As per ICRA’s latest report, the domestic air passenger traffic for December 2024 was estimated at 153 lakh, higher by 7.3 per cent in comparison to 142.5 lakh in November 2024. It witnessed a YoY growth of 10.8 per cent and remained higher by 17.5 per cent than pre-COVID levels of 130.2 lakh seen in December 2019.

Noriah Jaafar, Director, Tourism Malaysia, Mumbai, said, “We will focus on joint promotions and tactical campaigns to further boost Indian arrivals. We are also excited to prepare for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, which will serve as a cornerstone for our future tourism initiatives, aiming to attract more visitors from India.”

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has announced that they are working on a new website for the association, which will be launched by the end of January or February. “To promote India overseas, we have revamped our website, which will have more packages.” he said while speaking at the IATO Luncheon meet in Delhi.

Dispelling untruths about tourism in Goa in recent times, Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, Govt of Goa said, “The last week of December 2024 saw 200 daily fights. There was 21 per cent growth in tourist arrivals in 2024 over last year. Foreign tourist arrivals into Goa have shown a 3 per cent increase in 2024.”

Royal Gulf Tourism, a pioneer in the UAE’s inbound tourism industry, announced its strategic partnership with Linkin Reps, a leading Tourism and Hospitality Representation company in India. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Royal Gulf Tourism’s commitment to expanding its footprint in key regions of North and East India, enabling it to bring world-class travel services to a broader audience. Royal Gulf Tourism: 25+ Years of Excellence in Destination Management Founded in 1996, Royal Gulf Tourism has been at the forefront of UAE tourism for over 25 years. As one of the first Destination Management Companies (DMC) in the UAE, Royal Gulf has served more than 1.5 million tourists, translating to over five million tourist days. The company is affiliated with over 500 hotels, offering an extensive range of services, including hotel bookings, excursions, professional guides, transfers, and visa processing. Royal Gulf Tourism began its journey as a specialist in inbound tourism from the Czech Republic and Slovakia and has since expanded its presence to Central and Eastern Europe, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, Greece, and the USA. Its unwavering dedication to delivering flawless and memorable travel experiences has earned the company a reputation as the UAE’s premium and most reliable Destination Management Company. A Partnership Rooted in Growth and Innovation Through its partnership with Linkin Reps, Royal Gulf Tourism aims to solidify its position in the Indian market. Under the leadership of Komal Seth, Director and Founder, Linkin Reps, the collaboration will focus on enhancing Royal Gulf’s visibility and fostering relationships with travel trade partners in North and East India. The partnership promises to unlock new opportunities, delivering exceptional ground-handling and destination services tailored to the needs …

The 45th edition reflects the positive outlook of the industry and reaffirms FITUR’s leadership as the world’s premier trade fair by participants and attendees. Brazil participates as Partner Country in an edition that continues to grow: 9,500 participating companies from 156 countries, and 884 main exhibitors. Organised by IFEMA MADRID, the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) brings together the global tourism market in its 45th edition, showcasing from 22 to 26 January the outstanding performance of the tourism industry in 2024 and the promising expectations for 2025. In this context of strength, the industry gathered around FITUR seeks to emphasise its pride in belonging to the sector, its transformative role, and its steadfast commitment to sustainability and innovation, aspects present not only in its themed sections but also in the offerings from destinations and companies. FITUR once again opens the international tourism trade fair calendar, reaffirming its leadership as the number one event in terms of participants and attendees, with the support of all public and private stakeholders in the sector’s value chain. This is evidenced by the figures presented during today’s press conference at IFEMA MADRID, attended by a broad institutional and sectoral representation: 9,500 participating companies, 156 countries, and 884 main exhibitors showcasing their offerings across nine pavilions, including 101 countries with official representation. The strong response from the sector at FITUR 2025 is expected to be reflected in attendance figures, with an estimated 150,000 professionals attending from Wednesday to Friday and around 100,000 general public visitors over the weekend. This significant turnout is projected to generate an economic impact of €445 million for Madrid, positively influencing sectors such as transportation, hospitality, catering, culture, and entertainment. FITUR: A …

Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister, Jammu & Kashmir said the 6.4km Z-Morh Tunnel will boost tourism at Sonamarg. The tunnel is expected to ease travelling to Kargil and Leh by road. It is anticipated that the tunnel can help develop the town into a premier winter destination, similar to Gulmarg.

Alejandro Del La OSA, CEO, Europamundo Vacaciones, shares, “Our special offer for the travel agents ends on 16 January, 2025 that allows them to sell tours for the next season till March 2026 at 2024 rates. It gives them an opportunity to sell FITs and groups at better prices and save on the increase in prices of next season.”

India’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure is elevating travellers’ expectations, says Zubin Saxena, Senior VP, Hilton. “Customised itineraries and smooth, hassle-free online booking experience are becoming the norm, further driving domestic tourism growth,” he said while lauding use of technology in hospitality.

Marking 60th anniversary of India-Singapore cultural relations, Markus Tan, Regional Director, IMESA, STB, said, “In Jan, STB plans special offers and experiential trips alongside events like Singapore Art Week to commemorate this milestone. The destination is offering an exciting array of new attractions this year.”