Tag Archives: Inbound

Air India to operate non-stop daily flights between Benglauru & London Heathrow from Oct 27

Air India will start daily, non-stop services between Bengaluru and London Heathrow from October 27, 2024, thus connecting London Heathrow to all three hubs of the airline in India.

The new flights will replace Air India’s currently served Bengaluru-London Gatwick route and increase the frequency between Bengaluru and London from 5x weekly to 7x weekly.

The non-stop service, to be operated using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft with 18 flat beds in Business class and 238 spacious seats in Economy, will add capacity to London Heathrow by 3,584 seats a week, inbound and outbound. Air India currently operates 31x weekly to London Heathrow from Delhi and Mumbai.

Air India will continue to operate 12x weekly flights to London Gatwick from four Indian cities, namely Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi.

SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS BETWEEN BENGULURU AND LONDON HEATHROW
Effective 27 October 2024
Flight # Sector Departure Arrival Days of Operation
AI133 Bengaluru-London Heathrow 1420 Hrs 1930 Hrs Daily
AI132 London Heathrow-Bengaluru 2105 Hrs 1220 Hrs (+1) Daily

All times are local. (+1) denotes next day arrival.

Bookings for the flights are open on all channels, including Air India’s official website (www.airindia.com), mobile app, and authorised travel agents and partners.

 

IATO Convention 2024: Desperate stakeholders arguing Tourism!

India’s inbound tourism paints a very gloomy picture ahead. In the absence of adequate promotion, initiatives and funding, the inbound recovery was far from satisfactory the last year. However, and to the industry’s absolute chagrin, 2024 has been no different so far, probably even worse than the last year, amidst some clear indication that we would likely miss the bus in 2025 as well.

Furthermore, as if a host of unfriendly measures like shutting down overseas Indian tourism offices, discontinuation of scheme that earned the inbound operators incentives on the foreign exchange they earned, among others, were not enough, the 2024-25 Union Budget further plunged the industry, already tottering on the brink, in abject misery.

The recently concluded, 39th edition of IATO Convention, was organised at a time when eyes and expectations are on the post-Covid recovery and the growth thereafter. And in that context, probably the biggest highlight of the event was the lingering scrutiny throughout the three-day event of the government’s commitment to inbound tourism, voiced amply and repeatedly by stakeholders representing IATO and other industry associations and stakeholders.

There were some very strong suggestions, opinions, and demands, made during the events by the likes of IATO President Rajiv Mehra; Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, The Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL); Ajay Bakaya, MD, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts; Vikram Madhok, MD, Abercrombie & Kent, Amaresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman, ICPB and Board Member – FAITH; among others, with regard to the current state of inbound tourism and the initiatives that are required.

While welcoming Union Minister Tourism and Culture at the inauguration, Mehra expressed hope that under the new Tourism Minister’s leadership, the industry will get full support from the Ministry and overseas promotions will restart. He also requested the Minister to re-instate MDA scheme for the tour operators which has been discontinued for last 3-4 years. “This has resulted in tour operators not being able to do overseas promotion and participate in overseas travel marts,” Mehra lamented.

Reinstatement of schemes such as SEIS that not only motivates and rewards inbound operators on the foreign exchange that they earn, but also aids their individual overseas marketing efforts, an efficient and better-funded Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme, putting up trained manpower at embassies overseas to undertake effective promotional work, undertaking different overseas promotion initiatives and regular interaction with foreign tour operators through roadshows, better budgetary support to Ministry of Tourism, advance planning and information for overseas promotion, development of new source markets, organising destination showcase thorough familiarisation trips for FTOs, journalists and influencers, prominently figured in various discourse and suggestions that took place at the IATO Convention.

The three-day event, themed ‘Resurgent India Inbound’ was organised along with a number of business sessions sought to not only, among others, highlight the immense socio-economic and job dividend that the country can benefit from by leveraging inbound tourism, but also highlighted the poor recovery in the aftermath of pandemic and the little support or attention that the inbound tourism sector has been given, amply demonstrated by India’s despondently poor show in attracting foreign tourist so far. Notably, the country earned foreign exchange in excess of USD 30 billion (INR 2,11,661 crore) in 2019, its best year till date.

However, Foreign Tourist Arrival figure is 2023 was still short by a lamentable over 15 per cent in comparison to the peak 2019 numbers, and the situation has not improved much in 2024, because of India’s heavy reliance on fewer source markets. The H1, 2024 inbound numbers were still lagging by 10 per cent, but that was before the Bangladesh, India’s number one tourism source market contributing nearly a quarter of the total FTAs, crisis. Given the continuing political upheaval there, India’s overall FTA number till date is probably worse off than the corresponding 2023 period.

Mehra also highlighted that over the years IATO Conventions have played critical role in showcasing and establishing destinations inbound profile and Madhya Pradesh as the host of the 39th Annual IATO Convention will reap big rewards with increased inbound visitations in the coming years. The delegates were treated with 10 richly crafted post-convention tours covering prominent sites such as Khajuraho Temples, Sanchi Stupa, the prehistoric cave paintings of Bhimbetka, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with other prominent sites, such as Mandu, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Panchmarhi, Shivpuri, its rich wildlife, culture, among others, in order to unlock state’s inbound potential.

The event was attended by Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, of Madhya Pradesh; Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism and Culture; Rajendra Shukla, Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh; Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, Tourism & Culture Minister of Madhya Pradesh; M.R. Synrem, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary – Tourism, Government of Madhya Pradesh & MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Bidisha Mukherjee, Additional MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Dr. Ilayaraja T, MD Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. and senior Government officials from Union Ministry of Tourism and Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Department, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.

More than 1,200 delegates attended the event. IATO’s famous Hall of Fame award was bestowed upon IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal and Late M.L Razdan of Razdan Holidays.

Silence of the Lambs

Two things are happening in stark contrast of each other, and unsavory to both, India’s inbound trade and the Government. The gulf between inbound and outbound has continued to widen. In 2019, India’s best tourism year in terms of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs), the country received 10.9 million visitors against 26.9 million outbound Indian tourists. India was producing 2.5 tourists for every single tourist it received.

In 2023, which was the first Covid-free travel year, India’s outbound tourism bounced back strongly, registering a record 27.1 million outbound visitors. However, inbound was different story. In the absence of any credible plan or promotions in the overseas market, India could barely reach 85 per cent (9.2 million) of its peak 2019 number. So, in 2023, India was producing nearly 3 outbound tourists for every single tourist it received.

Come 2024, there was near unanimity across stakeholders, Government or private, of not just a full inbound recovery but potentially, a growth. However, H1 2024 numbers were still 10 per cent behind the peak 2019 corresponding period. And if that was not enough, the political turmoil in India’s biggest tourism source market, Bangladesh that began in July not only decimated any hope of a rebound in H2 2024, but has potentially already dragged the year-till-date 2024 number below the corresponding 2023 period. As for the available data for H1 2024, India was producing 3.15 outbound tourists for every single tourist it received. And for June alone, the gulf has further widened to 3.4 outbound travellers for a single tourist received!

Now, what’s utterly surprising is that given the plethora industry associations and federations, inbound has miserably failed to argue its case so far. A big shout out and a joint representation, cobbled together bringing every sector of tourism industry, and led by some of the most powerful voices like those of Taj, the Oberoi, the Lalit, the Park, Marriott, Air India, IndiGo, and the IATOs and the HAIs of the industry, is the need of the hour!

Destination DC registers record visitation, India emerges as 2nd largest inbound market

Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, announced that Washington, DC experienced its highest-ever influx of visitors in 2023. The city welcomed a total of 25.95 million visitors, marking a notable 17 percent increase from the previous year and surpassing the pre-pandemic record set in 2019. This surge in visitors resulted in a record-breaking $10.2 billion in visitor spending and supported an unprecedented 102,366 local jobs.

Additionally, Washington, DC has emerged as a favoured destination for Indian travellers, with India ranking as the second-largest inbound market according to Destination DC. In 2023, a total of 165,100 Indian visitors travelled to Washington, DC, contributing to a significant spending of $287,400,000.

“India continues to be an important market for Washington, DC tourism, coming in as our #2 overseas market for visitation in 2023. More importantly, India was DC’s top overseas market for 2023 visitor spending. Research shows that the India market prioritizes DC for its arts, culture, luxury amenities and shopping, and we have plans to invest to further expand our market share in 2024 and beyond.” Said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO, Destination DC.

Of the record 25.95 million total visitors, 24 million travelled domestically. That means domestic visitation has fully rebounded to 105 percent of 2019 figures. International visitation continues to trend towards pre-pandemic levels. The 1.95 million international visitors indicate an 85 percent return, but a 40 percent increase year-over-year. International travellers typically stay longer and spend twice as much as their domestic counterparts. Ferguson further added, “This is a major milestone for Washington, DC. Put simply, we are seeing the results of our increased marketing and sales efforts thanks to the tourism recovery district legislation, and the city is benefiting from increased tourism. There is still work to do, however, since international travel hasn’t fully recovered. The additional funding allows us to continue to entice international visitors who stay longer and spend more.”

‘FTAs to India will cross pre-pandemic level in 2024’

Despite Geo-political tensions India’s tourism industry braces for a surge of more than 10 per cent in inbound tourism this year. Industry experts cite escalating conflicts in the Middle East and shift of foreign tourists from China after the pandemic as key factors propelling India into the spotlight as a preferred destination for travellers worldwide.

Recent tourism data indicates an annual growth of 305.4 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in 2023. In 2023, 9.23 million foreign tourists visited India. Although the FTAs arrival number is still less than the pre-pandemic number of 10.93 million in 2019, experts believe in 2024 we might cross the FTAs arrival number of pre-pandemic days.

“In the last 12 months the inbound tourism has grown, and the hotels have had probably the best year ever in the last 12 months. I think this trend is going to continue at double-digit growth for the next two to three years” said Dipak Deva, MD, Travel Corporation of India at an event ‘Tres 2024’ on tourism industry by Tres India.

Moreover, the recent orders of Indian airlines to acquire over 1000 aircraft will further boost India’s tourism sector by providing enhanced accessibility and connectivity for foreign tourists. In last one-year Air India, IndiGo and Akasa have together ordered 1120 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. Also, the number of airports in India has doubled to 149 in the last ten years, this will boost new tourism destinations in India.

“I believe that from January 2026, Air India is going to be one of the pillars of growth of inbound tourism to India after it signed a deal to acquire 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing” said Deva.

New and untapped tourist destinations are attracting foreign tourist; latest data shows that foreign tourist arrivals in Varanasi have jumped manifold. With the construction of Ram Temple, Ayodhya too is attracting foreign tourists.
As the world looks towards Asia for travel opportunities, India stands poised to capitalise on this momentum, leveraging its unique attractions and hospitality to welcome travellers from across the globe.

Deva added “The other major impact that I think is China, which used to be about 120 million inbound tourist destination, does not have that kind of demand anymore. So that has also resulted in India getting the opportunity to get more tourists”.

He also highlighted the unparalleled appeal of India as a tourist destination, attributing the nation’s diverse offerings, from rich cultural heritage to pristine beaches and tantalising cuisine, as driving forces behind its increasing popularity among global travellers.

The government had declared 2023 as the Visit India year 2023 in a bid to position India as a 360-degree holistic destination in the major international source markets.

Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the overseas Indian Missions participated in major international travel exhibitions like FITUR to promote the industry. It also participated as a partner country for the JATA Tourism Expo, which was held at Tokyo, in October 2023.

By 2028, India’s tourism and hospitality industry is projected to generate revenue of over USD 59 billion. Additionally, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) are anticipated to reach 30.5 million by 2028. The foreign exchange earnings in 2023 were USD 28.07 billion.

With expectations running high, industry stakeholders anticipate a transformative period for India’s tourism landscape, propelled by strategic investments and a renewed focus on promoting the country’s rich cultural tapestry through initiatives such as the “Incredible India” campaign. (Source: ANI)

Japan sees best-ever inbound from India, Germany & Taiwan

More than three million foreigners visited Japan in March, a record for a single month, government data showed Wednesday in a major boost for its tourism sector.

The total of 3.08 million represented an increase of 69.5 per cent from March 2023 and a 11.6-per cent gain compared to March 2019 before the pandemic battered global tourism, the Japan National Tourism Organization said.

“This was the highest single month on record and the first time the number of visitors exceeded three million,” the government agency said.

On top of generally rising tourism demand, factors included the spring cherry blossom season and the Easter break helped boost visitor numbers. Tourists also took advantage of the yen’s slide to a three-decade low.

Record numbers arrived from overseas including from India, Germany, Taiwan and the United States.

Tourism to Japan has been booming since pandemic-era border restrictions were lifted and the government has been working hard to boost visitor numbers.

But this has not been universally welcomed, including in Kyoto where locals have complained of snap-happy tourists harassing the city’s immaculately dressed geisha.

These “women of art” work for a living — as they have for centuries — in teahouses in Kyoto’s picturesque Gion district where they perform traditional Japanese dance, music and games. Come April, local district officials will put up signs that tell tourists to stay out of our private streets. There will also be a fine of 10,000 yen, which comes to about USD 70 under recent currency conversion rates.

This summer, hikers using the most popular route to climb Mount Fuji will be charged USD 13 each, with numbers capped to ease congestion and improve safety.

The mayor of the western metropolis Osaka has also said he is considering charging a new fee to foreign tourists, separate to an existing tax on hotel stays. (Source: ANI)