The two-day Tourism Secretaries’ Conference of all States and Union Territories, organised by the Union MOT, is underway at SKICC, Srinagar. The conference will focus on key national-level policy areas, including tourism-related budget announcements for 2025-26, destination development and infrastructure initiatives, a review of sanctioned projects, and promotion and marketing strategies.

With India’s rising middle class and younger Indian travellers, the country is poised to reshape the global leisure travel industry. According to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), global leisure travel spending is projected to triple from $5 trillion in 2024 to $15 trillion by 2040, driven by emerging markets like India and China.

In a major boost to Andhra Pradesh’s adventure tourism sector, the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) has received over 130 applications from companies eager to launch operations. In response, the government has issued detailed guidelines covering operator registration, safety standards, security protocols, environmental protection and local employment, aiming at regulating the sector and ensuring tourist safety.

Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is making a massive splash this summer. From July 1, the capital’s popular water park will open a new 13,445-square-metre zone featuring more than 20 additional rides, slides, and attractions to support Yas Island’s broader strategy to evolve into a year-round tourism and entertainment hub.

IndiGo announced the appointment of Amitabh Kant as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors of InterGlobe Aviation Limited, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Speaking on this, Kant said, “I am delighted to join the Board of IndiGo. In under two decades, the brand has transformed air travel in India, emerging as a global benchmark for operational excellence and customer experience. I look forward to contributing to IndiGo’s and India’s next chapter of trade, tourism, and economic growth.”

Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, Thomas Cook has launched its ‘TravSure – Travel with Confidence’ program to reassure customers and give them confidence to travel again. It covers all international group tours and soon extends to personalised holidays. The company is also running an “End of Season Sale” offering Buy 1 Get 1 Free deals across destinations.

Expressing concern on the recent proposal to increase excise duty on liquor in Maharashtra, HRAWI in a letter to Ajit Pawar, Deputy CM & Minister of Finance & Excise, Maharashtra, said the proposed hike is expected to cause a sharp rise in the retail prices of alcoholic beverages reportedly between 14% to 60% across various categories, with the steepest increase in IMFL.

Ajay Jain, Special Chief Secretary for Tourism, Visakhapatnam, has called for positioning the city as a global-standard tourism destination. He urged officials to create awareness campaigns promoting adventure, water sports, and cruise tourism. Highlighting the potential to host major national and international events, he said that the city should have 10,000 star-rated hotels.

Cross Hotels & Resorts in Thailand invites the Indian travel trade for an exclusive webinar today at 3 pm IST, focusing on its latest offerings. Get insights to help create enriched itineraries for your corporate clients, showcasing the best of what the brand has to offer. For more information, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Nikhil Sharma, MD & COO, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “With the opening of D Square Statue of Unity Kevadia, a member of Radisson Individuals, we further strengthen our footprint in Gujarat. This hotel offers a distinct blend of local character and modern hospitality, in line with our strategy to grow our portfolio in emerging leisure destinations across the country. We are proud to contribute to this transformation by offering high-quality hospitality that complements the area’s cultural richness and sustainable development focus.”