Western Australia eyes direct flight from India to Perth to tap into VFR market

With India being one of Western Australia's largest markets that remains unserved by a direct airline service, Hon Roger Cook, Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism, Western Australia, recently attended the CAPA India Aviation Summit in New Delhi to discuss establishing a direct flight from India to Perth. This move follows the state's tourism body meeting with top airlines in July 2022 to develop direct aviation connections between the two destinations. Western Australia's Deputy Premier highlighted various travel destinations within the state, promoting adventure, wildlife, and unique culinary experiences to attract Indian visitors.

TCS Tightening the Noose

In a post-GST and COVID environment, the government bowled a bouncer with the introduction of a 5 per cent TCS on outbound travel. For an industry that was and is still gasping for a fresh lease of life, it was a hit below the belt. Immediate appeals and representations followed hoping for review and redressal but barely had the industry put its pen down to take a breather, the \"Death Knell\" struck! or at least that is how it is widely perceived. TCS rates are now hiked to 20 per cent and with the passing of the finance bill in the parliament is now a law. The industry stands shellshocked, still trying to find the rationale behind this move. TTJ spoke to the captains of the industry to understand the implication, impact, and fallout of this move.

Travel industry is bouncing back Is your business keeping pace?

The travel industry is soaring to newer heights. With bookings and inquiries skyrocketing, we finally see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. According to UNWTO, a notable increase in international tourism receipts has been recorded across most destinations, in several cases higher than their growth in arrivals. As destinations worldwide reopen and welcome back travellers with open arms, the question remains, is your business ready?

IGLTA: Ensuring an Equal and Inclusive World for All Travellers

Founded in 1983, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) is one of the very few organisations in the world dedicated solely to promoting and supporting LGBTQ+ tourism businesses. In an exclusive interview with Travel Trade Journal, John Tanzella, President and CEO, International LGBTQ+ Travel Association shared with us the organisation’s mission and vision, as well as the hurdles and the challenges faced by them. Tanzella also shed light on the IGLTA’s expansion plans and their noble act of spreading awareness, to make this world LGBTQ+ friendly. Read on to know more.

Must have experiences at THE KUMAON for a refreshing 2023!

Pay heed to the calling of the mountains and begin 2023 with an unforgettable retreat in the heart of the Himalayas. The Kumaon sitting atop a ridge, surrounded by the sanctity of the Nanda Devi Range, boasts of diverse experiences where one can disconnect with the tangible workings of the world and reconnect with one's truest self.

CELESTIAL DISCOVERIES IN NEW ZEALAND

Stargazing in New Zealand is an incredibly wonderful experience thanks to the country's pitch-black skies, distinctive celestial formations, and exotic landscapes. Be it shooting stars and constellations in the clear sky or starry night; New Zealand has some of the best public observatories in the world. Wish to fall deeper in love with the dark skies? Find out where to get a billion-star view of some of the clearest skies from earth.

Pride Hotels to double its portfolio to 100 hotels by 2030

S.P. Jain, Founder and CMD of Pride Hotels, is a Chartered Accountant with over thirty years of expertise in hotels, construction, and finance. He made his initial foray into the hospitality industry when his first hotel was commissioned in 1988 in Pune, under Pride Hotels. Over the years, SP Jain has contributed to the industry with his knowledge and expertise. In this exclusive interaction with TTJ, he talks about the group’s performance, success, challenges and ambitious expansion plans.

The Apurva Kempinski, Bali: a luxurious gateway to the Bali life

The Apurva Kempinski is a blend of traditional Balinese architecture and tropical island at Nusa Dua, Bali “Bali is more than a place. It’s a mood, it’s magical. It’s a tropical state of mind.”

Uttar Pradesh Tourism: Pressing all the right buttons

Speaking to Travel Trade Journal recently, Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, shared some latest insights into the strides that Uttar Pradesh was lately making in developing a multifaceted, safe and tourist-friendly tourism product. The endeavour is to fill in all the missing links, and gaps and echo the sentiment of 'Athiti Devo Bhava'.

Dubai Holding Entertainment's Hala Dubai to shake up India market

Despite the pandemic's blow, Dubai has seen a speedy recovery and is on the path to reaching pre-pandemic growth levels. With the commitment to its visitors and inclusivity, Dubai Holding Entertainment projects soaring numbers in the future. In an exclusive interview with Travel Trade Journal, Rami Mashini, Executive Director, Sales, Dubai Holding Entertainment, also revealed the group's efforts to attract visitors from the India market, which has become the group's biggest source market in 2022. Dubai Holding Entertainment's upcoming project, Hala Dubai, in collaboration with Real Madrid, is going to be bigger than ever. Mashini hinted that the launch would take place within Dubai Parks and ResortsTM, and more details would be revealed closer to the date.

MALDIVES NAVIGATES PANDEMIC CHALLENGES: Evolves into a Destination for All

The Maldives is a nation of over 1,000 islands located in the Indian Ocean. Known for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and luxurious resorts, the Maldives has become a popular tourist destination in recent years. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing travel restrictions and shutdowns worldwide, the Maldives, like many other tourist-dependent economies, has faced challenges in keeping its tourism industry afloat. In this article, we'll explore how the Maldives has navigated the pandemic and hear from Fathimath Afra, Chief Marketing Officer, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, about the strategies that have been implemented to keep the tourism industry going during these difficult times.

TOURISM WESTERN AUSTRALIA: WITNESSING A ROBUST AND FASTGROWING INTEREST FROMINDIA MARKET

As a major focus market, India represents an enormous growth opportunity for Western Australia's (WA) visitor economy. In the period May to September 2022, arrivals from India to WA recovered to 87 per cent of pre-COVID levels, which far outstripped the average of 46 per cent from other countries and reflects the Indian markets' rapidly growing interest in WA as a holiday destination. TTJ interacted with Carolyn Turnbull, Managing Director, Tourism WA, who is responsible for promoting WA as an incredible tourism destination, along with delivering world-class tourism experiences and events calendar. She shares with us more about the sun-kissed destination with jaw-dropping, dreamlike scenery and authentic cultural experiences and how they are targeting and working to get in more Indian tourists.

Hope, Caution And Alarm For The Travel Industry

The Union Budget 2023-24 was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2023. Expectations ran high, as every industry and its verticals have their own wishlist and pain areas which they look forward to being addressed. The travel, tourism and hospitality industry has its own long pending list of unaddressed issues for which constant representations have been made over the years. As usual, they remained unaddressed even in this budget. What was presented was a progressive, growth-oriented agenda for tourism at a macro level. However, the issues relating to the immediate survival and global competitiveness of the industry remained unaddressed. To add insult to injury, a massive hike in the TCS regime was proposed.

Discover Okinawa At Your Own Pace, Island By Island, Moment By Moment

The islands of Okinawa are as diverse as they are plentiful, stretching from the main island in the north to Ishigaki and beyond in the south. There are 160 islands, large and small, inhabited and uninhabited. Authentic Okinawan experiences await, with cultural treasures, outdoor adventure, and world-class diving just some of the draws. Choose the perfect destination for your unforgettable Okinawa experience. Discover Okinawa at your own pace, island by island, moment by moment.

TTJ TRAVMART hosts a fun-filled afternoon at Delta 105 for its partners

TTJ TRAVMART, in association with Delta 105, hosted a fun-filled and activity-oriented afternoon for its key industry partners with their families for this one-of-a-kind \"True Fauji\" experience on January 04, 2023, to welcome the New Year. With a great deal of fun in the sun, everyone enjoyed the zipline, grenade throwing, and paintball experience with some scrumptious food. Here is more on the army theme park loaded with amusing army theme activities.

STB, SIA, and Scoot host Industry Appreciation Gala event in New Delhi

Singapore Tourism Board, Airlines (SIA), Singapore and Scoot held an Industry Appreciation Gala night on January 17, 2023, at Bo Tai Switch, Shangri-La Eros Hotel in New Delhi, to thank and recognise their travel partners for the strong recovery of Indian visitors to Singapore in 2022.

No Peace in the Air The Unruly Passenger

Given the growing concern from airlines, regulators and passengers at the increasing frequency and severity of incidents involving violence against crew and co-passengers. It is high time for practical steps to be taken to address and significantly reduce the problem by reining in these unruly and disruptive passengers. As most of the time these incidents escape public and media scrutiny, culprits most often go unpunished. This results in harassment of the crew and endangerment of safety norms. Schedules get disrupted and cause inconvenience, delays and diversions.

Vedic Village Spa Resort A cut above the rest

Best known as the luxury wellness destination in the East, Vedic Village Spa Resort is poised to emerge as a bucket-list destination with its wide array of sports activities for all age brackets, informs Rajib Roy Choudhury, Senior General Manager of the resort.

Bengal looks at public and private sectors working together to bring in more tourists

A session at the Travel India Summit 2023 witnessed valuable insights from Babul Supriyo, Minister, Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal and other eminent personalities in travel and tourism and other allied industries.

TASK comes ahead to enhance tourism in the Valley

Jammu and Kashmir has numerous pristine and adventure destinations that have been unfolded for travellers. Old houseboats have been revamped, informs Waseem Ahmad Goosani, General Secretary, TASK.

Travel India 2023 Summit: Laying down the roadmap for future of Bengal tourism

Travel India 2023, the flagship event of ICC, is an attempt to look at the latest status and updates of the tourism industry in the country, particularly in West Bengal and the way forward. Sustainable tourism, responsible tourism and AYUSH tourism are trending in the tourism industry of the country.

Kerala Tourism set to launch a multitude of events as part of its innovative tourism

With a zest to move beyond the conventional image of a land of natural beauty, Kerala Tourism is set for a makeover. 'God's own country', renowned for its breathtaking scenic beauty and lush greenery, is now looking to rebrand itself as an all-season destination for both offbeat, as well as experiential travel. In a roadshow in Delhi, the officials talked about various launches and strategies to expand the reach of Kerala Tourism, and attract visitors round the year. Read on to know more.

TOUR DE DIAMONDS - Immerse into the Journey of Diamonds

Tour de Diamonds is a unique and premium experiential tour for those who have always wondered and wanted to know why a diamond is forever. This tour takes guests, tourists, and those interested into the realm of the captivating diamond-making process and gets knowledge of the industry with in-depth experiences. TTJ meets up with Karan Maniar and Priyanka Verma, Partners, Tour de Diamonds, to learn more about this enterprising startup in the travel business.

'Experiential travel will be the mantra for the hospitality sector'

With presence in almost all the states of India, The Clarks Hotels and aims to promote the country to the rising domestic luxury travellers, international travellers, and MICE. Amid domestic expansion, the group is also strengthening its international footprints with new openings in the Indian Ocean region. In this interaction, Rahul Deb Banerjee, Vice President, The Clarks Hotels and Resorts, gives rich insights into their work strategies and accomplishments in the year 2022 and their expectations for 2023.

Living the Korean Dream - Grand Hyatt Jeju

Embodying the modern Korean lifestyle, Grand Hyatt Jeju is the largest Grand Hyatt in Asia-Pacific. The hotel promises a rich, luxurious experience for domestic and international visitors with its exclusive range of services. Read on to know more about the luxurious hotel as we converse with Simon Graham, Hotel Manager, Grand Hyatt Jeju. Graham is an experienced hotel professional with over 20 years in the industry and is currently overseeing a team of over 400, driving key business strategy across all functions of the Rooms Division, and playing a key role in developing and executing the overall business strategy for the hotel.

Optimistic of new possibilities, ready to welcome more Indians in 2023

India is on a trajectory to become one of the largest sources and a focus market for global tourism. Destinations within proximity see India as the top source market. Over the years, Indian tourist footfalls are rapidly growing in South East Asia and the GCC countries. After the COVID pandemic, the pent-up demand is already seeing a huge outflow of travellers to the promising destinations in these regions. As a big and growing market, India is also valuable for many international hotels in these regions. We at TTJ spoke with some of the international hotels to know how they fared in 2022, their readiness for the India market in 2023, and hospitality trends that impressed them.

SriLankan Airlines adopting Pragmatic and Resilient approach

Most airlines suffered huge setbacks due to the COVID-19 scenario. SriLankan Airlines was no exception. Even post-COVID when things were finally looking up, the island nation had its own internal setbacks that created further challenges for the airline, but the airline overcame its challenges and has now reached its pre-COVID revenues operating at 70 per cent capacity. In an exclusive conversation with TTJ, Richard Nuttall, CEO, SriLankan Airlines, talks about the challenges faced by the airline and its projections for the future.

UTAH TOURISM DEPARTMENT PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRACTICES

As the world navigates the post-pandemic era, there has been a renewed interest in travel and a desire to both explore new destinations and rediscover local ones. Among the sought-after tourist destinations is the state of Utah, which has seen a surge in interest among travellers. Zach Fyne, Global Markets Specialist, Utah Office of Tourism, and Rachel Bremer, Global Markets Director, Utah Office of Tourism, recently presented a comprehensive overview of the state's various attractions to a gathering of media representatives. The presentation highlighted the diverse offerings of Utah and provided insights on how to best experience them.

Building destinations and experiences with an entrepreneurial spirit

Having worked in the tourism industry for 14 years, travel has become part of Ryna Sequeira’s DNA. She is a passionate marketeer, and the line of tourism business marries both exceptionally well. After the pandemic in 2022, Ryna relaunched her marketing consulting firm under her brand, Ryna Sequeira Consulting, and now represents Tourism and Events Queensland, Australian Cruise Group, and Opera Australia.

'India is eager to travel and the world should be ready to cash in'

With over 22 years of hands-on industry experience spread over multiple verticals ranging from airlines, tourism boards, and travel agencies, Alpa Jani, Founder and CEO of Ace Connect, now brings her experience and learning into the travel and hospitality consultancy business, continuing her passion for the industry. Ace Connect, a professional consulting company for niche products and destinations in the travel and hospitality space, aims to offer destinations and products a sustainable presence, visibility, and growth in the India market.