Karnataka Tourism inaugurated the second edition of Karnataka International Travel Expo (KITE) 2025, at Taj West End Bangaluru, after achieving a resounding success with its inaugural edition. This premier travel and tourism event will take place from February till 28, 2025, showcasing Karnataka as a vibrant and diverse global tourism hub. KITE was inaugurated by Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, in the presence of Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State or Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Labour and Employment Government of India, H.K Patil, Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation, Tourism, Government of Karnataka, gracing the occasion was Rizwan…
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In a major crackdown on illegal immigration, the Punjab government has cancelled the licenses of 40 travel agents and several IELTS centers. The action follows growing concerns over the deportation of Indian nationals, particularly from Punjab, who had entered the United States illegally. According to sources, the Amritsar police acted on complaints against unauthorised travel agents operating in the city, with further action expected in the coming days. Raids are being conducted to apprehend those involved in facilitating illegal migration. Punjab Tops List of Deportees from the U.S. Government sources revealed that Punjabis account for the highest number of Indians…
Emirates is considering adding Vijayawada Airport (VGA) to its network. If finalised, the move would provide the Telugu diaspora in the United States with another gateway to Andhra Pradesh, alongside Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airline plans to connect Vijayawada to key U.S. cities via its hub in Dubai, benefiting Telugu communities in the Bay Area, the Texas Triangle (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio), Chicagoland, Seattle, New Jersey, Boston, and Greater Washington (DMV). A three-member Emirates team recently conducted a technical feasibility study at Vijayawada Airport. According to a report by The Times of India, Airport Director M. Lakshmikanth…
Direct air connectivity between India and the Philippines is on the horizon as officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) met with Air India executives on February 18, 2025, to discuss launching non-stop flights between the two nations. The discussions focused on regulatory approvals, safety standards, operational requirements, and technical documentation necessary to facilitate direct routes. CAAP emphasised its commitment to streamlining the approval process while maintaining stringent safety protocols. The move comes as the Philippines continues to attract an increasing number of Indian travellers. In 2024, approximately 79,000 Indian tourists visited the country—a 12% increase from…
As technology continues to reshape industries, the demand for smarter, more intuitive solutions has never been greater. Thomas Cook (India) Limited, and its group company, SOTC Travel, are leading the charge in embracing artificial intelligence (AI) gearing up to launch an agentic AI platform that is designed to transform the business travel experience. Dhruv, combines the domain expertise of Thomas Cook and SOTC in the travel industry, the technological prowess of LTIMindtree, powered by Voicing.AI and brought together by the global innovation capabilities of Fairfax Digital Services (a Fairfax company). Dhruv harnesses cutting-edge AI-driven technologies and Large Language Models (LLMs)…
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought an explanation from Air India following a complaint from Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan regarding poor service quality. Chouhan alleged that he was assigned a “broken and sunken seat” while traveling on Air India flight AI436 from Bhopal to Delhi. Expressing his disappointment on social media, Chouhan called it “unethical” for the airline to allocate defective seats while charging passengers full fare. “I believed Air India’s service would improve after the Tata takeover, but I was mistaken,” he posted. He further questioned the airline’s accountability, asking if corrective measures would be…
RateGain Travel Technologies Limited (RateGain), a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for the travel and hospitality industry, has oboarded Nok Air, a budget carrier in Thailand for AirGain, it’s advanced pricing intelligence platform, to gain real-time competitive insights. This strategic collaboration highlights Nok Air’s commitment to delivering affordable and seamless travel experiences across its expanding network in Thailand and Asia. Nok Air operates a broad domestic network and international routes in India and China, connecting key cities and tourist destinations. Known for its distinctive branding and customer-first approach, the airline has earned a strong reputation among budget and value-conscious…
To facilitate tourism between India and Japan, IATO, the national apex tourism body signed an MOU with Okinawa-India Friendship Association (OIFA) & Onna Village Tourism Association of Japan in New Delhi. The MOU was signed by Rajiv Mehra, President IATO and Moritake Tomikawa, President – Okinawa India Friendship Association (OIFA) and Rumiko Miyazaki, Chairperson – Onna Village Tourism Association. Present on the occasion were Yoshimi Nagahama, Mayor of Onna Village and Ravi Gosain – Vice President-IATO. Speaking on the occasion Mehra said, “India and Japan enjoy warm and friendly relations. This gives us huge scope for increasing the tourist flow…
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has entered into a strategic 24-month partnership with Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company, SOTC Travel. This collaboration is set to drive awareness and visibility for Korea as a preferred travel destination for Indian tourists. The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Limited; SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours – SOTC Travel; and Myong Kil Yun, Regional Director – India & SAARC Countries, Korea Tourism Organization. Under this exclusive partnership, KTO…
SKAL International has appointed 10 distinguished Skålleagues from India to all 9 global committees. Their selection reflects India’s dedication to excellence, collaboration, and global engagement, ensuring that India plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Skål International. List of Members from India appointed to global committees • Finance – Sk. B Gopinath (Skål International Chennai 205) • Governance, Statutes & By-laws – Sk. Shekhar Divadkar (Skål International Goa 690) • Media, PR, Branding & Marketing – Sk. J Earnest Immanuel (Skål International Hyderabad 606) | Sk. Mark Mendes, (SKAL international Goa 690) • Membership Development & Florimond Volckaert…