Balitrip Wisata is set to bring Bali’s best to India with a four-city B2B Sales Mission in August. The roadshow will be held in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kochi, and Kolkata on 4, 5, 6 and 8 August, respectively, featuring direct hotel partners and exclusive deals. Travel trade professionals can discover new products and connect with Bali’s top hospitality brands, driving economic empowerment and a more resilient future for India’s evolving travel industry.

Speaking at the PHDCCI event, Rajeev Jain, Director, Rashi Entertainment, said, “The way this industry is expanding, I truly feel we’ll have a Wedding Ministry in 10 years. State ministers, central ministers, even the Prime Minister are now talking about weddings and concert tourism.” He hailed the wedding industry as a ‘serious contributor’ to the economy and national tourism strategy.

“The government is targeting to increase tourism’s share in the country’s economy to 10% by 2047, in line with global standards,” said Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, at the CII Annual Business Summit. He emphasised the role of tourism as a powerful generator of jobs and called for trained human resources for the sector.

“India’s medical tourism market is set to surge from $18.2 billion in 2025 to $58.2 billion by 2035”, said Someswara Koundinya, Director, KPMG India, at the FHRAI Summit in Delhi. The country ranks 10th in the medical tourism index and 7th in wellness tourism, attracting 2 million international patients from 75 countries, he added.

‘Fairmont Udaipur Palace’ has thrown open in Udaipur. Speaking on this, Omer Acar, CEO, Raffles & Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said, “This new palace reflects Fairmont’s commitment to honouring the spirit of each location we enter, blending global luxury with deep local resonance. We are proud to bring the Fairmont experience to Udaipur and to be part of the city’s enduring legacy as a jewel in India’s cultural crown.”  

Himachal Pradesh government has banned adventure activities in the state for two months, from July 15 to September 15, due to monsoon. The Tourism Department will take action in case of a violation, which could lead to the cancellation of the operator’s license and confiscation of materials used in the activities. A letter has also been sent to the sub-divisional officers by the department in this regard, so that all areas can be monitored.

Meghalaya has kicked off a ₹1,087 crore development wave, placing tourism and MICE infrastructure front and centre. Laying the foundation in Shillong, Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, GoI, said, “I appreciate Meghalaya’s efforts as the funds are being fully utilised.” Projects include the ₹120.8 crore redevelopment of Umiam Lake into a world-class eco-tourism hub and ₹103 crore for MICE infrastructure at Mawkhanu. The initiatives are expected to attract 1.27 lakh tourists annually and generate nearly 4,000 jobs.

Sabre Corporation has finalised the sale of its Hospitality Solutions business to TPG for $1.1 billion, $960 million net of taxes and fees. Kurt Ekert, President & CEO, Sabre Corporation, called it a key step in the company’s ongoing transformation, enabling debt reduction, portfolio optimisation, and renewed focus on sustainable growth. He thanked the hospitality team and wished them success.

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has postponed its foreign tourist entry fee rollout to mid-2026. Initially planned for 2025, the fee — 300 baht for air arrivals and 150 baht for land or sea — is now expected in Q2 or Q3 of 2026. Approved by the Cabinet in February 2023, the policy aims to support tourism infrastructure.

MP Bezbaruah, General Secretary, Hotel Association of India (HAI), highlighted India’s tourism infrastructure gap, citing a need for 4 lakh branded rooms and 2.8 million non-branded units. He urged the government to develop a long-term, capital-intensive accommodation policy looking ahead to 2047. He emphasised that while the industry will build it, policy support is crucial for encouragement and growth.