Fly24hrs Holiday has won the ‘India’s Leading OTA of the Year’ award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Tarun Saini, General Manager, Fly24hrs Holiday, said, “This award sets a new benchmark for us in travel innovation. It recognises our customer-first approach, technological advancements, and outstanding performance. We are proud to receive this prestigious recognition.”

Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI, said, “The 17th Annual Convention in Srinagar will offer firsthand insight into why Jammu & Kashmir is emerging as a safe and sustainable adventure destination.” With field visits and safety-focused sessions, the event highlights J&K’s soft adventure potential and its net-zero model. Bajaj confirmed 200 registrations so far, with numbers expected to rise toward 300, reflecting strong industry interest.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Tourism Minister, called on the industry to drive the next phase of India’s tourism growth, stating, “India needs bold private investment to reimagine hospitality models, develop innovative experiential tourism products, establish globally benchmarked service excellence, and build strong community linkages. The government has created an enabling environment; now it is the industry’s moment to lead, shape, and elevate India’s tourism brand globally.”

Experience Abu Dhabi is organising an exclusive webinar spotlighting the upcoming Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and the Zayed National Museum. Scheduled for 17 December 2025 at 3 pm IST, the session will offer insights into the museums’ vision, exhibits, and visitor experiences. Trade partners can register now to learn more about these landmark cultural attractions. For more info, write to DDevaraj@dctabudhabi.ae or 9535805401.

Speaking at the Viksit Delhi – Viksit Tourism & Hospitality summit, by FHRAI & HRANI, Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister, Delhi, has called on the hospitality and restaurant industry to partner with the government in reshaping the capital’s global image. Emphasising Delhi’s potential as a premier tourism destination, she said the goal is to ensure that any traveller visiting India considers their journey incomplete without experiencing the city. Gupta highlighted the need to develop Delhi as a vibrant tourism hub and stressed that the capital must emerge as the world’s culinary capital. She urged industry stakeholders to collaborate closely with the government to strengthen Delhi’s positioning on the global tourism map and enhance its appeal to international visitors.

Global Panorama Showcase (GPS) won the Event Platform of the Year – Innovation in Travel Engagement award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Harmandeep Singh Anand, Managing Director, GPS, said the honour reflects the team’s dedication and strong industry support. “GPS, which began post-Covid, will continue innovating to educate and empower the travel fraternity,” he added.

Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu and Kashmir, directed the Tourism Department to identify top 10 airports in the country with the highest tourist traffic for focused publicity. “We must intensify our outreach to attract more holidaymakers,” he said. Abdullah also ordered an advance annual events calendar to strengthen planning, execution, and coordination while enhancing the region’s visibility.

The Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) projects India’s real GDP growth will consolidate at 6.6% in 2026, with inflation rising to 4.2%, following a strong 2025 performance. Structural drivers such as digitisation and favourable demographics continue to position India among the fastest-growing major economies. Tourism beyond traditional hubs could emerge as a critical growth lever, even as global supply chain disruptions and climate-related volatility pose risks, the report stated.

FICCI has named Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), as Chair of the FICCI Inbound Tourism Committee, a key arm of its National Tourism Committee. The appointment recognises his longstanding contributions to India’s tourism sector and his leadership in strengthening inbound travel. Accepting the role, Gosain expressed gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to elevating India’s global tourism position. He noted that India’s inbound tourism is entering a transformative phase, offering an opportunity to work closely with industry leaders and government stakeholders to drive sustainable, globally competitive growth. FICCI expects his leadership to further strengthen industry-driven initiatives that enhance innovation, expand international outreach, and support long-term strategic planning for India’s inbound tourism development.

Rajan Dua, Managing Director, Udaan India, believes succession in travel businesses can no longer be treated as a default handover to the next generation. His message to the trade is clear- founders must treat succession, scale, merger, or sale as strategic choices driven by technology and market realities, not by emotion alone. In a future shaped by AI, digitisation, and biometrics, only adaptable, professionally run travel enterprises will stay relevant.