In a significant move to elevate river tourism and maritime infrastructure in India, Antara Cruises has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the West Bengal Transport Department at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) 2025. The agreement cements Antara Cruises’ commitment to investing INR 800 crore over the next five years to expand luxury river cruise services, develop shipbuilding facilities, and position West Bengal as India’s premier river tourism hub. Having already invested INR 200 crore in the state, Antara Cruises currently operates luxury voyages from Kolkata to Dhaka, Guwahati, Assam, Patna, and Varanasi. With this fresh investment, the…
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In a strategic initiative to boost travel to Sabah (Malaysia) from the high-potential India market, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, and its group company, SOTC Travel, have signed an agreement with Sabah Tourism Board. This strategic collaboration will ensure focus on growing Sabah’s visibility and inspiring visitation from the India market. The MOU was signed by Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head at Thomas Cook (India) Limited and Julinus Jeffery Jimit, CEO, Sabah Tourism Board, in the presence of Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General, Tourism Malaysia. This multi-pronged collaboration will focus on destination knowledge, curating inspiring content, education, training and familiarisation…
Raj Varma, Co-Founder, Travjoy In recent years, the travel industry has witnessed seismic shifts in how we plan our getaways. As we step into 2025, certain trends are emerging as the driving forces behind modern travel. From sustainability and regenerative tourism to digital nomadism and immersive cultural experiences, these developments are changing not only how we travel but also how we connect with our planet and its diverse communities. Raj Varma, Co-Founder & COO of Travjoy, throws light on this year’s top travel trends and how they will influence your next adventure. Regenerative Tourism Takes Centre Stage Sustainability has…
Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has announced a significant expansion of its global flight network, adding more than 10 new destinations for 2025. This strategic growth, fueled by a 16% increase in international guest numbers last year, reflects the airline’s commitment to connecting the world and meeting increasing global travel demand. The new destinations offer a diverse range of options, spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The additions to Saudia’s network include Vienna (Austria), Venice (Italy), Larnaca (Cyprus), Athens and Heraklion (Greece), Nice (France), Malaga (Spain), Bali (Indonesia), Antalya (Turkey), El Alamein (Egypt), and Salalah (Oman).…
Heavens Portfolio, an integrated luxury hotel representation company, hosted its inaugural ‘India Luxury Roadshow’ in Mumbai, followed by New Delhi. The events saw participation from twelve prestigious clients of Heavens Portfolio, including Belmond, Cheval Blanc, Coco Collection, Fusion Hotel Group, FORESTIS Dolomites, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Patina Maldives, Passalaqua, Quark Expeditions, Uga Escapes, Ultima Collection, and Unknown Nordics Luxury Travel. The roadshow took place at St. Regis and D’Monde private members’ clubs in Mumbai and Delhi, respectively, and was followed by a gala dinner at Megu in Hotel Leela Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Over the two days in both cities, more…
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), in collaboration with the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), successfully hosted the Korea Tourism Roadshow in Mumbai last week, reinforcing its commitment to the Indian travel trade and presenting key programmes aimed at further boosting Indian tourist arrivals to South Korea. Myong Kil Yun, Regional Director – India & SAARC Countries, KTO, said “South Korea’s growing popularity among Indian travellers is a testament to the strong partnership we share with the Indian travel trade. With evolving traveller preferences and increasing demand for unique experiences, we are committed to providing our partners with tailored support,…
A Delta Air Lines regional jet crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday, flipping upside down amid high winds following a snowstorm. The incident left 18 of the 80 people on board injured, including a child who was transported to a children’s hospital. The flight, a Bombardier CRJ900 operated by Delta’s Endeavor Air subsidiary, departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and touched down in Toronto at 2:13 p.m. local time. Shortly after landing, the aircraft lost stability, overturning on the snow-covered tarmac near the intersection of runways 23 and 15. Emergency crews quickly responded, with firefighters extinguishing a fire…
Red Dot Representations has recently partnered with Thang Long International Travel & Trade Investment JSC (Thang Long Tours), a destination management company based in Vietnam. This collaboration aims to introduce Indian and global travellers to Vietnam’s uniquely immersive travel experiences. The partnership will cement Red Dot Representations’ extensive network and expertise to promote Vietnam as a preferred destination for a plethora of travel requirements right from leisure to MICE, etc., offering travellers exclusive access to Thang Long Tours’ superior, exclusive, and locally immersive travel experiences. Vietnam is rising in popularity among the global travelling fraternity as a mushrooming tourism hotspot,…
Air India and Virgin Australia have entered into a new code-share partnership that significantly boosts connectivity and the ease of travelling between India and Australia. The unilateral codeshare agreement enables Air India to place its ‘AI’ code on flights operated by Virgin Australia. This enhances the opportunities that Air India customers have when travelling from Delhi to Melbourne or Sydney and take seamless onward connections on Virgin Australia flights to 16 destinations in Australia and New Zealand. The enhanced cooperation will also ensure that passengers travelling on a single ticket will have their baggage checked through the entire journey. The…
The Indian travel industry lost a pioneering figure on Saturday morning with the passing of Kesari Bhau Patil, the Founder and President of Kesari Tours. He was 90. Patil was more than just an entrepreneur; he was a visionary who made international travel accessible to the Indian middle class. In 1984, at the age of 50, he founded Kesari Tours with a dream—to help everyday Indians explore the world. Through sheer determination, hard work, and an unwavering belief in his vision, he transformed Kesari Tours into a globally recognized name, helping millions create cherished travel memories. His passing has sent…
