Tag Archives: Germany

Germany to roll out Digital Schengen visas for Indians

At a time, when visitations from India to its shores are at a record-high, Germany will be rolling out Digital Schengen visas for Indian nationals by the second quarter of 2025, said its Chennai-based Consul General Michaela Küchler.

In 2023, German diplomatic missions in India issued more than 1.8 lakh (180,000) Schengen Visas to Indians, and for 2024 the number is expected to surpass the 2 lakh (200,000) mark, as per a Wion report by Siddharth MP.

She added that the total time for obtaining a Schengen Visa (including appointment wait time and processing time) from a German mission takes less than four weeks for applicants from Southern India.

Schengen region refers to Europe’s passport-free zone covering most European countries. The largest free travel area in the world, it spans 29 countries that have abolished their internal borders to allow the unrestricted movement of people. Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen region for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 days. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work.

The 29 Schengen countries are Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
(Source: Wion)

GNTB strengthens Indian market efforts #NextStepsAsia

 

India’s significance as a source market for international tourism is rapidly growing. According to Skift India, Indian spending on international travel grew by 17% annually between 2008 and 2019, far outpacing global tourism trends. Skift forecasts a 230% growth in outbound travel from India by 2027, placing India in the top five global tourism markets.

In response, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is intensifying its efforts to attract Indian travellers. Petra Hedorfer, CEO of GNTB, emphasised their strategy of building connections between Indian demand and Germany’s tourism offerings. The number of Indian overnight stays in Germany rose by 40% from 2015 to 2019, with the GNTB launching an India-specific marketing initiative and the upcoming GNTB India Digital Travel Knowledge Tour in 2025 to boost industry partnerships.

Germany’s inbound tourism from India has shown strong growth, recovering faster than other Asian countries post-pandemic. In 2023, Indian travellers accounted for 826,000 overnight stays, a 33% increase from 2022, and contributed 900 million euros to Germany’s economy. Tourism forecasts predict 1.6 million Indian overnight stays in Germany annually by the decade’s end.

The GNTB is also launching special campaigns tailored to the Indian market, such as the “Live like a Local” influencer project, showcasing Germany’s culture through Indian influencers’ social media, and a wedding campaign targeting the booming Indian destination wedding segment.

To further strengthen ties, the GNTB will launch its second India Pool in 2025, a joint investment with the German travel industry to enhance Germany’s visibility and tap deeper into the Indian market’s potential.

WTTC and VFS Global have been collaborating on many destination focused studies on travel and tourism impact.

Biz travel to surpass pre-pandemic levels to reach a record USD1.5 trillion in 2024: WTTC

A new report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed that business travel is set to surpass pre-pandemic levels this year, faster than previously predicted, to reach a record USD1.5 trillon.

The rise of remote working during the pandemic had a disproportionate effect on corporate travel, compared to leisure travel, with virtual platforms replacing face-to-face meetings.

Last year, leisure travel was just 2.9% behind the 2019 peak, whilst business travel continued to struggle, remaining 5.4% behind.
But as business leaders re-emphasised the importance of face-to-face interaction, business travel is now back and is set to exceed 2019 levels by an impressive 6.2% to reach the new US$1.5TN record.

U.S. and China Back in Business
According to WTTC’s “2024 Economic Impact Trends Report”, business travel spending in the U.S., which accounted for 30% of the global total in 2019, is expected to reach USD 472 billion this year – 13.4% above the country’s 2019 record.

In China, the world’s second largest market for business travel, spending is forecast to grow 13.1% above 2019 to reach almost USD 211BN.

Business travel spend in Germany, the third largest, is set to reach USD87.5BN, just under 1% above the 2019 peak, while business travel in the UK and France is expected to inject a record-breaking USD84.1BN and USD42.1BN into their respective economies.

At the global tourism body’s 24th Global Summit in Perth, Western Australia, last week, Julia Simpson, President & CEO, WTTC, said, “After a challenging few years, business travel is not only back on track, but it is recovering much faster than expected, highlighting the importance of international travel for businesses around the world.

“Many business powerhouses such as the U.S., China and Germany are expected to reach record numbers this year. While virtual meetings played a crucial role during the pandemic, keeping people and businesses connected, today’s report shows that business is better face to face.”

Paul Abbott, American Express Global Business CEO, said, “Companies around the world value travel and in-person connections more than ever, since people movement was restricted during the pandemic.

“We always said travel was a force for good, driving economic and societal progress. But when travel stopped, GDP plummeted, unemployment soared, mental health issues escalated, and the world became a less tolerant place. The benefits of travel are now no longer in doubt. Companies around the world – many for the first time – are investing in managed business travel to grow their businesses and create winning cultures.”

According to the report, other factors have also contributed to the resurgence of business travel.

As economies around the world have rebounded since the pandemic, with Travel & Tourism’s global GDP contribution reaching record levels, businesses have been able to reallocate more funds towards corporate travel once again.

The growth of blended travel, whereby travellers combine business trips with personal holidays, has also enhanced the appeal of corporate travel.

The meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry has also made a strong comeback, resuming in-person events after a long period of cancellations and postponements.

52% of inbound travellers seek India as standalone destination: Booking.com Report

Booking.com in collaboration with Accenture, unveiled the second edition of its comprehensive annual report, ‘How India Travels 2024 – The Inbound Edit’.

The report sheds light on the inbound travel sector’s strong recovery, while uncovering evolving traveller preferences and motivations, its impact on the Indian economy and emerging trends.

India’s travel renaissance: A global travel hub fuelling economic growth

With over 9 million foreign tourists visiting India in 2023, the report highlights India’s transformation into a global travel hub. This is attributed to the country’s rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes, coupled with strong rankings in price competitiveness, air transport and infrastructure making it a top destination in South Asia. The surge in tourism has resulted in positive economic benefits. Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism have increased, reaching USD 15.3 billion in the first half of 2024, a 17.6% increase from 2023 and a 5.5% jump from 2019. The influx of international visitors is catalysing the local economy, potentially generating 58 million jobs by 2033. With tourism projected to contribute approximately USD 512 billion to India’s GDP by 2028, a substantial increase from 2023, the industry exhibits robust recovery and growth trajectory.

Key insights and trends on the inbound traveller

The report also unveils key trends shaping inbound tourism and the mind set of international travellers detailing their preferences, motivation and what they seek from their experiences in India. These insights were gathered through a combination of external data and a survey commissioned by Booking.com among travellers who intend to travel to India in the next 12-24 months.

● Geographic diversity: More than half (52%) of inbound travellers seek India as a standalone destination, while a third (22%) intend to combine their visit with other Asian countries. This trend highlights India’s growing role as both a primary destination and stopover in regional travel plans.

● Shifting source markets are transforming the travel landscape: The US, United Kingdom, Germany and United Arab Emirates have emerged as top inbound source markets for India based on Booking.com search data as compared to 2023, reflecting a shift from traditional frontrunners like China, Canada and Bangladesh. Hong Kong, Australia, Italy and Netherlands were new entrants in the top 10 inbound source markets.

● Beyond the metros, off-the-beaten path destinations rise in popularity: While major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Chennai remain popular and have consistently ranked as the top five cities in terms of searches, less conventional destinations are gaining traction. Off-the-beaten path destinations like Hampi and Leh rising in popularity, showcasing India’s diverse tourism offering. Other emerging destinations like Patnitop, Pahalgam, Madikeri, Vijayawada, and Khajuraho among others have shown a 2X or more year-on-year growth.

● Repeat visits driven by positive experiences: Nearly half (44%) of inbound travellers have experienced India and want to visit it again. 40% are eager to explore India for the first time. Travellers aim to explore multiple destinations within India. 41% intend to visit 2-4 destinations, while 35% plan to cover 5-10 locations, showcasing their desire for diverse experiences.

● The rise of digital traveller: India’s inbound tourism has evolved rapidly since 2019. Travellers are now seeking more personalised and flexible experiences with online platforms playing a crucial role. A majority (52%) of travellers prefer to book complete travel packages, while 40% opt to book individual components separately.

Navigating the road ahead: Challenges and opportunities for India’s tourism industry

India continues to leave a lasting impression on the majority of returning travellers, with an overwhelming 95% reporting that their experience either met or exceeded expectations. Nonetheless, there are a few hurdles that travellers face while planning and booking a trip to India. Survey responses indicate that limited customization options (49%), lack of bundled packages that combine flights, accommodation and activities into a seamless travel experience (51%) and information overload (43%) can hinder traveller experiences. Many international travellers also seek personalised itineraries and seamless travel planning but find it difficult to achieve. These challenges open up great opportunities for the industry to come together and improve personalisation, expanding digital resources and tackle health and safety concerns to create a more enjoyable experience for new and returning travellers.

Similarly, expanding direct international flights, simplifying visa processes, and continuing to promote India’s diverse travel landscapes and experiences will aid the acceleration of tourist arrivals. This can be achieved through a collaborative approach between various stakeholders, backed by targeted investments, which will help India reach new heights in global tourism.

Commenting on this, Mugdha Sinha, Director General (Tourism), Government of India, Ministry of Tourism said, “Vision 2047 for Tourism aims to elevate India’s inbound tourism by tenfold, positioning us as a premier global destination. With technology and big data as transformative drivers, we are not just upgrading infrastructure, but also leveraging tourist behaviour analytics to tailor our offerings. From wellness and adventure tourism to responsible travel, we’re committed to delivering a seamless, enriching experience. Our focus on safety, hygiene, and connectivity ensures that every visitor experiences the best of India, driving both employment and GDP growth in the creative economy.”

“India’s inbound tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, fuelled by its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality,” said Santosh Kumar, Country Head, Indian subcontinent & Indonesia at Booking.com. “Our latest report ‘How India Travels 2024 – The Inbound Edit’ highlights the growing appeal of India as a global destination, with a surge in foreign tourist arrivals and a strong preference for unique experiences.

This is also reflected in India’s 39th rank on the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Travel & Tourism Development Index, up from 54th in 2021. As travellers seek authentic connections and immersive journeys, India’s ability to offer a diverse range of experiences, from bustling cities to serene landscapes, is proving to be a major draw. We at Booking.com remain committed to supporting India’s tourism industry by providing partners with the necessary tools and resources, while enabling travellers to plan seamless and unforgettable journeys.”

“India’s tourism industry is currently defined by transformation-led growth, driven by rich, authentic experiences and increasing purchasing power of consumers. Today, it offers diverse options for both budget and luxury travellers, supported by strategic government initiatives and ongoing efforts to modernise the travel infrastructure. To enhance India’s appeal further, it is crucial to leverage technology specially data, analytics, AI, and generative AI to streamline operations and improve the entire traveller experience—from inspiration to planning and booking through post-trip advocacy. This will help strengthen India’s position on the global tourism map, while ensuring visitors leave with unforgettable memories and a desire to return,” said Anshul Gupta, Managing Director and Travel lead for Advanced Technology Centers in India, Accenture.

IATO seeks budgetary support for overseas promotion to revive inbound travel

The Inbound Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has sought immediate government assistance as tour operators continue to suffer in the wake of sluggish FTA’s which still remain below 2019 levels.

The major reason for little revival in this sector can be attributed to lack of budgetary support for publicity abroad and withdrawal of incentives to tour operators which could be utilised for promotion in the key source market like the UK, Canada, the USA, Germany, Australia, France and Russia, the apex body said.

There is no gain saying that the tourism sector suffered the most during the pandemic. However since then, there has been a robust revival in Domestic Tourism and outbound travel. This is mainly due to pent up demand, allure of foreign locations and incentives like visa fee waiver announced by multiple countries. They have wooed our tourists as that boosts their economy but unfortunately there have been no such measures from our country and that has led to lack of foreign tourist numbers in India. Besides, the incentives announced by neigbouring countries have also weaned some foreign tourists away from our country, the association states.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said, “In 2018 and 2019, India had 10.56 million and 10.93 million foreign tourist arrivals, 2023 which was a normal year the figure was 92.36 lakhs. Even this year we are not expecting 2019 level’s to be reached. At best we are expecting 7-9 percent growth over 2019 levels.”

He added, “Travel and Tourism created 79.86 million (direct + indirect) jobs and 15.34 per cent of jobs in the 2019–2020 year. Forex earnings in 2020 were in the tune of USD 7 billion In terms of GDP during 2019–2020, tourism contributed 5.19 per cent (direct + indirect). These figures indicate potential both in terms of contribution to GDP as well as the tourism potential. By that yardstick we can easily assess the huge opportunity lost for the country”.

In the wake of this, IATO urges the government to restore, if possible, hike the budget for promotion abroad. Overseas advertisements both electronic and print and road shows abroad should resume. Besides, a PLI on the lines introduced for the manufacturing sector can be given to tour operators as that can help in earning foreign exchange and with this money they can promote the destinations abroad. Besides, the government should consider visa fee waiver as the resultant increase in numbers would easily offset the revenue lost in terms of visa fees.

These measures together can help in restoring FTA’s in India, IATO says.

Sri Lanka eyeing to best it’s 2018 visitor numbers in 2024

With over 1.2 million visitors recorded in the first seven months, for the anticipated peak season Oct-Nov-Dec windfall, Sri Lanka Tourism is confident of achieving its target of 2.3 million tourists for 2024. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman, SLTPB (Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau), spoke to Shayan Mallick in an exclusive chat.
After a tumultuous few years that started with Easter Sunday bombings in 2019, followed by Covid-19 pandemic and lastly, the economic crisis of 2022, Sri Lanka is finally set to dominate the travel charts once again.
The island nation looks comfortable to achieve its target of 2.3 million international tourist arrivals, and USD 4.6 billion in tourism revenue during 2024. Sri Lanka had registered its record tourism year in 2018 when international tourist arrival surpassed 2.3 million visitors for the first time.
At over 99.9%, Sri Lanka had nearly achieved its 2023 arrival target of 1.5 million that came slightly undone because of geopolitical exigencies like the Russia-Ukraine war and more recently, the crisis in Israel.
“Sri Lanka missed the target by a mere 10,000 visitors because of the two ongoing wars, or we would have jumped the target of 1.5 million because we were getting lot of tourists from these countries as well”, believes Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB). He spoke recently to TravelBiz Monitor, in an exclusive chat, on the sidelines of an award function in New Delhi.
“This year, our target is to reach 2.3 million tourists which are also our best numbers from 2018. We have already received over 1.2 million visitors in the first seven months. But don’t forget that, especially for the European market, the winter season is coming. October, November and December months are going to be very big. We are expecting about 700,000 to 750,000 visitors within these three months alone, that’s excluding the visitors for the August and September months. So I am pretty confident that we will achieve our target of 2.3 million figures,” he added.
Gajabahu also pointed that Sri Lanka’s tourism source markets are diverse and they are keen to maintain it that way. “India has always been our number one market. It was our number one market in 2023, and this year as well. We want it to grow to all categories of visitors. India will be our top market for a long time to come and we want it to be. However, Sri Lanka is a very neutral country. Whether it is India, China, Russia, the UK, France, Germany or the US, we are very welcoming to tourists from across the world.”
Commenting on the turnaround, the SLTPB head pointed, “We went through a very troublesome period before 2022 for five years! When you go through an economic crisis with long queues for essential commodities like food, medicines and petrol, no one wants to visit that country. But, in the past two years, with all that we have done, not only in India but globally, with road shows, promotions and influencer campaigns like ‘Seeing is Believing’, we are now in the top five travel indexes, wherever in the world, from the Fortune to the Forbes, and lot of other such platforms.”
In June 2022, Sri Lanka, said Gajabahu, became the first country to come to India to do the roadshow and also “India was the first country we went to because we knew that India was our next door big brother. It was the market we knew very well that we can handle, and I must admit that all the associations, especially TAAI (Travel Agents Association of India) and Jyoti Mayal came forward to help and committed to bring tourists to Sri Lanka.” TAAI organised its 67th Annual Convention in Sri Lanka last year themed around regional tourism promotion.
Furthermore, under its influencer campaigns like ‘Seeing is Believing’, Sri Lanka hosted no less than 200 global journalists and social media influencers in the last one and half years, earning the island nation receive a lot of positive coverage across the globe that gave a huge fillip to its destination image. Recently, Times of India rated Sri Lanka as the second ‘Most Popular Travel Destination in Asia.’ It was also voted as one of the safest countries for the single women travellers.
“There are many good things happening in Sri Lanka, and we hope to continue the momentum,” said Gajabahu.