In regard to the recent developments for travel to Thailand and to update the Indian travel media on current protocols for foreign tourists looking to visit Thailand, H.E. Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India met with the media on 31st January 2023 at the Ambassador’s Residence, New Delhi.  Vachirachai Sirisumpan, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in New Delhi also joined the session. In a meeting, H.E. Ambassador gave a briefing about bilateral relations between Thailand and India in particular the tourism sector and followed by tourism updates in Thailand by Director of TAT New Delhi. • Tourism industry is a major contributor to the country’s economy, roughly 18% of total GDP of Thailand. Related businesses and employment such as hotel and accommodation, transportation service, restaurants and etc. benefit from this sector. • The bilateral relations between Thailand and India have steadily grown, with increasing numbers of exchanges of high-level visits and meetings, as well as bilateral trade reaching a new record at 17.7 billion USD in 2022. • In 2022, international tourists reached over 11 million. Among these numbers, Indian tourists have become the 2nd largest group of tourists arriving by air last year with the number of almost 1 million, while Malaysian ranks No. 1 and Singapore No. 3. We hope that the number of Indian tourists could return to 1.4 million this year. • Covid-19 situation in Thailand since October 2022 is stable with less cases. People continue to practice good hygiene. Travel and hospitality businesses in Thailand continue to follow the guidelines and standard of “Safety and Health Administration” or SHA certification. • The Thai government together with TAT and related private sectors …

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) launched its “Season’s Greetings from Germany” online campaign a few days ago. In addition to Christmas markets in smaller and larger cities, the focus is on typical German traditions and winter activities in the countryside. Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO): “For many years, German cities and regions have been in high demand. This is underlined by the latest results of the Anholt Ipsos Nation Brands Index (NBI) 2022: “Historic Buildings”, “Vibrant Cities”, “Contemporary Culture” and “Cultural Heritage” are particularly influential in shaping our image among potential travelers to Germany. Season’s Greetings from Germany’ promotes itself to International travelers and our neighboring countries with authentic experiences, also in rural areas. In line with our strategic orientation, we have presented the various Christmas offers on the campaign website, above all from a sustainability perspective.” The “Season’s Greetings from Germany” campaign is now being rolled out internationally via social media, programmatic advertising, audio streaming, e-mail marketing and search engines. The heart of the campaign is the landing page www.germany.travel/en/christmas with selected Christmas markets, sustainable offers, outdoor activities, and as well as traditional customs for which Germany is known worldwide. Christmas recipes to bake and various Christmas playlists, as well as a a winter tour of Germany as a podcast provide additional inspiration for potential guests for additional inspiration. Mentioning of the Christmas, Mr. Romit Theophilus, Director, Sales & Marketing, India said, ‘‘Christmas Markets in Germany are an incredible and celebrated tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Every year, different German towns and cities hold these events that tourists from India also attend. The delectable aromas of hot chestnuts, grilled sausages, and glühwein, coupled with the …

Turkiye has emerged as the 3rd biggest tourism market in the world, as it welcomed 51.4 Million international visitors in the year 2022. According to the latest data, Turkiye’s tourism revenues reached USD 46.3 billion, which is an excellent comeback after the pandemic as the revenue increased by 19% compared to 2019. According to sources, Turkiye has become one of the world’s most popular MICE and FIT tourism destinations. In 2022, the country hosted the highest number of visitors from the Russian Federation, Germany, and the United Kingdom. On the other hand, India was not far behind in their contribution to Turkiye’s tourism sector as the country welcomed over 2,32,000 visitors from India, surpassing all the previous records. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, said, ” By the end of 2022, the global tourism visitor data recovered by 65% compared to the pre-pandemic period, but Türkiye has almost reached its pre-pandemic numbers. Our growth in tourism revenues is even more impressive; in 2022, Türkiye’s tourism revenues reached a record-breaking $46.3 billion, with an increase of 19% compared to 2019. These results certify that Türkiye had a great comeback after the pandemic, and we are confident to bring 90 million tourists and achieve $100 billion in tourism revenues by the end of 2028.” After the pandemic, Turkiye made a strong recovery and ranks as the sixth most popular destination for tourists worldwide. The country aims to surpass all previous records in 2023 by hosting a significantly higher number of Indian tourists this year. About Turkiye Located in the Mediterranean and connecting Asia and European continents that are separated by the famous Bosporus, Turkiye is a destination that welcomes …

With an aim to maintain strong visibility in India, Saudi has announced an exciting lineup of trade engagements, including roadshows in major Indian cities and participation in prominent trade events. The strategy follows Saudi Tourism Authority’s (STA) ongoing efforts to increase awareness about Saudi as a unique, diverse, authentic tourism destination and ultimately, drive visits, as one of the key priority source markets for the country. Saudi is gearing up to take part in One World Travel Market (OTM) from 2nd -4th February 2023 at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. This will be followed by two roadshows in Mumbai and Ahmedabad on 6th and 7th February, respectively. Saudi will also mark its presence at the 30th edition of South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE), which will be held from 9th -11th February 2023 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR. “India is a key source market for Saudi and over the past 18 months, we have both established and deepened relationships with key trade partners, to inspire them about the breadth and depth of the country’s offering and to reinforce our commitment to helping them grow their businesses,” said Alhasan Aldabbagh, President – APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority. “The Saudi destination offering is unparalleled. Authentic Arabian culture, rich heritage, unique landscapes and a rapidly expanding entertainment and lifestyle scene is at the heart of what Saudi offers the Indian traveler and our role is to support our partners, to showcase the new, undiscovered experiences and unlock the wealth of opportunity the destination presents.” “These engagements are critical in helping us achieve our ambitious goals, to drive volume and growth. The roadshow and trade events will provide a platform to travel …

With an aim to deepen Utah Office of Tourism’s existing partnerships and fostering new ones with tourism stakeholders, airline partners, the local travel trade and media community, the Utah Office of Tourism organised a series of roadshows and media meets in Mumbai and Delhi from 16-20 January 2023. The events were attended by the Utah Office of Tourism team – Ms. Rachel Bremer, Global Markets Director and Mr. Zach Fyne, Global Markets Specialist, who were seen enthusiastically interacting with the travel fraternity and media professionals, while assuring them about the importance of the India market for Utah’s tourism industry. The events also saw officials from U.S. Commercial Services marking their presence. Commercial Officer Mr. David Pasquini and Ms. Ruma Chatterjee were present in Mumbai, while Commercial Attaché Ms. Debra Martin and Ms. Aashima Sachdeva attended events in Delhi. While throwing light on the efforts that the Utah Office of Tourism took to increase its market share from India in 2022, Zach Fyne said, “Bringing a new destination on the other side of Earth to a market as massive as India is a challenge we’ve been thrilled to take on. Our India in-market representatives at AVIAREPS have spent 2022 traveling across the country and beyond to create the right brand awareness by organising Sales Trips across Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Punjab and Mumbai; conducting Trade Roadshows across Gujarat, Chennai and Pune and participating in conference like OTM, SATTE etc. Apart from this, partnering with affluent consumer media platforms and maintaining a presence on the India-targeted social media platforms have been instrumental for them in reaching the consumer market”. In 2023, the Utah Office of Tourism will aim at doubling down on …

As the pandemic has begun to wind down across the world many people are looking for an escape from primary residences, which start to feel all too familiar after long periods of lockdowns. Luxurious private villas available to rent as short-term second home are becoming a hot favourite amongst the discerning and affluent vacation-goers. Star hotels are nice. But a luxurious home all to oneself is even better and fast emerging as the hottest luxury travel trend for 2023. Kaudia Estate located within a dense pine forest in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas with unobstructed, stunning views of the mighty peaks across a 180-degree horizon is the ultimate travel fantasy: to call home, if only for sometime, a to-die-for house in a spectacular setting. A comfortable, three-hour drive from the Dehradun airport, this property is an easy to approach, quiet, undiscovered, private estate that gives full freedom to create an intensely personal holiday experience. One can customise the stay for complete privacy and peace in a postcard-from-paradise setting. Or turn it into an adventure and activity filled getaway with unique treks, picnics and hikes up the hills. These gorgeous villas, set against snow-capped mountains in the far distance can be the perfect romantic getaway, a joyous family vacation setting, or a celebrity hideout with breakfast on the terrace, sundowners on the patios and barbeque under the stars! There are three identical villas, with charming and distinctive interiors. Each villa comes quipped with three en–suite bedrooms, a lounge, a dining area, living area and private lawns. Each time of the year is a unique opportunity to experience life in the mountains. Winter is the time to enjoy the crisp, cold …

Romance is in the air and Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa together with its Signature Collection, the premier luxury resort destination in the Maldives, is excited to announce the launch of its new online gift platform to make it even easier to book and pay for romantic experiences at the resort. Designed to cater to honeymooners and guests celebrating other special occasions, the platform allows guests to create a personalised wish list of activities and experiences they would like to enjoy at the resort. Well-wishers canthen purchase those experiences for their friends and family staying at the resort. With the new platform, guests can select from a range of vouchers, including romantic gestures like bouquets, and champagne, private dining experiences, and excursions such as sunset fishing. Guests can also indulge in various fun recreational activities, such as a round at the resort’s state-of-the-art golf simulator. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, this is just one more tool in addition to the Resort App that guests can use to organise the perfect romantic celebrations in style during their stay. The platform is also splendidly perfect for those looking to surprise their loved ones with a special gift while on vacation, with options such as spa days and other luxurious experiences. “Santa had a hand in creating this awesome platform; it was the final gift to end our festive season this year,” said Christophe Adam, the General Manager of Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa. “Our new online gift platform is the perfect way for loved ones to make their stay at our resort even more memorable, whether it’s for a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday.” Rest assured at the resort, which was …

ITA Airways’ intercontinental expansion continues, with new flights from Rome Fiumicino to Rio de Janeiro now on sale. The long-haul expansion is one of the major pillars of ITA Airways’ strategy, as it generates profitability but also enhances the short-haul connectivity, thus contributing to double the capacity of the Company’s intercontinental network. ITA Airways’ new connection will be operated with the Airbus A330, from October 29, 2023 with a daily frequency departing from Rome Fiumicino airport at 9:50pm and arriving to Rio de Janeiro International Airport at 6:05am, local time. Flights from Rio de Janeiro will be operated from October 30, 2023, with daily frequency departing at 3:45pm and landing at Rome Fiumicino at 6:45am, local time. The new connections will allow ITA Airways to further strengthen its expansion in South America, following the flights opening to Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo, which has always been a privileged destination for Italian holidays and the destination with the highest rate of Italian origin population, as well as a strategic market together with the United States for business and cargo traffic. “I am pleased to announce the launch of the new Rome Fiumicino – Rio de Janeiro direct flight that will be operated from October 29, 2023, available for our customers to purchase in all sales channels, as of today – said Emiliana Limosani, ITA Airways Chief Commercial Officer and CEO Volare – The opening of the Rio de Janeiro destination is part of the development and growth strategies of our Company’s intercontinental offer. Following this expansion strategy, this year we have also added to the already significant offer to/from the United States, new direct flights from Rome Fiumicino to Washington operating …

For most of us, reuniting with friends and family is the main reason to travel in 2023. Agoda’s Travel Trends survey asked travelers from India, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam to share their top travel goals for the new year. India (21%), the United States (25%), Australia (31%) and Taiwan (33%) are where travelers will most likely plan a holiday reunion with family or friends. Many also wish to embark on trips to recharge themselves, mentally and physically, with wellness contributing to the number two spot in the ‘reasons to travel’ ranking of Agoda’s Travel Trend survey. Countries with high inclination include India (20%), South Korea (24%), Singapore (25%) and Thailand (29%). Among people from Japan (44%), Taiwan (24%) and Vietnam (23%), the biggest travel appetite is for (re)discovering food, arts & culture. In fact, a staggering 44 percent of Japanese travelers listed this as their main travel goal, the highest number for any travel objective in a single country. Four times more than Philippines, where only 11 percent are looking to travel for food, arts & culture and seeking adventure is the main reason to leave home (30%). Adventure travel ranks highest among travelers from Indonesia (23%) and India (20%). The study concluded with reuniting with loved ones, wellness and food, arts & culture making the top three reasons to travel, and adventure and celebrating a milestone rounding out the top five.

The Grand Bazaar, İstanbul’s historical shopping and trade centre, was visited by 39,766,801 people in 2022, following its restoration. This magnificent structure with a labyrinthine interior features thousands of shops selling all kinds of products from textiles to antiques and has been a destination for shopping for centuries. The Grand Bazaar, a covered complex that resembles a small city with a daily circulation of thousands of employees and shoppers, started welcoming visitors to its renewed structure after the restoration last year. The number of visitors to the Grand Bazaar rose by almost 56% from 25.5 million in 2021, to approximately 40 million in 2022 out of which 2 Lakhs visitors were Indian travellers. With this figure, an average of 100,000 people per day visited the Grand Bazaar last year. İstanbul’s history and shopping route  Located between Nuruosmaniye, Mercan and Beyazıt in İstanbul, the history of the Grand Bazaar dates to the middle of the 15th century. Within the scope of the Ottoman-era foundation system that covered almost all socio-economic and cultural life, structures such as bazaars were built near religious and other social and charitable sites to meet such needs as maintenance and repair costs.  The foundation of the Grand Bazaar, one of the most important landmarks in İstanbul, was laid in 1461 with the structures erected by Fatih Sultan Mehmet to bring income to Hagia Sophia. The Grand Bazaar, which became the region’s most important trade centre over time, has started to serve as an important financial centre where jewels and precious metals from all over the world are traded. Defined not only as the oldest but as the largest shopping centre in the world, the Grand Bazaar has undergone …