CGH Earth sees domestic tourism outpacing international arrivals. The group expects 20% inbound growth this year, driven by the demand from the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Southeast Asia. “At the same time, short-stay domestic demand from Bangalore, Chennai, and Cochin has surged,” said Michael Dominic, MD, CGH Earth, stressing that the brand’s sustainability practices are value-driven and community-first. “To capture this market, we have intensified social media, PR, print, and influencer-led campaigns to ensure year-round visibility and occupancy.”

India’s Travel & Tourism sector is at a crossroads, according to new WTTC findings. The findings highlight both the opportunities and the urgency as India seeks to balance its tourism-led growth with environmental sustainability. “The sector has shown progress by cutting its carbon intensity from 1.6 to 1.29 kgCO2e per US$ of GDP since 2019,” the report stated. India’s Travel & Tourism sector has delivered $79.6 billion in taxes and creating millions of jobs, especially for women and youth. “Yet, with 87% of its energy mix still fossil fuel-based, the industry faces mounting pressure to embrace low-carbon alternatives,” the report stated.

To expedite the immigration process, India will streamline foreign national arrivals from 1 October by replacing physical disembarkation cards with optional digital e-arrival cards for work, tourism, study, or business purposes. This initiative, alongside the existing Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme for Indian citizens and OCI holders, aims to significantly reduce immigration delays at airports nationwide.

Tamil Nadu emerged as a leading travel destination, attracting 306 million domestic and 1.6 million international tourists in 2024, revealed Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (South), MoT, GoI, at TTE 2025 in Madurai. “While these figures highlight vast opportunities, they also underline the responsibility of sustainable growth,” he said, stressing the importance of leveraging this momentum for further investment and development in India’s tourism sector. India recorded a major tourism boost in 2024, with 9.95 million foreign tourists and 2,950 million domestic travellers. Domestic tourism is projected to reach 30 million by the year-end.

The Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS), the premier association dedicated to uniting tourism and hospitality professionals across the state, successfully held its 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently. During the event, elections were conducted for the office bearers and the executive committee who will lead the society for the next two-year period. The newly elected team is committed to further strengthening the vision and projects that have marked KTS as a dynamic partner to both state and national government bodies, elevating Karnataka’s position as a leading tourism destination. K Syama Raju, President, stated, “It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I extend a heartfelt welcome to each one of you as the President of the Karnataka Tourism Society. In the dynamic realm of tourism and hospitality, we are united by a common passion for innovation, excellence, and the transformative power of our stakeholders here in Karnataka. I look forward to working alongside each of you as we embark on this exciting journey together.”

Discussing the plans ahead, Himanshu Patil, Director, Kesari Tours, said, “We are gearing up for 2026 and plan to open four offices pan-India.”

Udaipur will host a two-day national tourism conference, bringing together Tourism Ministers and officials from all States and Union Territories. Scheduled for 15–16 October and chaired by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, the event will focus on shaping India’s tourism policies and roadmap. Key discussions will include sustainable and digital tourism, alongside presentations on ongoing schemes from various state tourism departments. The conference aims to create a collaborative framework for enhancing India’s tourism ecosystem.

Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley has become India’s first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, a move that puts the trans-Himalayan landscape on the global conservation map. The decision was taken at the 37th session of UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme, held in September. With this, India now has 13 sites in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, while congratulating the state forest department and its wildlife wings, said, “The state government is committed to protecting and conserving Himachal Pradesh’s rich natural and cultural heritage and fragile ecology in the era of climate change, while ensuring harmony between developmental activities and nature.”

Speaking at the launch of Centrum Air’s new flight, connecting Delhi and Tashkent from 3 October, Sardor Mirzayusupovich Rustambaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, said that the improved air connectivity has already boosted tourism four-fold, from 20,000 Indian visitors to nearly 82,000 in one year, with expectations of even higher numbers this year. Aeroprime Group is Centrum Air’s exclusive GSA in India. Expressing optimism, Rustambaev said that new routes will further strengthen cooperation, tourism, and people-to-people contact. He stressed that these flights would benefit tourism, education, medical travel, and overall bilateral engagement.

APS Destinations bagged the Most Innovative Travel Planners award at the India Travel Award 2025. Receiving the trophy, Pratik Shah, Founder, APS Destinations, said, “This award is not about numbers or tickets, but about the trust and credibility built with clients. It means a lot to me.” Advising young professionals, he said that travel is beyond bookings, think out of the box and explore global opportunities.