Sabi Sabi Collection is pleased to announce the appointment of Ace Connect, led by Alpa Jani, to represent us in the Indian market. This partnership reinforces Sabi Sabi’s commitment to expanding its presence in a dynamic and rapidly growing luxury travel market. “We have always considered India of vital importance in our global strategy”, said Jacques Smit, Marketing Director of Sabi Sabi Collection. “With the appointment of Ace Connect, we aim to strengthen our relationships and enhance our brand in this exciting country. India has immense potential for exponential growth and this collaboration aligns perfectly with our future vision”. Ace Connect, a specialist consulting firm catering to niche luxury travel and hospitality brands, brings extensive expertise and a well-established network across the Indian travel and media industry. The aim is to build extensive relationships that are mutually beneficial ensuring a long standing presence in this key market. Sabi Sabi Collection is a highly respected luxury safari brand with over 45 years of expertise. We look forward to sharing our world and immersive experiences through Alpa’s indepth knowledge of the Indian market.

The Global Investors Summit (GIS) in Bhopal is set to open new avenues for tourism investment in Madhya Pradesh. The state’s new Tourism and Film Tourism Policies provide substantial incentives to investors. A streamlined “single-window system” ensures quick, transparent approvals for film shooting. The policy also includes grants for regional films in dialects like Malvi and Bundelkhandi, along with special incentives for children’s cinema and women-centric films. Additional grants are available for films based on the state’s cultural and historical legacy, as well as independent short films.

Suman Billa, Additional Secretary for Tourism, emphasised that the tourism supply side is not growing due to unfavorable financial conditions. He urges tourism stakeholders to actively communicate their concerns to policymakers. He also emphasises that industry participation is crucial to shaping policies that drive growth. Encouraging states to adopt an entrepreneurial approach, he stressed the need for tourism to contribute beyond its current 5.04% of GDP.

According to Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2025 Report, cost remains a key factor for value-conscious Indians, with 62% stating that flight prices play a crucial role in their decision-making process. To address this, Skyscanner has introduced a new feature that offers users options to secure the best deals.

Highlighting the uniqueness of Odisha, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism & Culture, GoI, says, “Odisha government must provide content to display at national tourism forums. We must establish the state’s flavours in the global market. Enhancing the tourism experience, expanding tourism product offerings, and developing holistic infrastructure are key to driving growth.”

VFS Global has launched a new Generative AI-powered chatbot to enhance customer support for travellers to the UK. The AI-Powered Chatbot not only utilises advanced Generative AI technology to offer human-like, conversational support, but does so through both voice and text commands, providing instant, accurate, and accessible information for customers travelling to the UK. Developed by VFS Global’s AI team, headquartered in Dubai, the AI-Powered Chatbot addresses the increasing demand for efficient customer support, allowing users to easily access the information needed to navigate the application process. Jen Vidler, Deputy Director, Cross Cutting Service Operations, Visa, Status and Information Services, Customer Services Group, UK Visas and Immigration, said, “The rollout of VFS Global’s AI-powered chatbot demonstrates our continued commitment to ensuring our visa services are accessible, efficient and meet the needs of all customers. Providing instant access to accurate information about the visa application process will ensure we continue to offer the best service to our customers.” Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, added, “Technology and innovation have always been the cornerstones of our operations at VFS Global, and we are pleased to launch this AI-powered information solution which will significantly enhance the visa application experience for our customers travelling to the UK from across the globe. We are developing a range of AI and digital technology driven products to drive the next transformation in visa and consular services for our Client Governments and customers. We remain deeply committed to the responsible development of AI in accordance with the policies and requirements of our client governments.” The AI-Powered chatbot was developed using advanced Generative AI technologies, each trained exclusively on publicly available data from their respective VFS Global …

Underlining Jammu & Kashmir’s new offerings, Omar Abdullah, CM, J&K, says, “Jammu & Kashmir is beyond Gulmarg and Pahalgam. The UT is increasingly becoming a destination for wellness. The destination is not only known for winter tourism and adventure tourism but also for film shoots and videos as well. With better air and road connectivity, we are looking forward to connecting Kashmir to the rest of Indian cities by rail connectivity.”

Speaking about tourism’s role in economic growth, Kandula Durgesh, Tourism Minister, Andhra Pradesh, said, “By the end of 2025, our tourism contribution will be at least 15% of the total employment generation.” The government is focused on infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and sustainability to achieve this ambitious target.

VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates, says, “We want more regional destinations across Britain to feel tourism’s economic benefits. Our recently launched global ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ campaign is using the powerful draw of screen tourism to showcase our vibrant cities, contemporary culture and beautiful coast and countryside, alongside our welcome, encouraging visitors to broaden their itineraries, stay longer and to come now.”

Underlining the state’s strong focus, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte says, “We are pioneering regenerative tourism, going beyond sustainability to focus on culture, environment, and society. By integrating responsible tourism practices, we are creating a model that benefits both travellers and local communities while preserving our heritage.”