Category Archives: Agents

Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, Ebixcash Travel Services, has said that they are currently in the process of building our global MICE platform, following on from our achievements last year.

Switzerland Tourism invites the trade to attend this exclusive webinar in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland Visa Section. This webinar will highlight the latest information and guidelines regarding the Swiss Schengen visa and the application process. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2024! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Maitri Visa and Travel Service (MVTS) is one of India’s premier travel agencies based in Delhi that offers a range of services to its clients. On Friday, February 10th, 2023, MVTS hosted a Dinner & Cocktail Party with celebrity live performances at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Greater Noida. Parvesh Dhull, Managing Director of Maitri Visa and Travel Service and Holidays by Maitri, established the visa operation in 2006 with a focus on Dubai. Holidays by Maitri, a relatively new company founded in 2022, specializes in MICE. According to Dhull, Maitri is a leading visa company. The purpose of the gala dinner was to bring together leading Indian travel agents and to showcase performances by major Haryanvi stars. MVTS expressed gratitude towards the media partners and travel agents for their support in 2022, which was a remarkable year for the company. The travel industry saw significant growth in 2022, increasing by approximately 60%, and it is expected to continue its upward trend in 2023.  

A global study ‘Traveler Tribes 2033’ identifies four ‘tribes’ that will develop in the next 10 years. One of them is Pioneering Pathfinders and the study finds that 40% Indian respondents identified themselves as pioneer pathfinders. Individuals in this group live a fast-paced life with 82% between the ages of 23 and 41. This group is more willing than others to let sustainability influence their decisions.

New flight search data from KAYAK shows that flight searches over the last six months for India in 2023 have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, growing by about 29% compared to the same period in 2019. The US has long been one of India’s most prominent tourism sources, with searches for flights until the end of this year growing about 21% compared to the same pre-pandemic period. Increases in flight searches from other European countries are also very positive, with the UK having a spike in flight searches of about 48%.

Zuper Resorts has unveiled a new marvel in Panchgani. This quiet haven, called ‘The Cliff,’ is ensconced amidst valleys, waterfalls and natural greenery that will prevent you from returning to your origins. Encompassing 41 rooms and four divisions, these are spacious IoT-featured facilities where technology has been used intelligently to help guests stay in utmost comfort. A temperature-controlled swimming pool enables you to unwind any time of the day, the poolside Zenzi Bar endorses the best drinks in the country, and a 24/7 Tuckshop serves coffee and snacks. Those looking for an open-air dining experience can approach La Terrasse to savour a variety of Indian, Pan-Asian, and Continental delicacies. Rejuvenate at The Scarlet Spa, which employs the best beauty professionals who provide you with the finest blend of eastern and western therapies with massage rituals. Akaal Singh Manchanda, Founder & Director of Operations at Zuper Hotels & Resorts, said, “In line with our vision to curate countryside experiences for our guests, we are delighted to introduce The Cliff resort at a peaceful and tranquil location such as Panchgani. Our group is committed to the finest hospitality in an exclusive set-up, and “The Cliff” is just the right extension of our promise. We look forward to welcoming our guests for a quick getaway, retreat, or a special occasion.”

Singapore Tourism Board, together with six stakeholders from Singapore, engages wedding planners in Mumbai and new Delhi in order to promote the country as a wedding destination. GB Srithar, its Regional Director, says, “It is our objective to re-introduce Singapore as a wedding destination of choice in India. Indian weddings have been happening in Singapore prior to Covid, in Sentosa and other parts of the island. About 20 wedding planners in Mumbai were invited to be part of a panel discussion recently where we highlighted all the wedding destination options that can consider.”

Kerala has made a remarkable comeback by welcoming 1.88 crore domestic tourists in 2022, which is a record in the state’s history, Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas said. Domestic tourism was given prominence in the programmes prepared to be implemented in the post-COVID period and the government achieved its target through coordinated efforts. “As a result, by the end of 2022, it had become the year which Kerala witnessed the greatest number of domestic tourists after its formation. A total of 1.88 crore domestic tourists arrived in the state in that year,” he said.

Thomas Cook (India) has launched FX Now – an app that offers customizable and contactless end-to-end foreign exchange solutions. Aligned with the Company’s Digital First strategy, this app ushers in a digitised foreign exchange model. Thomas Cook India has positioned itself as India’s Forex Specialist with continued focus on the foreign exchange segment. It is the largest non-bank foreign exchange services provider in India.

flynas, the Saudi air carrier, announced that its passengers can apply for an electronic Stopover Visa through its website. The “Stopover Visa” is issued after purchasing the airline ticket, and the validity of the visa extends to three months and the stay in the Kingdom up to 4 days. The visa application will be passed automatically to the unified national visa platform at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to process and issue the digital visa immediately and send it to the beneficiary via e-mail. Expecting that the new service will contribute to increasing the visitors to the Kingdom, including Umrah and Pilgrim visitors, tourists, and businessmen, Bandar Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas, said, “the Saudi Vision 2030 has laid the foundations for cooperation among the regulatory and executive sectors on one hand, and with the private sector on the other hand, to serve the Kingdom’s goals in all sectors. Today, we see a practical application of this integration and cooperation by enabling the national carriers to facilitate a request for issuing a Stopover visa, which facilitates procedures of obtaining a Stopover visa for whoever wishes to visit the Kingdom”. Almohanna stressed that this service will contribute to strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for travel and business by facilitating quick business visits, making the Kingdom a point of contact between countries and continents. He indicated that the new service comes in line with the civil aviation strategy to reach 330 million passengers and link the Kingdom’s cities with 250 global destinations and 100 million tourists annually. Thousands of tourists are expected to benefit from the Stopover visa to attend the various cultural and entertainment events in …