Women in Aviation India (WAI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation held its 3rd edition of the iconic Awards- Giving Wings to Dreams 2024 at Roseate in New Delhi, felicitating 37 women achievers who have contributed significantly to the aviation sector. The awards recognise excellence in diverse fields of aviation and help build a value chain where achievers inspire the next generation. Highlighting India’s aviation infrastructure which has expanded exponentially, with the number of airports more than doubling from 74 to 157 over the past decade, passenger numbers surging from 11 crore to 22 crore annually, and the aircraft fleet growing from 400 to 800, with projections to reach 1,400 within five years, Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary, Civil Aviation, said, “There is an immense opportunity for women in the aviation sector and to become part of this growth story.” He underscored the government’s dedication to integrating women into the expanding drone industry, linking this initiative to the broader transformation underway in India’s aviation sector.

SriLankan Airlines, the official Airline Partner of the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF), premiered the latest range of products under its award-winning upcycle brand, ‘Mathaka,’ at the event held from 6 to 11 November 2024 at Cinnamon Life. Launched in 2021, SriLankan Airlines’ ‘Mathaka’ brand transforms its retired materials into a range of on-trend lifestyle products and collectables, underscoring its commitment to being one of South Asia’s most sustainable airlines. Like many organizations worldwide, SriLankan Airlines has faced the challenge of ethically disposing of materials retired from its operations. For the airline, this meant dealing with unusable aircraft seat covers, blankets, curtains, uniforms, wooden air cargo pallets, and other items. The airline found its solution in Mathaka, aptly named for transforming remnants of yesterday’s onboard product into brand new consumer items. Mathaka allows SriLankan Airlines to take its planet-friendly philosophy to another level by fashioning people’s memories of air travel into tangible products. The latest range, which includes travel bags, tote bags, peg dolls, table runners and mats, and many more exciting items, also ushers in a new era for Mathaka, with SriLankan Airlines forming collaborations with three Sri Lankan women sustainable entrepreneurs to create Mathaka products. This consists of House of Lonali, founded by Lonali Rodrigo; SO4 by Ruth Weerasinghe; and Pom’s Island by Shamin Abideen. In addition to its sustainable advantages, the Mathaka project also supports the livelihoods of economically disadvantaged women, who are involved in producing certain Mathaka items. Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer, SriLankan Airlines, stated, “Since our earliest days, SriLankan Airlines has championed environmental causes, backing our commitment with action. We are proud to collaborate with these outstanding individuals, with whom we share a deep …

Receiving the ‘Most Innovative Tourism Board’ award on behalf of the NTO at the India Travel Awards, Pooja Raut, Digital Lead, Brand Manager, Singapore Tourism Board, said, “It’s a significant boost for us to continue doing great work. STB has always been synonymous with innovation. We aim to push boundaries and introduce Singapore’s unique nature and culture to the Indians.”

Highlighting that India is an important market for Marriot, David Marriott, Chairman, Marriott International, said, “India is our fifth-largest market in the world. We have 17 brands among which JW Marriott has been a popular one in India. We have 10 hotels open and five are on the way. Due to growing opportunities, our focus is now on secondary and tertiary markets.”

Ryo Bunno, Executive Director, JNTO, Delhi, said, “In 2019, Indian visitors to Japan hit a record 176,000 before declining due to COVID-19. Numbers rebounded in 2022 and 2023, with 2024 expected to surpass 200,000. Beyond Japan’s popular Golden Route, travellers are urged to explore its diverse regions. The upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka underscores Japan’s efforts to enrich tourism, fostering deeper India-Japan ties.”

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Referring to the manpower shortage in the Indian hospitality sector at the FHRAI’s HR Summit, Pradeep Shetty, VP, FHRAI said that many skilled employees have exited the industry after the COVID-19 pandemic. “A workforce gap remains, with an estimated need for an additional 100,000–150,000 skilled workers annually,” he said, adding that with projections for India’s hospitality industry to nearly double by 2029, reaching an estimated value of $475.37 billion, we have tremendous growth potential.

To distribute the tourism load and reduce the pressure on already popular destinations while encouraging destination weddings in lesser-known regions, Mugdha Sinha, DG, MOT GoI, said, “We need to ensure that wedding tourism contributes positively to local communities and is aligned with environmental sustainability. By developing tier-II & III cities as wedding destinations, we can ensure that the economic benefits of tourism are more evenly distributed.”

Believing that more competition will make air travel cheaper, KR Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister, GoI, said that the govt wants more airlines in India and doesn’t want a duopoly situation. We are facilitating new airlines to come in even if they are looking to start with one or two aircraft and are ready to provide support and aid to them to start their business, he said.

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