Tag Archives: tourism

Tourism Ministry promotes ‘Wed in India’ at Jaipur Expo

 

In response to PM Narendra Modi’s initiative to promote weddings in India, the Union tourism ministry is organising an exhibition as part of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB), inviting wedding planners from both India and abroad. Approximately 60 wedding planners, including twelve from international locations, will participate in this event.

The day-long Wed in India Expo is scheduled to take place at Rambagh Palace on May 5, preceding the inauguration of GITB in the evening. This initiative aims to boost the promotion of weddings within the country, with a particular focus on benefiting Rajasthan, which already serves as a popular destination for various events in this segment.

Surendra Singh Shahpura, Co-chairman of FICCI-Rajasthan, highlighted the potential benefits for Rajasthan, stating, “Rajasthan and Goa are renowned for hosting destination weddings, and the Prime Minister’s call to conduct such events within the country will further enhance the state’s appeal.” He emphasised that rural areas in Rajasthan, boasting numerous forts and palaces, hold significant potential. While major cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur are already popular wedding destinations, the untapped potential of rural areas rich in Rajasthani culture and heritage remains largely unexplored. Increased preference for Indian wedding destinations is expected to bring more attention to these rural areas, showcasing their cultural richness and historical grandeur.

Over 280,000 visitors flock to Sikkim this year

 

Sikkim is experiencing an unprecedented surge in tourist arrivals in 2024. According to official data released by the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department, Sikkim has welcomed an astonishing 290,401 tourists in the first quarter of the year, up to March 31, 2024. Among these, 256,537 were domestic tourists, while 30,864 arrived from foreign countries.

This surge in tourism signals a promising revival for Sikkim’s hospitality sector, which suffered a severe blow from the devastating Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in October 2023. The calamity, particularly impacting the northern part of the state, resulted in the loss of 43 lives, with over 70 individuals still reported missing. Consequently, the tourist influx during the second tourist season experienced a significant decline. However, with the current early trend indicating a robust recovery, Sikkim is poised to reclaim its status as a premier tourist destination.

Behind this resurgence lies a dedicated workforce of over 250,000 to 300,000 individuals directly or indirectly associated with the tourism industry. This includes hoteliers, tour operators, taxi drivers, guides, and numerous other stakeholders who serve as the backbone of Sikkim’s tourism sector.

The economic impact of tourism on the state is significant, with the industry estimated to have generated over 500 crores in revenue before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. As tourist numbers continue to rise, this figure is expected to witness a substantial increase, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.

Looking at the infrastructure supporting this tourism boom, Sikkim boasts a robust network of 1,725 travel agencies and accommodations offering a total of 38,208 beds to accommodate the influx of visitors. The transportation sector, a vital component of the tourism machinery, comprises 2,206 registered luxury vehicles alongside 6,200 normal taxis and 12,232 smaller cabs. Additionally, there are guides and other minor bed and breakfast establishments collectively contributing to the seamless facilitation of tourist activities across the state.

A glance at historical data reveals a steady upward trajectory in tourist arrivals over the past decade. From a modest figure of 576,749 visitors in 2013, the numbers have witnessed a remarkable surge, reaching a peak of 1,625,573 in 2023. The year 2024, with its promising start, is on track to surpass previous records, with projections indicating a potential milestone of 1.2 million tourists by year-end if the current growth rate persists.

Thailand extends Visa-Free stay for Russians to boost tourism

 

Thailand’s cabinet has given the green light to a plan aimed at welcoming Russian tourists into the country without requiring a visa, allowing them to stay for a maximum of two months. This move is part of Thailand’s strategy to leverage tourism as a means of bolstering economic recovery.

According to deputy government spokesperson Rudklao Suwankiri, Russian passport-holders arriving in Thailand between May and July will be eligible to stay for up to 60 days per trip under the new regulation. This adjustment comes into effect following the expiration of the current arrangement, which permits Russians to stay for up to 90 days, at the end of this month. Rudklao made these announcements during a briefing after the weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Tourism plays a crucial role in Thailand’s economy, constituting approximately 20% of total employment and contributing around 12% to the nation’s USD 500 billion economy. The Thai government, under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s leadership, has set an ambitious target of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027.

Given the significance of the Russian tourist market, with arrivals already exceeding 700,000 this year and projected to surpass 1.48 million by 2023, the cabinet’s decision aims to further stimulate tourism income and economic growth during this period of recovery.

ADB urges Fiji government to prioritise tourism industry

 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently released its economic outlook, emphasising the need for the Fijian government to take action to maintain the growth of the tourism industry and keep hotel pricing competitive. The ADB predicts that the limited availability of tourist accommodation may hinder sustainable economic growth in the coming years.

Currently, there are 13,000 hotel rooms available from 421 licensed accommodation providers, but the increasing number of unlicensed short-term accommodation providers on platforms like Airbnb is also a concern. To address these issues, the ADB has proposed three ways in which the government can help: easing impediments to domestic and foreign tourism investment, improving tourist infrastructure, particularly in outer islands, and exploring alternative forms of tourism.

The ADB suggests that Fiji should act quickly to attract more investment in tourism, as potential investors may view the government’s complex foreign investment procedures as a barrier to entry. The government is encouraged to streamline and expedite investment processes while prioritising environmental protection and promoting sustainable tourism.

One of the critical obstacles to realising investments is the delays in finalising and obtaining approval for environmental impact assessments. To address this, the government has established an inter-ministerial body to help streamline investment-related processes. The ADB also suggests that Fiji can work on spreading tourism activity and benefits to more areas, as 75% of hotel rooms are currently concentrated in the Coral Coast-Nadi corridor. Improving transportation connections to Vanua Levu, such as upgrading airports in Savusavu and Labasa and constructing a new airport, is a potential solution.

While sea transportation remains viable, the initial focus should be on enhancing key connecting jetties to Vanua Levu. The ADB also suggests exploring alternative forms of tourism, such as sports, retirement, and medical tourism. Fiji has already been successfully hosting some of the Super Rugby Pacific Competition since 2022, and there is potential to attract medical tourists from neighboring Pacific countries by investing in additional privately operated hospitals to enhance healthcare infrastructure. A study by the International Finance Corporation indicates opportunities for private sector investment in advanced diagnostic facilities and specialist care hospitals.

NYC Tourism + Conventions announces Nancy Mammana as interim CEO starting June

NYC Tourism + Conventions today announced that Fred Dixon will leave his role as President and CEO in June. Dixon has been tapped to lead Brand USA, the nation’s destination marketing organisation responsible for promoting the US as a premier travel destination. He will start the new role in July.

NYC Tourism + Conventions Chief Marketing Officer Nancy Mammana has been named Interim CEO. Mammana, who has been with NYC Tourism + Conventions since 2018, including five years as CMO, led the company’s 2023 rebrand. She oversees organisational strategies touching all five boroughs of New York City, including domestic and international promotional campaigns, media strategies, digital initiatives, creative and content plans, events, partnerships, licensing and global tourism development efforts.

Dixon will remain in the role until June 5. A search committee has been formed to lead the process of identifying and selecting a new CEO.

“This is a bittersweet moment for NYC Tourism + Conventions and the City’s tourism industry,” said NYC Tourism + Conventions Board Chair and Shubert Organization Executive Vice President Charles Flateman. “For nearly twenty years, Fred Dixon has been synonymous with New York City tourism, the industry’s continued success and its impact on New York City. His leadership and expertise created a template for excellence in destination marketing and the team of talented individuals who make the work possible. We are thrilled beyond measure for him in this new role and know that he will always be a champion for NYC.”

Dixon joined the organisation in 2005 as Vice President of Tourism and became CEO in 2014. With more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry, he has been leading the City’s tourism, meetings and events strategy, and programming to grow business and leisure travel globally.

During his tenure, international visitation has more than doubled to over 13 million travellers; this is the result of a long-term strategy to create a global network of outposts comprising sales, marketing and press professionals in diverse feeder markets including Australia, China, Mexico, Brazil and the UK. Today, New York City is represented in 17 overseas markets and active in nearly 40 locations globally.

In the early months of the pandemic, Dixon organised the Coalition for NYC Hospitality and Tourism Recovery, which brought together industry leaders across all five boroughs to plan a path back. In July 2020, New York City Tourism + Conventions (previously NYC & Company) and the coalition published “All In NYC: The Roadmap for Tourism’s Reimagining and Recovery,” which was implemented with the support of a USD 30 million investment from the City of New York for recovery messaging and promotion.

Dixon is a respected leader serving on travel industry association boards and committees. He is the current Chair of Destinations International, serves on the New York Convention Center Operating Corporation Board, the board of IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, the U.S. Travel Association Executive Committee and is an Officer of the Board for the FIFA World Cup 26 New York New Jersey Host Committee.

Intrepid Travel plans to double its global customers by 2030

Intrepid Travel, a renowned adventure tourism company, orchestrated a special visit by its founder and Chairman, Darrell Wade, to underscore the significance of India in their 2030 strategy.

As part of their dedication to their global teams, the Co-founder and Chairman of Intrepid Travel, based in Australia, are embarking on a journey to all 27 of the company’s country offices this year. Their objective is to engage with Intrepid’s teams and stakeholders, introducing the company’s 2030 Strategy first-hand.

During his visit Wade, said “Our goal is to increase the positive outcome of tourism on local communities by expanding our business. As a certified B Corp, with the highest standard of social and environmental performance, this remains a key priority for us in India and around the world”

Beyond India, the 2030 Strategy involves a global ambition to double its global customers to 600,000 (320,000 in 2023), achieve revenues of $1.3bn ($565mil in 2023) and contribute 1% of revenue to Purpose initiatives. It plans to deepen its vertical integration to expand into areas including accommodation and grow its presence in key countries, including India, Jordan, and North America.

Intrepid supports local communities via its not-for-profit, the Intrepid Foundation. This has raised more than $15.5M for communities around the world since 2002. In India, the Intrepid Foundation works with Positive Change for Marine Life in Kovalam to protect our oceans and leave no trace of plastic.

Intrepid Travel- India currently employs 30 staff, 75 local trip leaders and operates 800 trips across the country. In 2023, it supported 7500 travellers to explore India in a conscious manner. Each product offers in-depth local expertise, and exceptional delivery. Intrepid’s local teams deliver innovative, competitive, low-risk, high-quality travel products to customers.