Jatinder Paul Singh, Co-Founder & Global CEO, Viacation Tourism, won the ‘Emerging Leader Travel Startup’ Award at the India Travel Awards. Beeming with pride, he said, “The tourism industry is currently rebuilding in the post-COVID era, and has adapted to the new realities, embracing technology aligning with consumer needs, and creating innovative segments.”

Appealing to the states to collaborate for tourism acceleration, Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (South), Ministry of Tourism, GoI, said that he believes the interstate travel circuits with bundled packages promoting multiple states or two states in one itinerary should be encouraged with a focus on lesser known destinations for the ease of travellers. It will help in equitable distribution of tourists and will benefit the region.

The 2nd edition of ITB India kick-started at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Wednesday. The three-day event is expected to attract thousands of industry professionals from around the world and will feature a B2B trade show, a conference, and a variety of networking opportunities.

“Indian Civil Aviation Ministry is monitoring airfares daily as the festive season approaches”, said Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Minister Civil Aviation, Govt of India. He said that the government has been in contact with airport operators, asking them to keep airfares reasonable and not exploit the increase in demand during the season, adding that no unreasonable fare surges have been observed yet, and the ministry will take appropriate actions if necessary.

Global aviation software specialist, Ramco Systems announced the release of version 6.0 of its Aviation Software – a revolutionary product release designed to transform M&E and MRO operations with AI-driven insights, advanced automation, and seamless integration. An integrated solution with modules for Contracts, Engineering, Planning, Maintenance, Supply Chain Management, Finance, ePUBS and advanced mobility capabilities, Ramco Aviation Software 6.0 is built to handle the challenges of tomorrow. The release introduces many unparalleled features that enable organizations to digitally transform their maintenance execution processes, as well as their management of flight safety, materials and commercials, with some of the key features and modules including: Engine MRO Module: A cutting-edge module designed exclusively for Aviation Engine Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, providing unparalleled precision and efficiency in engine maintenance management Maintenance Control Centre (MCC) Hub: To facilitate seamless operations, and provide MCC personnels with the capability to review aircraft readiness for upcoming schedules Aviation Material Requirements Planning (MRP) Module: A proprietary module to enhance organization’s planning and optimization capabilities through optimization of resource allocation and scheduling Graphical Quote Comparison Tool: To streamline decision-making process for purchases, and enable organizations with useful insights that help determine the best option Purchase Automation Framework: A robust framework that streamlines purchase order management with a one-time setup of automation rules Enhanced Pricing Solutions: The addition of enhanced capabilities to its pricing solutions, to enable organizations streamline billing and invoicing Sundar Subramanian, Chief Executive Officer, Ramco Systems, said, “The latest version of Ramco Aviation Software 6.0 is a significant milestone in our journey of continuous innovation and commitment to excellence. Along with the advanced capabilities, our specialized Engine MRO solution is a key part of this …

Neil Patil, Founder & Director, Veena World, bagged the ‘Face of the Future’ Award at the India Travel Awards for being a multi-talented podcast host, inspiring a new generation of explorers! “Travel industry is still at a nascent stage in India and there is a lot to explore and a lot more to achieve for companies such as ours and the new entrants in this field,” he said at the awards.

“IHCL will invest ₹20 crore over the next three years to support international travel trade events and promote inbound tourism. This includes hosting events such as cocktail evenings at major international exhibitions to attract global visitors to India,” said Puneet Chhatwal,  CEO, IHCL”

Ministry of Tourism is aiming to create a tourism assets bank, a new initiative that maps India’s tangible and intangible attractions. From Hyderabad’s biryani to the beaches of Goa, the project will categorise what makes each destination special. V Vidyavathi, Secretary, MOT, said, “The aim is to develop tourism products that resonate deeply with travellers, offering them more personalised and experiential journeys.”

The Swiss experience starts onboard Swiss International Air Lines where travellers can enjoy their holiday booked by their travel agent via TourFox. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2025! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

SriLankan Airlines and flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, have announced today an interline agreement commencing from 09 September 2024, introducing more travel opportunities between Sri Lanka, the UAE and beyond on select routes on the carriers’ networks. This interline agreement will enable passengers travelling with SriLankan Airlines to seamlessly connect via Dubai’s aviation hub to more than 30 destinations that flydubai operates to in Africa, Central Asia, Central and Southeast Europe as well as the Middle East. This includes unique holiday destinations such as Bucharest, Istanbul, Krakow, Mombasa, Naples, Sofia, Tashkent and Zanzibar. In addition, the interline will offer flydubai passengers’ access to 16 destinations on SriLankan’s robust network spanning Southern and East Asia, the Middle East and Australia – including Melbourne, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo. “We are excited to partner with flydubai to provide our passengers seamless connections and greater convenience. This partnership reinforces our strategy to broaden our network and global reach, presenting customers with more travel choices and flexibility. We look forward to collaborating with flydubai and welcoming their passengers aboard our flights to experience an authentic SriLankan journey,” said Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines. SriLankan Airlines and flydubai are committed to delivering convenient and reliable travel options for their valued customers. Passengers can expect the signature hospitality and onboard services that both airlines are renowned for when travelling with SriLankan and flydubai. Commenting on the interline agreement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said, “we’re excited about our new interline agreement with SriLankan Airlines that will further strengthen trade and tourism relations between the UAE and Sri Lanka. Since the start of operations to Sri Lanka in 2010, we have seen consistent …