Sameer Karnani, Director, Arunodaya Travels, said, “Many Indian travellers are simply not comfortable flying right now. Even those who had summer travel plans have chosen to postpone. The overall sentiment is cautious, not just because of the Air India crash but due to a globally unstable environment. Multiple factors are contributing to a visible dip in confidence.” 

West Bengal now has the highest number of certified tourist guides in India, with 1,022 trained across districts under a dedicated state. Debjit Dutta, Director & CEO, Impression Tourism Services (India), said, “This is a landmark moment for West Bengal’s tourism industry. The initiative has not only created skilled guides but also empowered local communities to become tourism entrepreneurs.” 

Following tourism associations’ initiatives to revive travel in Kashmir, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat met J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for a forward-looking discussion on tourism development. Key focus areas included infrastructure upgrade, heritage promotion and sustainable livelihoods. The meeting reflects Centre-state alignment and renewed commitment to reposition Jammu & Kashmir as a leading tourism destination. 

In a renewed appeal this month, the Ministry of Tourism urged associations and tour operators to include dolphin-centric destinations in their tour packages and itineraries. Highlighting the potential of dolphin-based eco-tourism as a sustainable and engaging travel experience, The Ministry has also shared a list of potential dolphin tourism sites compiled by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The letter requests tourism stakeholders to not only promote these sites but also share details of any initiatives already undertaken in this regard. This move aligns with the government’s broader push to develop responsible wildlife tourism and enhance eco-tourism offerings in India. Tour operators are encouraged to refer to the “Handbook of Whale and Dolphin Watching” while designing experiences to ensure responsible and sustainable practices.   

Thailand has welcomed over one million Indian tourists in the first half of 2025, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This milestone reflects the growing India-Thailand travel bond, driven by visa exemptions, digital arrival cards and diverse tourism offerings. The surge reaffirms Thailand’s strong appeal among Indian travellers seeking cultural, luxury and leisure experiences.

Haldane Dodd, Executive Director, Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), said, “Aviation supports 42 million jobs and $890 billion in GDP across Asia-Pacific. One in every 45 jobs is aviation-linked. For every $1 of direct aviation value, $3.70 of economic activity is generated.” He added, “The multiplier effect underscores why aviation must remain central to economic and tourism development.” 

India must now focus on attracting higher-spending, experience-driven travellers, said Dr Jyotsna Suri, CMD, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. “We’ve had backpackers. Now, we need better quality tourists. For them, slight price differences with Thailand or Indonesia don’t matter,” she noted. “India offers great value—and that’s what we must promote through a sharper, segmented Incredible India campaign,” she added. 

Sirigesanong Trirattanasongpol, Director, TAT, Delhi Office shared that IndiGo and TAT are in dialogue to start a direct flight from India (city not confirmed) to Chiang Mai. Stakeholders believe that it will boost the numbers of Indian travellers to Chiang Mai i.e. North Thailand. Currently Indians mostly prefer South Thailand due to direct connectivity. This may help Thailand in reaching its target of welcoming around 2.3 million Indians in 2025.

Julia Simpson, President & CEO, WTTC, said, “India has great infrastructure, but to grow further, we must embrace digital and seamless travel.” Citing her easy UK-to-India visa experience, she stressed replicating that for others. “We should learn from China’s short-stay visa model-fast, digital and paperless,” she added, advocating smart reforms to support tourism recovery and expansion. 

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the Homestay and Bed & Breakfast Policy 2025 to promote tourism, improve accommodation standards, and generate local jobs. Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the policy enhances tourist experiences while supporting economic growth. It also mandates NOCs from local bodies for operational compliance by eligible homestay and B&B units.