Category Archives: NTO (National Tourist Offices)

MoT recently conducted a roadshow in Moscow and St Petersburg – its first international roadshow since 2019 and engaging Russian outbound tour operators.

An American Express 2024 Global Travel Trends Report said a remarkable 62% of Indian travellers plan to increase their travel expenditure. With food and accommodation as paramount considerations, beach vacations, adventure trips, and metropolitan explorations are high on the agenda for them. Notably, 67% aspire for beach vacations, 58% seek outdoor adventures, and 55% aim to explore new cities.

More than a year ago, Sharzede Datu HJ. Salleh Askor, CEO, Sarawak Tourism Board, welcomed about 500 TAFI members to her state for the association’s annual convention. Since then, she has seen a rise in visitors from India. She said, “We have seen great results from hosting the TAFI convention in 2022 in Sarawak; the numbers from India have increased. In fact, December 2023 received one of the highest numbers of Indian visitors to Sarawak.”

Leading with their new ‘Only one Washington, DC’ campaign, Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, conducted a sales mission in India from February 25 to 29. The delegation, including the CEO and President of Destination DC, Elliott L. Ferguson, II visited Mumbai and Delhi, the leading markets for inbound tourism in Washington, DC from India. Destination DC engaged with the Indian travel trade and media by organizing one-on-one meetings and VIP events to promote what’s new and upcoming, as well as what is historic and iconic in the famed capital city of the USA. India ranks at number four among the overseas markets for Washington, DC. Elliott L. Ferguson, II was thrilled to be back in the market and said, “We have received a remarkable response from the travel trade and media which clearly proves that India is a key market for us. Our dedicated visits to various markets help us showcase our latest products and the variety that DC has to offer visitors. Currently, some travelers still tend to equate Washington, DC solely with politics, which is why we implemented our #Only1DC campaign, to share our diverse and cultured experiences beyond the U.S. government.” Ferguson II also conveyed that DC was leading the way in sustainable tourism initiatives and will continue to do so. According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Washington, DC is the 1st LEED Platinum City in the World. In 2023 and 2022, Washington, DC was ranked #1 for its parks system in the country by the Trust for Public Land. Delhi DDC recently launched their new ‘Only one Washington, DC’ campaign which showcases Washington, DC as the only city …

Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board and Universal Studios Hollywood interacted with key trade agents in Mumbai to share product updates. Andrea Blackman, International Sales Manager at Universal Studios Hollywood and Ms. Seema Kadam, Regional Director, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board interacted with key trade partners and travel trade media in Mumbai. The event was designed to share key updates of Los Angeles as a destination and the crucial partnership with Universal Studios. The event highlighted new and upcoming developments in Los Angeles.  The biggest event of 2024 is IPW – The travel industry’s premier market place which will be taking place in LA. Universal Studios Hollywood has a major role and will be hosting the closing night.  2024 also marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Studio Tour Los Angeles is the epicentre of entertainment, sports and art. LA is proud to be hosting the opening Men’s National team FIFA match in LA. Alongside, the city is gearing up for the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2028. Major art events like PST art, opening of Destination Crenshaw make it an exciting time to visit Los Angeles. “This year is truly special for LA as we gear up to welcome guests for IPW 2024. The city has so much to showcase with new museums, the opening of Destination Crenshaw – a $100mn outdoor art and culture experience and various sporting events in the pipeline including FIFA in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2028. Our partnership with Universal Studios is timeless as it offers an array of adventure, nostalgia and the true essence of cinema with one of  the oldest working studios!” says, Seema Kadam, Regional Director, …

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on Lucerne, on March 7 at 3 pm. Sited on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Lucerne provides travellers access to numerous excursions, activities and experiences. It is also the perfect gateway to exploring Central Switzerland. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.  

Underlining strong airline connectivity between India and the UK, including to regional destinations, Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager – India, VisitBritain, says, “Airline seat capacity from India to the UK is also showing strong recovery and growth. Looking at September 2023, seat capacity was up 53% compared to the same month in 2019. India is forecast to be a £1 billion inbound visitor market by the end of 2024, making it one of the UK’s fastest growing major tourism markets.”

Kenya Tourism Board has launched strategic marketing campaign that will provide incentives to travel agents to promote Kenya as their preferred destination. The campaign which will enhance awareness and drive conversions in the Indian market will involve engagement of both trade partners and consumers simultaneously. Kenya Tourism Board Ag CEO John Chirchir, stated that the board was looking forward to embark on the campaign and recognized the importance of the Indian market to Kenya’s tourism “India stands as a pivotal market for Kenya in the realm of travel and tourism, and we believe that this initiative will significantly contribute to strengthening our foothold in this dynamic landscape. With high expectations riding on this campaign, we aim to forge a robust bond with the travel trade and cultivate lasting relationships. We are confident that through this concerted effort, we will not only meet but exceed expectations, propelling Kenya to the forefront of travelers’ minds in India.” Said Chirchir While commenting on this, Director of Intrepid Marketing and Communications Neeti Sharma said that KTB would reap the benefits of partnering with a well-known platform in the Indian market that would help in showcasing the Kenya to potential Indian visitors. “We are thrilled to partner with Network 18 and our travel partners in this market to showcase the wonders of Kenya to the Indian audience,” she said “By engaging both trade partners and consumers, we aim to create a powerful synergy that will drive demand and position Kenya as the ultimate travel destination in Africa. We are confident that this campaign will not only drive conversions but also strengthen the bond between the travel trade in India and Kenya”. This campaign aims to create …

Sharing his targets for this year, Nalin Perera, MD, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, said, “Last year, we achieved almost 1.5 million tourist arrivals. This year, we have set an ambitious target of 2.3 million, which would be a record-breaking figure in the history of Sri Lankan tourism. I urge those who haven’t visited Sri Lanka to do so, and for those who have, I encourage you to return for more.”

Switzerland Tourism invites the Indian outbound travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar on Lucerne, on March 7 at 3 pm. Sited on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by gorgeous mountains, Lucerne provides travellers access to numerous excursions, activities and experiences. It is also the perfect gateway to exploring Central Switzerland. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.