With the upcoming India and Spain Dual Year 2026 collaborating in culture, tourism and AI, H.E. Juan Antonio March Pujol, Ambassador of Spain, announced that India will be in the spotlight at FITUR 2026. “It will be the moment to strengthen our links. We are going to devote a special place for India at the show. As the embassy we are putting efforts in 3 things: direct connectivity, streamline tourist visas, and boost film and tourism cooperation.”

Speaking about the hotel sector landscape, Mandeep Singh Lamba, President & CEO (South Asia) HVS Anarock, says, “India is transitioning from a nascent hotel market towards a more mature one and it is going to be an exciting time as this transition takes place over the next decade or so. If the sector is to remain attractive and draw in more capital and more leading players, a pressing need is to reduce the time it takes from inception to completion of a hotel which today stands anywhere between 42 to 60 months.”

We’re showcasing our Starring GREATBritain screen tourism campaign in India at a series of events in Mumbai and Delhi with top travel trade and industry leaders, reveals Shuja Bin Mehdi, Senior Manager Industry Engagement – India, VisitBritain. “We want to inspire visitors from India to choose Britain for their next trip and explore more of our destinations when they come, driving growth. India is an incredibly important visitor market for the UK and we’re forecasting strong growth in visits and spend.”

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has signed a series of strategic partnerships targeted to drive tourism growth and enhance visitor experiences across key international markets. The new initiatives span collaborations with leading travel operators, hotel groups, and destination management companies, and will focus on attracting visitors from Europe, Saudi Arabia, India, and other key markets, while showcasing Abu Dhabi’s diverse offerings and year-round appeal. DCT Abu Dhabi and Expedia have launched the Sunshine Pass campaign – the latest initiative in their ongoing strategic collaboration. This year-round campaign aims to showcase Abu Dhabi as a destination for all seasons, highlighting its culture, adventure, and wellness offerings to international leisure travellers. Through a multi-channel marketing strategy, the campaign will ensure maximum visibility in key outbound markets, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a vibrant and appealing destination throughout the year. Abdulla Yousuf, Director of International Operations at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said: “The strategic partnerships signed at Arabian Travel Market 2025 represent a significant step forward in our efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a world-class tourism destination. Targeted collaborations across Europe, Saudi Arabia, India, and other key markets, enable us to enhance Abu Dhabi’s international profile and reinforcing its appeal as a dynamic, year-round destination. Globally and locally, these partnerships underline our commitment to sustainable growth, offering unique, tailored experiences that resonate with diverse global audiences, while ensuring the long-term resilience and innovation of the sector.”

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI in association with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, have announced Yogotsav, a special Yoga programme as part of the 100-day countdown to International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. The event will take place on 10th May 2025 at the Radisson Blu Resort in Goa Cavelossim Beach, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The initiative is a part of a nationwide effort to promote the principles of holistic wellness, mental well-being and mindfulness in the hospitality sector and beyond. The session will be guided by experienced yoga practitioners appointed by MDNIY and is open to all hospitality professionals and wellness enthusiasts. “We cordially invite hospitality establishments to nominate participants for this enriching experience and look forward to enthusiastic participation from the fraternity to make the event a grand success,” says Mr Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI.

Travstarz Global Group, a Trip.com invested company hosted a networking evening and training for its travel agent partners at Hotel Grand Mercure, Agra on 28th April, 2025. The successful event saw a packed crowd with over 35 agent partners joining in for the evening from Agra and surrounding cities. Pankaj Nagpal, Managing Director, Travstarz Global Group added “Over the last 3 years we have been regularly conducting Training and Networking Workshops for our Agent Partners across various cities. Our core strength has always been Tier 2 & 3 Cities and this time we chose Agra for our event and we are very proud that we are the first DMC in India to have hosted such an event in the city of Taj.  We received an overwhelming response from the agent partners, and I was personally amazed to see the kind of existing and potential outbound business from Agra. We showcased our entire portfolio of products and destinations specially focussing on Abu Dhabi, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Vietnam, Japan and Georgia which have been recently added to our DMC list taking our Total DMC Offices to 21 Destinations now. We already have unmatched offerings for USA and Canada both with over 600 short and long-haul itineraries for these countries alone with our Head Quarters in Los Angeles, USA and we hope to get a strong support from Agra for all our DMC locations” Vani Singh, Vice President, Travstarz Global Group also added “We have been wanting to do such an event in Agra for quite some time now since we have witnessed good volume of outbound business coming from here already. These shows and networking events are our way to reconnect with …

Reacting to the recent Indian air strike on Pakistan following the Palghar attack, IATO President Rajiv Mehra said, “This was expected and tourism is always the first to be hit. However, I don’t think the impact will last long. Today is May 7 and by this weekend, things should normalise.” He added that sightseeing tours continue as usual, barring disruptions near closed airports in a few border states.

VFS Global has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience, a leading provider of digital and physical citizen services based in Brazil. This strategic acquisition marks a pivotal step in VFS Global’s expansion journey—particularly across Latin America (LATAM)—as it continues to broaden its capabilities and deepen its impact in the public service delivery space. With nearly two decades of pioneering innovation in citizen services, CiX has established a strong presence in Brazil. This success will be further scaled across LATAM and other global markets, leveraging VFS Global’s international reach and operational excellence. This acquisition is centred on driving transformation through advanced digital technologies, including AI and data-driven platforms. By uniting CiX’s cutting-edge digital capabilities with VFS Global’s extensive global infrastructure and expertise in managing complex service ecosystems, we are positioned to deliver next-generation, integrated solutions to public and private sector clients around the world. For both companies’ client governments and partners, this will lead to enhanced, tailored solutions that improve citizen engagement, access, and satisfaction. Sergio Rodrigues, CEO of CiX Citizen Services, said, “Partnering with VFS Global will supercharge our growth. With access to their capital, technology, talent, and global reach, we can rapidly expand across Latin America, and beyond. This collaboration is about scaling CiX Citizen Experience, delivering even more intuitive, efficient, and accessible government services. Our goal is to simplify citizens’ lives with a combination of physical and digital solutions that also bring agility, and savings for governments worldwide.”   Zubin Karkaria, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global, added, “We are very pleased to have concluded this strategically important acquisition which will be value accretive for both companies – for CiX Citizen Experience …

VFS Global will now leverage SAP software to help it develop leading-edge AI-powered digital solutions for cross-border mobility and citizen services. Cross-border mobility and citizen services are becoming increasingly digital, and governments are looking into the use of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence to drive efficiency and sovereign security. To accelerate its innovation road map and help governments meet the increasingly complex needs of travelers and citizens, VFS Global is adopting SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition and other SAP solutions. “We take great pride in partnering with SAP as a leading and trusted technology and AI company,” said Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global. “By combining our deep expertise in visa, consular and citizen services with SAP’s world-class solutions, we empower governments to enhance efficiency, strengthen security and enable seamless mobility for millions of travelers around the world.” “With SAP solutions at its core, VFS Global will be able to leverage the latest innovations to become an even stronger partner for governments, travelers and citizens worldwide,” said Christian Klein, CEO of SAP SE. In line with its vision to embrace technological innovation to support governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, VFS Global has also chosen SAP Business Technology Platform and the SAP Business Data Cloud solution to deliver leading-edge and AI-powered solutions to its customers and to drive operational excellence across its global operations. “By combining the strengths of VFS Global and SAP, we are elevating cross-border mobility and citizen services to the next level”, said Michael Nilles, member of the VFS Global Executive Board and Chief Digital and Technology Officer. “Strategically, this positions us as a leading force in shaping the future of GovTech and TravelTech, powered by …

Scentzania, an experiential retail brand, is making its India debut with a bold ambition: to redefine how the country experiences self-expression through scent. Born from Singapore’s globally acclaimed Scentopia, the brand blends technology, storytelling, and creativity to offer a fragrance experience that is personal, interactive, and unforgettable. “We didn’t set out to sell perfumes. We set out to create a space where people could explore who they are — through scent,” said Prachi Saini Garg, Founder and Managing Director of Scentopia. “As we bring our experiential concept to India, our aim is to engage deeply with consumers and capture up to 10% of the country’s perfume market over the next two years — by offering something far more personal than traditional retail.” Voted TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best in 2024 and featured as a Mastercard Priceless Experience, this immersive fragrance journey has become a flagship attraction on Sentosa Island, delighting tourists, corporate groups, and couples alike. Visitors don’t just shop — they embark on a playful, creative journey to craft a scent that is truly their own, surrounded by interactive zones inspired by Singapore’s native orchids and guided by intelligent digital avatars. With over SGD $2 million in revenue last year and thousands of five-star reviews, the experience has proven that fragrance creation can be as emotionally fulfilling as it is innovative. As Scentzania makes its India debut, the brand plans to launch six flagship studios across major metros including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad in the first phase. Over the next three to five years, Scentzania aims to establish over 50 franchise outlets and Scentzania-Lite experiential centers across key cities and emerging towns, supported by a centralized warehouse …