As per ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics), arrivals from India for the year-ended January 2024 stood at 402,200 which is 101% of 2019 levels. This is the first time that Tourism Australia has crossed the 400,000 arrivals milestone from India. India has also significantly improved its ranking to be the 5th largest inbound market for Tourism Australia in 2024, from number 7 in 2019. In the month of January 2024 alone, Australia witnessed 26,200 visitors from India, which is 106% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019. India has also significantly improved its ranking to be the 5th largest inbound market for Tourism Australia in 2024, from number 7 in 2019. Australia’s allure as a favored destination for Indian tourists has never been greater, buoyed by targeted marketing initiatives, the speed and ease of an entirely digitized visa application process, and the growing air travel options between the two nations. Moreover, the sustained rise in visitor numbers year after year since 2019 underscores the success of Tourism Australia’s joint endeavors with its airlines, key distribution partners, and over 5,000 Aussie Specialist Agents in India to drive consideration and conversions. Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager – India & Gulf for Tourism Australia shares, “This resurgence of Indian tourists to Australia is a testament to the resilience and rebound of international travel, particularly from one of our most valued markets. This is a clear indicator of the strong desire for travel and exploration among the Indian travelers, who are drawn to Australia’s unique landscapes, wildlife, and the multicultural vibrancy of our cities.”

Tourism New Zealand will conduct an exclusive training sessions for the travel trade on visitor visas led by Immigration New Zealand live on Thursday, April 4 from 10am – 11am. Attendees can gain valuable insights and updates on visa procedures and regulations for the destination. For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532 to register.

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

In summer 2024, the Indian aviation industry will witness a higher number of domestic and international flights as per the Summer Schedule 2024 released by the DGCA. According to the schedule released by the civil aviation regulator, there will be 24,275 domestic departures to and from 125 airports. There is an increase of around 6% in comparison to the Summer Schedule 2023, which had 22,907 weekly departures per week from 119 airports.

Although Goa has been abuzz with tourists October to December, the state’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has acknowledged a decline in foreign tourist arrivals in the year gone by. He blamed the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict between Israel and Palestine for this. He has laid out a plan to boost tourist arrivals, which includes projects like the state’s homestay policy, first-of-its-kind regenerative tourism model and commencing caravan tourism.

Cyprus Airways tickets can now be issued in India by their Direct Sales Agent, Girisons Airways, located in Mumbai. In 2018, Cyprus Airways achieved a significant milestone by successfully passing the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) Cyprus Airways continues to uphold its long-term goal—to be a catalyst for tourism growth in Cyprus and a beacon for local travellers, offering a world of possibilities. Our commitment to expanding horizons remains steadfast as we embark on this thrilling journey together. Based at the vibrant Larnaca International Airport, Cyprus Airways operates with a passionate team of over 150 professionals. Cyprus Airways flights are operated on Airbus combination of A320 and A220 aircraft, offering Economy Class seats and Business Class Seats ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable journey for every traveller to Europe, Middle East, and beyond. In our current summer 2024 schedule we operate flights from Larnaca to various European destinations such as Rome, Milan, Zurich, Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Prague, Athens and various Greek islands such as Santorini, Rhodes, Corfu, Crete, Thessaloniki etc. We have also started operations to DUBAI thrice weekly. Indian travellers can now visit Cyprus for 2 to 3 days during their European holidays. This add-on program can easily be adjusted because they can purchase a return Cyprus ticket which can start in one European city and end in another city- for example they can do Rome-Cyprus-Paris. In this way passengers can same time and money for the Rome to Paris sector.  

One of Fiji’s most luxurious and top independently owned/operated resorts, the award-winning Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Fiji, recently announced the completion of a million-dollar renovation, according to Director/Owner James McCann. The six-month renovation will be completed this month. With only 18 spacious bungalows, a small group of Fijian villagers as its neighbors, and 30 minutes by private air transfer from Nadi International Airport, the secluded Resort has reasons to celebrate with a stunning new renovation of its public space as well as the exterior/interior of villas.

It’s always important to bring a few essentials while travelling but equally important are some key smartphone apps for an easier and more efficient travel experience. Here are 6 apps that cover important aspects of travel such as navigation, itinerary organisation, language translation, currency conversion, and weather forecasting.   TripIt TripIt organizes all your travel plans in one place. Simply forward your confirmation emails for flights, hotels, rental cars, and more to TripIt, and it will create a detailed itinerary for you. It also sends you real-time alerts for flight delays, gate changes, and other important updates. It keeps you updated in real-time and offers convenient sharing and integration features. TripIt provides insights into your travel habits, including the number of miles you’ve travelled, the number of countries visited, and more. You can access your TripIt itinerary offline too.   Google Translate Another essential app apart from Google Maps is Google Translate. It helps communicate with locals by translating text, speech, and even images. It supports over 100 languages and offers offline translation for when you don’t have internet access. Whether you need to translate signs, menus, or written instructions, you can simply type or paste the text into the app, and it will provide a translation in your desired language. It also has an instant camera translation feature such as street signs, menus, or documents.   Weather Underground This app provides hyper-local forecasts, interactive radar maps, severe weather alerts, and crowd-sourced reports from weather enthusiasts, ensuring you’re prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. The app features interactive radar maps that allow you to track weather patterns in real-time. This can be useful for monitoring approaching storms, assessing …

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that as a step ahead the government is now providing air transportation facilities in Madhya Pradesh. Expanding air service to religious and other destinations of the state is in progress. He added that after Ujjain and Omkareshwar the air service will also start for Datia, Mehar, Orchha.

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.