Medical tourism in India increased by around 33% year-on-year in 2023, with expectations to surpass the pre-pandemic levels of 700,000 visitors recorded in 2019 in calendar year 2024, credit rating agency ICRA said. This growth, the agency said, is attributed to the central government’s initiative to extend e-medical visa facilities to nationals of 167 countries, which is likely to further boost medical tourism footfalls. The rise in medical tourism is supported by India’s competitive treatment costs, quality medical facilities, and relatively short waiting times for procedures. This trend is expected to continue, offering a positive outlook for the Indian hospital…
Author: Disha Ghosh
Tamil Nadu’s tourism sector is gearing up for the inaugural Tamil Nadu Travel Expo (TTE), scheduled to take place from September 20 to 22, 2024, at the IDA Scudder Auditorium in Madurai. This landmark event aims to boost the state’s tourism profile and attract a larger number of visitors both from within India and neighboring countries. The Tamil Nadu Travel Expo is being organized as a collaborative effort by the Travel Club, Madurai, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA), with strong support from the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu,…
Turkish Airlines is aiming to expand its operations in India by revising the current bilateral air service agreement. According to Erkan Erdogan, General Manager for Northern and Eastern India, Turkish Airlines, there is significant untapped potential in the Indian market due to the current limitations on flight capacity. At present, Turkish Airlines operates 14 weekly flights between New Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, utilising B777 aircraft with a capacity of 400 passengers. However, the airline is eager to increase this capacity by adding new destinations such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, Benglauru and Chennai. This expansion would allow Turkish Airlines to offer…
IndiGo is set to introduce 12 business class seats on metro-to-metro routes starting mid-November, marking a significant shift for the airline known for its consistency and simplicity. This move, part of IndiGo’s strategy to expand its global footprint, coincides with the announcement of a new loyalty programme and the airline’s 18th anniversary celebration. The new business class seats, featuring adjustable headrests and a five-inch recline, will be installed on Airbus A321Neo aircraft operating on twelve high-traffic metro routes. Passengers will also benefit from a specially curated meal box, priority check-in, and other premium services. IndiGo, currently operating 2,000 daily flights…
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has restricted carrying water bottles on the white marble platform at the Taj Mahal. As per the ASI, repeated incidents of token ‘jalabhishek’ at Taj Mahal in this month of Sawan have led to this decision of not allowing water bottles on the white marble platform around the main mausoleum of Taj Mahal. “There have been recurring incidents with videos going viral about individuals entering Taj Mahal posing as tourists and pouring water from their bottles, claiming it as ‘jalabhishek’. The videos were raising question marks, so it was decided to ask tourists to…
In a significant development, Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil announced that the state is moving forward with plans for a second airport in Bengaluru. The Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Limited has identified seven potential locations for the new airport. Following a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Patil revealed that a formal proposal will be submitted to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) after discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “The final decision will consider factors such as passenger density, connectivity, industrial growth, cargo potential, and environmental aspects like the presence of rivers, hills, and biodiversity,” stated Patil.…
All Indian visa application centres (VACs) in Bangladesh will remain closed until further notice. The online portal to apply for Indian visa now has a message, “All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to the unstable situation. Next application date will be informed through SMS & It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day.” Unrest in Bangladesh recently forced Sheikh Hasina to resign as Prime Minister and flee the country. This comes a day after New Delhi evacuated non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission and consulates in Bangladesh. Indian diplomats,…
The Cathay Group (Cathay) has committed more than HKD 100 billion in investments over the next seven years as part of its bold strategy to further elevate its customer experience, and strengthen Hong Kong’s international aviation hub status riding on the Three-Runway System. This encompasses major investments in its fleet, cabin products, lounges, and digital and sustainability leadership as it sets its sights on growing for its customers, its people and its home, Hong Kong. Patrick Healy, Chair, Cathay Group, said, “With the Three-Runway System soon to propel Hong Kong’s aviation sector into a new age, the coming years are…
Air New Zealand has seen a surging demand from India post Covid. Imogen Thornton, Head of South & Southeast Asia, Air New Zealand, said, “There is growing interest in New Zealand from India travellers. From the 87,000 Indians that visited New Zealand over the last year, ending April 2024, there were 42,000 VFR visitors and 23,000 leisure travellers, with leisure volumes growing at a steady rate.” Currently, Air New Zealand offers connections for Indian passengers via Singapore. “We have an alliance partnership with Singapore Airlines that operates out of 8 cities in India. On a daily basis, we operate up…
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed concerns regarding the recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) notices issued by India’s Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) to some foreign airlines. These notices, targeting expenses incurred by foreign airlines’ headquarters, are seen as potentially detrimental to India’s aviation growth. IATA argues that this approach does not align with international norms and practices, pointing out that Indian airlines do not face similar demands abroad. Xie Xingquan, Regional Vice President for North Asia and Asia Pacific, IATA, criticised the DGGI’s stance, emphasising that the GST application fails to consider the unique nature…
