In this issue

The March-April 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟒 issue of 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 is out.
Come spring, and the inner traveller in everybody awakens. While the pleasant beauty of nature beckons many in the serene spring, there are various reasons why people travel. What binds every kind of traveller, however, is that shopping is a serious agenda on almost everyone’s bucketlist and especially in India it has remained a key driver for choosing a destination. The new Indian shopper, has a voracious appetite for all kinds of purchases, from the top luxury brands to gourmet foods, clothes, wines and perfumes. The March-April issue of India Outbound takes you for a deep dive on the issue examining the trends and how destinations are responding.

After a heartful of leisure, we take you on some dreamy adventure in swimming with the turtles, one of the several activities that visitors to Oman can experience. And as thrill slowly sets pace in you, let’s head to a one-of-a-kind adventure in Kenya to discover a unique hotel, perhaps the only one in the world where a Princess checked in and she checked out as the Queen.

𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆:

Event Report: Brand USA 10th India Sales Mission

Experience: Bazaar Beats: Beyond Bargains

Destination: Unveiling Hidden Gems of Occitane

Nature: Meet Mexican Monarchs

Experience: Uncovering Imperial Mystiques of China

Read the March-April 2024 issue for features on several other destination reports, experiences and interviews with travel industry leaders.

World's Top Luxury Trains

Replete with personal valets, grand suites and opulent amenities, luxury train travel is becoming one of the most sought-after ways to see the world with the rising popularity of slow travel.

5 mins

India Among Focus Markets for Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Preferred Hotels & Resorts offers not only a platform to the 650 luxury hotels in 85 countries that are its members, but it also helps them move towards critical areas such as sustainability. Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, who was in India recently tells India Outbound that the Beyond Green label of Preferred Hotels & Resorts has extremely stringent membership criteria which are regularly monitored and enforced. She adds that India is one of the most important outbound travel markets for members of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.

3 mins

Malta to host first art biennale in 2024

The Mediterranean island nation of Malta will organise its first art biennale in first half of 2024. Conceived as a Mediterranean biennale, its inaugural edition comes with theme of 'insular thinking' that has drawn over 2,500 proposals by artists from 75 countries. The biennale will start from March 11 and continue through the month of May. Artistic Director Sofia Baldi Pighi tells India Outbound about the preparations for the biennale.

5 mins

Heidelberg: Lessons in History & Heritage

There are many student towns in the world but few can rival the small German city of Heidelberg's unique connection with education and youth. While hostels and libraries are commonplace, Heidelberg is perhaps the only centre of learning in the world to have had a prison for students!

5 mins

48 hours in Kutaisi

A compact town split by the Rioni River, Kutaisi, the capital of the Imereti region of Georgia, is a window into the country's history, culture, art and architecture and way of life.

6 mins

We aspire to be the gateway for Indian travellers to US

As most Indian travellers to the United States head to Calfornia and more specifically the Silicon Valley, San Francisco International Airport aspires to be the key gateway for Indians, Kevin Bumen, Chief Financial & Commercial Officer at SFO tells India Outbound. Bumen adds that the number of Indian arrivals at SFO has already risen 80 pc over 2019 peak.

2 mins

INDIAN TRAVEL TRADE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT DESTINATION JAMAICA

With a clear focus on the potential that the Indian outbound travel market holds, Jamaica Tourist Board invited Indian travel trade and media to participate for the first time in JAPEX, the key tourism fair in the country. The bet on the Indian market seems to have paid off for Jamaica as almost every travel agent from India said that the destination held immense promise for Indian visitors and that the destination would be integrated in their itineraries shortly.

9 mins

Indian travellers biggest consumers of adventure in South Africa

With an 82 pc increase in arrivals from India so far in 2023 and a rapidly growing MICE industry, South African Tourism is set to reach the 2019 arrivals this year, Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head Middle East, India & South East Asia of South African Tourism, tells India Outbound.

3 mins

Full recovery in leisure traffic, business yet to catch up

Finnish flag carrier FinnAir was amongst the worst hit by the Russia-Ukraine War. However, the airline's leisure traffic from India has recovered fully to the pre-pandemic levels and recovery in business travel is progressive, Romu Sakari, General Manager, Finnair tells India Outbound.

2 mins

Segovia: Spain's Fairytale Town

One of the many tourism gems that Spain boasts of, Segovia is perhaps the dreamiest, with its amazing history that is reflected in extremely well-preserved monuments, ranging from a Roman Aqueduct to a 12th century Castle and a flamboyant 16th century Gothic Cathedral.Varsha Singh

6 mins

Like Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines is all about outdoors & nature

Like every year since 2017, this year, too, SriLankan Airlines continued as a Title Sponsor of the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival, one of the largest sporting events in Australia, that saw the participation of over 45,000 people recently. In an interview with India Outbound, Saminda Perera, Head of Marketing, SriLankan Airlines, says that supporting endurance events like the marathon, gives greater visibility to the airline, not just among Australians but also the sizeable Sri Lankan and Indian diaspora.

3 mins

Savouring Luxury with SriLankan Airlines

Almost all airlines come with a business class cabin, with equipment and amenities that are now fairly standard. What separates one airline from another is the personal touch and the service of the airline staff. Here, few can match the warmth and welcome extended by SriLankan Airlines.

2 mins

RELIVING CHARIOTS OF FIRE AT MELBOURNE MARATHON

One of the biggest annual athletics events of Australia, the Melbourne Marathon is an experience to be lived, rather than watched. Participating in this challenging race has become easier even for Marathon lovers from India and South Asia, thanks to SriLankan Airlines which has a convenient, daily direct connection from Colombo to Melbourne.

5 mins

After booming summer, Atlantis Dubai expects bumper winter

India is one of the top 10 markets for luxury hospitality group Atlantis Dubai. Keen to grow the market further, Neil Shah, Account Director, Sales, Atlantis Dubai, tells India Outbound that he is seeing a lot of repeat Indian visitors who are now coming for longer stays and are spending more.

3 mins

JAMAICA: LUXURY LIVES HERE

The Caribbean island nation of Jamaica is one of the top preferences for tourists from all over the world seeking luxury. Despite its distance, the destination is also attracting greater traction from Indian luxury travellers who head to Jamaica for weddings, anniversaries or just to pamper themselves with a variety of luxury experiences, be it in the air, on the land or in the water.

7 mins

Indulge in Luxury: Your Exclusive Guide to High-End Tourism in Azerbaijan

For the Indian travellers seeking luxury in any segment, from Destination Weddings and MICE to leisure and family vacations, Azerbaijan offers a vast variety of options and experiences. Come, be spoilt like never before! Come to Azerbaijan, the Land of Luxury.

4 mins

Indian Luxury Travel Market: HIGH HOPES FROM HIGH END

One of the niches of outbound travel from India that has blossomed smartly, even during the Covid-19 pandemic, is the luxury travel market. Destinations, hotels, airlines and all other stakeholders of travel and tourism from around the world are closely watching the elite Indian travellers and laying down the red carpet to tap this highly promising segment.

10+ mins

Heatwaves: Will Winter Be The New European Summer?

With rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves, tourism industry and tourists, especially in Europe, ought to begin preparing for a dramatic shift from summer travel to winter. Destinations should start preparing their industry for the coming upheaval.

10 mins

Frames from Arabian artistry

Although primarily known as an adventure and leisure hub in the GCC heart, Yas Island in UAE is also keen to position itself as a cultural destination, with an assortment of museums and other cultural venues.

3 mins

MAURITIUS: IN THE WATER, BY THE WATER & ON THE WATER

As an island destination, Mauritius certainly does not lack water-oriented or water-based activities. From a submarine safari to a catamaran cruise and from beach to a bay, the tropical paradise has it all.

4 mins

SAUNTERING IN SWITZERLAND

Located almost in the heart of Switzerland, Lucerne is an ideal base to explore some of the Swiss landmarks, notably Mount Titlis and Mount Pilatus.

10 mins

A ROAD TRIP THROUGH TUSCANY'S TINY GEMS

A road trip is the best way to traverse the idyllic Tuscan countryside which, just like fine Italian wine, must be savoured, a sip at a time, rather than gulped down.

5 mins

Very robust demand in India for United

With robust demand for its product, American carrier United Airlines that has been present in India for 18 years is keen to ramp up capacity in India, but hampered by the closure of Russian airspace due to Russia-Ukraine war. Harvinder Singh, Director, Middle East & India, of United says the airline is aiming to launch five flights to India at the earliest.

3 mins

My goal is to make TBO world's largest B2B platform

In past 17 years, TBO, a leading B2B travel portal, has grown rapidly with presence in over 100 countries. Ankush Nijhawan, co-founder & Managing Director says a lot of hard work & grabbing the opportunities that came along have gone into the growth and that he aims to make TBO the largest B2B platform in the world.

6 mins

Pilgrims' Parade of Ponferrada: SOAKING IN SPANISH SPIRITUALITY

Every summer, under the first full moon, the tiny but immensely significant Spanish town of Ponferrada in northwestern Spain travels back to the 12th century as thousands of Templar Knights converge to celebrate the Night of Templars.

9 mins

Cabarets: Much More Than Song & Dance

Behind cabaret's racy sagas lie veiled political satires and caustic takes on norms. A glittering orchestra, using bawdy punches and raising unsettling questions, the traditional cabaret has travelled around the world to morph into new themes and styles in every place and era that it was brought into.

8 mins

San Antonio: Deep Dive in Diversity

Many things go into making San Antonio, in Texas, a great destination for visitors from the United States and around the world. From its famous River Walk and the Mexican markets to its diverse culinary and cultural heritage.

7 mins

Where Leisure Is Learning

In a classroom, one might be compelled to study. But they say the whole world is just a giant classroom and learning is ceaseless! While an educational trip can be to any part of the world, some cities remain all-time favourites, with an ideal mix of some of the world's best learning centres and leisure activities.

3 mins

Catching Them Young

One of the fastest growing segments of tourism in the post-pandemic era, in terms of outbound tourism from India, has been educational tourism, where students are taken on short-term visits combining learning with sight-seeing and pleasure.

9 mins

Targetting new segments of tourists from India

After a few very toughyears due to the Covid-19 pandemic and domestic instability, SriLankan Airlines has reported robust profits last year, says Richard Nuttall, CEO. He adds his focus is on expanding his largest market, India, by attracting new segments of visitors

3 mins

Read all stories from India Outbound

India Outbound Magazine Description:

India Outbound is a magazine promoting Foreign Destinations in India. India is one of the fastest growing tourism markets not only in France but all over Europe. In 2010, over 12 million Indians travelled overseas as against 5.5 million visitors to India...