Air India will deploy its flagship A350-900 aircraft on Delhi-New York JFK flights from November 1, 2024, and Delhi-Newark flights from January 2, 2025, thus transforming its passenger experience on these strategically important routes. The A350 deployment will introduce Air India’s Premium Economy class experience for the first time on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. It will offer guests the choice of 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration in a dedicated, upscale cabin that offers extra legroom and other enhancements. Other cabins and latest signature experiences Air India’s A350 aircraft feature 28 private suites in Business…
Author: Disha Ghosh
India needs to seize the opportunity provided by the tourism sector that represents a relatively low-hanging fruit for job creation amid a challenging environment in services and manufacturing industries due to the rise of AI, protectionism and supply concerns, the Economic Survey said on Monday. India’s tourism industry showed positive signs of revival post-pandemic and witnessed over 92 lakh foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, implying a YoY increase of 43.5 per cent, while the hospitality industry has risen to meet the increasing number of tourists’ needs by creating the highest amount of new supply in 2023 with the addition of…
The Indian tourism sector experienced a remarkable resurgence in 2023, with Foreign Travel Arrivals (FTAs) soaring by 43% compared to the previous year, as highlighted in the Economic Survey 2023-24. The survey revealed that over 9.2 million foreign tourists visited India, marking a 43.5% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase. India’s tourism industry also saw a significant rise in foreign exchange earnings, amounting to over ₹2.3 trillion, reflecting a 65.7% Y-o-Y growth. The country’s standing in the global tourism arena improved, with India ranking 39th in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024. To meet the increasing demand, the…
The United States has recommended that its citizens do not travel to Bangladesh and allowed the voluntary departure of its non-emergency government employees and family members in view of the ongoing civil unrest in the South Asian country. The development comes just a day after the US issued a new travel advisory for Bangladesh, urging Americans to reconsider their travel to the strife-torn country. Authorities in Bangladesh has imposed a strict curfew across the country and military personnel patrolled parts of the capital to quell further violence after days of clashes over the allocation of government jobs left more than…
In a significant move to enhance passenger experience, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has unveiled a cutting-edge machine that employs artificial intelligence (AI) to sort dirty linens with stains and damages before they are packed. This innovation aims to address frequent complaints from passengers about unclean linens provided during their journeys. Indian Railways utilises approximately six lakh linen packets daily, each containing two bedsheets, a pillow cover, a hand towel, and a blanket. The newly introduced machine, located in Pune, uses high-resolution cameras to capture detailed images of the linens, ensuring high accuracy in identifying any stains or damages. This AI-driven…
LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MakeMyTrip (MMT) attract more Indian tourists by offering a unique blend of exciting LEGO adventures and rich Malaysian cultural experiences. India is a key source of tourists for Malaysia, ranking as the country’s fifth-largest source of visitors. With the growing interest among Indians for international travel, coupled with Malaysia’s visa-free policy until December 31, 2024, this collaboration comes at a perfect time. “LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort is the ultimate family holiday destination,” said Thila Munusamy, Director of Sales & Marketing, LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort. “Our combination of world-class LEGO attractions, educational…
Kerala Tourism has won the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award 2024 for its online contest ‘Holiday Heist’ in Digital Marketing Campaign category, marking a big endorsement of its innovative initiatives to attract visitors. ‘Holiday Heist’, the month-long ground-breaking campaign was launched in July 2023 to woo tourists through an engaging and thrilling bidding game on the Tourism Department’s WhatsApp ChatBot Maya. Right from the start, it turned out to be a resounding success with travellers from across the country making a whopping 80,000 bids to visit the state’s prime destinations at low prices. The bidding game, conducted in…
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has entered into a ground-breaking partnership with Anand Kumar, the esteemed educator and founder of the Super 30 program. Renowned for his commitment to education, KTO’s collaboration with the Padma Shree awardee, introduces the ‘Korea Super 30’ edutainment travel packages. Designed to blend cultural exploration with academic enrichment, this initiative offers young learners a transformative experience in South Korea. Kumar has also been named the Honorary Ambassador of Korea Tourism, tasked with promoting South Korea as a premier destination for international travel and education through December 2024. To mark the inaugural batch and to celebrate this…
Japan welcomed a million more foreign visitors in the first half of 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, logging a new record of 17.78 million, the Japan National Tourism Organization said. The weak yen is attracting large crowds to Japan, with many tourists splashing out on everything from kimonos to knives and pricey meals. The January-June figure beat the previous high from 2019 of 16.63 million, with the influx prompting locals at hot spots such as Kyoto and Mount Fuji to raise overtourism concerns. By country, South Korean visitors to Japan topped the chart at 4.4 million in the six-month period.…
IndiGo will launch direct flights from Mangaluru, Coimbatore, and Tiruchirappalli to Abu Dhabi. The flights on the Abu Dhabi to Mangaluru route will operate daily, from August 9, and the Tiruchirappalli to Abu Dhabi will operate four times a week, starting from August 11. Starting from August 10, the direct flights from Coimbatore will operate thrice weekly. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, said, “With the addition of these flights, IndiGo now operates 89 non-stop flights a week to Abu Dhabi from 13 cities in India. These flights will provide smooth and convenient options for business as well…
