per cent annual compound growth rate (CAGR) from 2023, according to Travelport. In 2023, India’s outbound travel exceeded pre-COVID levels, reaching 27 million passengers with a total travel value of US$40 billion.  

As per Booking.com, there has been an increase of 40-100 per cent in domestic year-end searches from the same time last year. Besides metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi, Indian travellers are keen on exploring destinations offering one-of-a-kind experiences. With the boom in spiritual journeys, Varanasi is experiencing a 100 per cent increase in year-end searches.