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Air India, and Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand strategic cooperation between the two airlines. Building on their existing codeshare agreement, the MoU aims to strengthen connectivity between Saudi Arabia and India while supporting the continued growth of travel between the two countries. The [...] The post Air India, Saudia ink MoU to expand strategic cooperation appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, t

Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd. (ROHL) has launched Iconiqa Collection, a curated portfolio of upscale hotels, with the signing of Laxminarayan Palace Resort in Vadodara under a revenue-sharing agreement through its subsidiary, Royal Orchid Goa Private Limited. The move marks the evolution of Iconiqa from a standalone hotel brand into a collection of destination-led properties, [...] The post Royal Orchid unveilsIconiqa Collection Brand appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel tr

Akasa Air will shift all its flight operations at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Terminal 2 from August 1, 2026. The terminal change will apply to all Akasa Air flights operating from Mumbai. Passengers have been advised to verify their flight and terminal details before travelling to the airport. [...] The post Akasa Air shifts Mumbai flights to Terminal 2 appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism .

Wildflower Goa has appointed Global Destinations as its exclusive sales, marketing, public relations, and travel trade representation partner for the Indian market to strengthen its presence among luxury travellers. Located in Saipem, North Goa, the family-owned retreat spans eight acres with seven luxury villas overlooking the Nerul River. Owned by the Navelkar family, the [...] The post Wildflower Goa appoints Global Destinations as Representative for India appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor

Imagicaaworld Entertainment plans to invest around INR 1,000 crore over the next five to six years to expand its amusement park network across India, targeting rising demand for leisure and entertainment experiences. The company aims to increase its portfolio from nine to 13 parks, focusing on Tier-1 cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and the [...] The post Imagicaaworld to invest INR 1,000 crore for expansion appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism .

The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) is the official business events agency for Melbourne, Victoria, responsible for attracting international conferences, corporate meetings, incentive travel, and exhibitions. Leveraging the citys world-class convention infrastructure, strong research ecosystem, and vibrant cultural appeal, MCB positions Melbourne as a leading global business events destination. India remains a key growth market for [...] The post India Emerges as Melbourne Convention Bureaus S

Air India has made an upgrade to its Delhi-Toronto service, with the deployment of its brand-new Boeing 787-9 aircraft on the route from 1 August 2026, enabling the airline to remove the enroute fuel stop at Vienna and operate the service non-stop. The removal of the fuel stop is subject to available airspaces and is [...] The post Air India to deploy new B787-9 on Delhi-Toronto route from Aug 1; removes fuel stop at Vienna appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, t

Once considered a lean season for holidays, the rainy months are now emerging as a preferred travel window, with travellers seeking immersive, nature-led and offbeat experiences. Cleartrips Peekaboo Trends Tracker shows that monsoon travel is experiencing significant YoY growth across categories, with hotel bookings up over 54% and bus bookings surging by 140%. We are [...] The post Indians are choosing Nagaland over Goa this monsoon: Cleartrip Trends Tracker appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor:

As MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts continues to strengthen its leadership in Indias luxury hospitality sector, the brand has further reinforced its commercial leadership team with the appointment of Saugat Nandy as Assistant Vice President Sales. Bringing more than 29 years of experience across leading luxury hospitality brands, Saugat joins MAYFAIR to support the brands [...] The post MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts appoints Saugat Nandy as Assistant Vice President Sales appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor

Vikram Lalvani, Chairman of the All India Resort Development Association (AIRDA) called for a more integrated tourism ecosystem that connects policy, infrastructure, hospitality investment, consumer trust and destination development. Speaking at the FAITH Tourism Conclave 2026 during the panel discussion, Building a Seamless Tourism Ecosystem for India, Lalvani highlighted the role of vacation ownership and [...] The post AIRDA calls for integrated tourism ecosystem in India to aid growth appear

The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi has welcomed a delegation of Indian journalists and Air India Express representatives following the launch of Air India Express inaugural service between Navi Mumbai International Airport and Abu Dhabi, the airports first international route. The visit marks an important milestone in the long-standing relationship between the [...] The post Abu Dhabi welcomes first visitors arriving on Air India Expresss Navi Mumbai service appeared first on Trave

Commercial flight operations at Adani Mundra Airport are enhancing connectivity in Kutch, Gujarat, with services linking the region to eight major cities, including Mumbai, Goa and Bengaluru. The expanded air network is making travel faster and more convenient while supporting tourism, trade and business activities across the region. Equipped with a modern terminal, passenger [...] The post Mundra Airport enhances Kutchs air connectivity and growth appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India tra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Indias first hydrogen-powered passenger train between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana, marking a significant milestone in the countrys transition towards clean and sustainable rail transport. The indigenously designed and engineered train uses hydrogen fuel cell technology, producing only water vapour as a by-product and generating zero carbon emissions [...] The post India flags off first hydrogen-powered passenger train appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor:

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has called for a fundamental shift in Indias tourism strategy from merely increasing tourist arrivals to creating authentic, experience-led tourism that delivers greater value and transforms every visitor into an ambassador of Indias civilisation and culture. Addressing the inaugural session of the second annual conclave of the [...] The post Indian tourism must focus on creating value for visitors: GS Shekhawat appeared first on Travel

Akasa Air has temporarily suspended flight operations to and from the newly opened Noida International Airport at Jewar and Navi Mumbai International Airport, less than a few months after commencing services from the two greenfield airports. The airline said the suspension was part of a routine network and schedule optimisation exercise and that flights on [...] The post Akasa Air suspends flights to Noida & NMIA Airports until Oct 1 appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel

The General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai (GDRFA) has launched a five-year multiple-entry visa for tourists to enter the UAE, including Dubai, multiple times without the need for a sponsor or host. The new visa is valid for a stay of 90 days per visit with the possibility of extending it for additional 90 [...] The post Dubai launches 5-year multiple-entry visit visa appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism .

New Zealand-based DMC General Travel New Zealand (GT) is strengthening its focus on India market amid rising demand, high-value travellers, and growing MICE movements, even as it awaits the long-anticipated launch of direct air connectivity. During her recent visit to Mumbai for their roadshow, Anna Black, Executive Director General Travel New Zealand, said that [...] The post General Travel New Zealand bets big on India opportunity appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel

Recognising the shift in holiday travel patterns, Pickyourtrail has entered into partnerships with ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, becoming the first personalised holiday platform in India to introduce flexible payments at this scale through partnerships with the countrys two largest private sector banks. The launch marks the next chapter in Pickyourtrails journeyfrom giving travellers the [...] The post Pickyourtrail partners with ICICI & HDFC Banks for flexible payments appeared first on TravelBiz M

SF Eats in Harvey Milk Terminal 1 takes top prize in global awards The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has earned global recognition as the SF Eats Food Hall in Harvey Milk Terminal 1 was named Airport Food Hall of the Year at the 2026 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference and [...] The post Food Hall at SFO Named Best in the World appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism .

Eve Air Mobility will showcase the progress of its electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) programme at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow, highlighting advances in flight testing and its roadmap towards certification. Since its maiden flight in December 2025, the engineering prototype has completed dozens of successful test flights and is preparing to begin [...] The post Eve Air Mobility advances eVTOL programme with flight testing progress at Farnborough appeared first on Trav

Castaway Island, Fiji is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a year-long programme highlighting its heritage, sustainability initiatives and guest experiences. Opened on July 6, 1966, the beachfront resort will commemorate the milestone through archival showcases, storytelling campaigns and themed events running until the end of 2026. The resort, now part of OUTRIGGER Resorts & [...] The post Castaway Island, Fiji celebrates 60 years with heritage and sustainability focus appeared first on Tr

Akasa Air, Indias fastest-growing airline, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on advancing the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in India. The partnership marks an important step towards strengthening the countrys SAF ecosystem and supports Indias broader decarbonization ambitions, while aligning with [...] The post Akasa Air, BPCL partner to accelerate Sustainable Aviation Fuel adoption appe

Digital travel platform Agoda has released new insights highlighting the international beach destinations gaining interest from Indian travellers this July and August. While perennial favourites continue to feature prominently, accommodation search trends highlight growing interest in a wider mix of coastal and island destinations across South and Southeast Asia as well as Europe. Travellers are [...] The post Indians are expanding international beach holidays bucket list: Agoda appeared first o

EaseMyTrip has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Tourism, Government of Jharkhand, to promote the states diverse tourism offerings through digital initiatives and enhance its visibility among travellers across the country. The MoU was signed during the Jharkhand Tourism Stakeholders Summit held in New Delhi, in the presence of Chief [...] The post EaseMyTrip inks MoU with Jharkhand to drive digital push for tourism appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: In

Emirates has introduced a new flexible payment solution to benefit its Indian customers, making it possible to fly better and pay conveniently with affordable monthly instalments. Available now, Emirates passengers in India can book their travel to close to 140 destinations in the airlines expansive network, while enjoying the convenience of paying by Equated Monthly [...] The post Emirates introduces EMI payments via 12 banks for Indian customers appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India trave

Jaal Shah, Founder RezLive.com, Group Managing Director Travel Designer Group Every few years, our industry rediscovers the same headline: technology is about to make the travel agent redundant. First, it was the internet. Then it was the OTAs. Today its artificial intelligence, with the promise that travellers will simply ask a chatbot to [...] The post The Travel Agent Isnt Going Anywhere But the One Who Ignores Technology Might appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said that the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has served the nation with distinguished services. He made this remark while addressing the celebration of 60 years of the ITDC and 70 years of The Ashok in distinguished service to travel, tourism and hospitality in New Delhi [...] The post ITDC served the nation with distinguished services: Shekhawat appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, to

The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA), recently organised a unique partially funded familiarisation (FAM) tour for select Indian travel trade professionals, introducing a new approach to destination engagement that focuses on commitment, collaboration and long-term market development. Unlike traditional fully hosted familiarisation tours, where participation is entirely sponsored by destinations, this initiative adopted a co-investment model, [...] The post Taiwan Tourism adopts co-investment

Domestic travellers account for nearly 95% of all tourist arrivals in Jammu and Kashmir, while foreign visitors make up the remaining 5%, according to Director Tourism Kashmir, Syed Qamar Sajad. Sajad said the Union Territory continues to witness strong tourism growth, with domestic tourists remaining the primary driver of the sector. Although foreign tourist arrivals [...] The post Domestic tourists account for 95% of J&K arrivals, Tourism Director appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India tra

The government expects Indias rapidly growing air travel demand and sustained investment in aviation infrastructure to encourage the entry of new airlines while supporting the expansion of existing carriers. Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said daily passenger traffic of over five lakh has now become the new normal, reflecting the strong growth [...] The post Government eyes new airlines, boosts aircraft manufacturing ecosystem appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news,

The Centre has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Indias aviation sector during periods of external disruptions, with Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu stating that the government is prepared to intervene whenever global events impact airline operations. Speaking on the sectors resilience, the minister said the government introduced several measures during the recent [...] The post Government assures support for aviation sector during external shocks appeared first on TravelBiz Mo

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has launched the Bihar Heli Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme to improve connectivity and promote tourism across the state. An online booking portal for the service was also inaugurated. In the first phase, the air tourism service will connect Patna, Valmikinagar, Maa Mundeshwari and Rajgir. The state government [...] The post Bihar launches heli tourism scheme with subsidised air services appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel

Foraying into the destination manage space, travel industry veteran Naveen Kundu has acquired a majority stake in Dubai-based VOYAGE 1, strategically integrating the company with his destination marketing platform, Tourism Futures.AI. The transaction marks the beginning of a new phase of growth, bringing together destination management expertise, global travel networks, and intelligent technology under a [...] The post Naveen Kundu acquires controlling stake in VOYAGE 1 appeared first on TravelB

AbhiBus (ixigos bus business) has reported a 35% year-on-year growth in bus travel demand to and from Gujarat in 2026, underscoring the states growing significance as a hub for business, leisure and spiritual travel. The growth was reflected across both bookings and seat demand, with Gujarat routes witnessing a strong increase in travel activity compared [...] The post AbhiBus sees 35% YoY surge in Gujarats bus travel demand appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends,

Cochin Port Authority has confirmed 64 cruise ship calls for the 202627 season beginning in October, including 56 international vessel calls. The announcement comes as Keralas cruise tourism sector continues to recover from disruptions caused by the Red Sea crisis and the conflict in West Asia. While the number of confirmed calls is [...] The post Cochin Port confirms 64 cruise ship calls for new season appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism .

Sharaf Travel India has entered into a strategic partnership with Aqua Expeditions, the award-winning small-ship luxury expedition cruise operator renowned for delivering immersive experiences in some of the worlds most remote and biodiverse destinations. Through this partnership, Sharaf Travel India will offer Indian travellers exclusive access to Aqua Expeditions portfolio of luxury yacht-style [...] The post Sharaf Travels inks strategic deal with Aqua Expeditions appeared first on TravelBi

Tripura Tourism organised a roadshow in Mumbai on July 6, 2026, to promote the states tourism potential among travel trade professionals. Held at The Orchid Hotel, the event brought together tour operators, travel agents and tourism stakeholders for business-to-business networking and destination promotion. The roadshow showcased Tripuras diverse tourism offerings, including heritage sites, [...] The post Tripura Tourism showcases destinations at Mumbai roadshow appeared first on TravelBiz Mon

The Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) Mumbai organised an Educational Familiarisation (Edu FAM) tour to Varanasi and Ayodhya in June, offering members from Mumbai and Pune an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of two of Indias most popular spiritual destinations. The tour was hosted by Balaji Travels, a Varanasi-based B2B destination management company [...] The post ETAA Mumbai hosts educational FAM to Varanasi, Ayodhya appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news,

Ospree Duty Free has partnered with VFS Global to enhance the travel experience for eligible UK visa applicants in India by offering exclusive shopping benefits. The initiative reflects the growing demand for seamless travel experiences that extend beyond the airport terminal. Under the partnership, customers applying through participating VFS Global UK centres from [...] The post Ospree Duty Free Partners with VFS Global to Enhance the Travel Experience with Exclusive Shopping Benefits appear

Ladakh recorded a significant rise in tourist arrivals during June 2026, with foreign visitor numbers nearly doubling compared to the same month last year. According to official data, foreign tourist arrivals increased from 3,349 in June 2025 to 6,680 in June 2026, marking a 99.46% year-on-year growth. Israeli nationals emerged as the largest [...] The post Foreign tourist arrivals in Ladakh nearly double in June appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism .

Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather reviewed the progress of tourism development projects in Yousmarg and nearby destinations, including Haijan, Nilnag and Nagbal. The meeting focused on ongoing works, new initiatives under the Special Area Sustainable Community-Centred Initiative (SASCI), and resolving issues affecting project execution. Officials from the Yousmarg Development [...] The post Yousmarg to expand eco-tourism with new trekking trails appeared first o

The Andhra Pradesh government has signed a three-year agreement with Indian travel-tech company Explurger to deploy its multilingual conversational platform, NiVU AI, at more than 100 tourist destinations across the state. The initiative is expected to make Andhra Pradesh the first state in India to offer AI-powered tourist guides at its attractions. Under [...] The post Andhra Pradesh to introduce AI guides at tourist sites appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends

India is set to pilot tourism bonds as a new financing mechanism for developing tourism and heritage infrastructure, with Nathdwara in Rajasthan proposed as the first destination. The initiative follows the introduction of temple bonds and aims to attract investment for tourism-related projects. The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) is working with [...] The post Nathdwara to pilot Indias first tourism bond initiative appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, trav

Willard InterContinental Washington, D.C., part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has launched a series of exclusive experiences to mark Americas 250th anniversary. The historic hotel is introducing luxury stay packages, heritage tours and special Independence Day events, positioning itself as a premier destination for the nationwide celebrations. The highlight is the new partnership with [...] The post Willard hotel unveils America 250 luxury celebration packages appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: In

Saudi has launched Package Visa, a new digital initiative designed to simplify travel to Saudi by integrating tourist visa application directly into curated travel bookings. The launch is currently underway through qualified travel and tourism service providers across selected international markets ahead of a broader rollout. The initiative builds on Saudis wider efforts to simplify [...] The post Saudi unveils Package Visa for integrated bookings with visa service appeared first on TravelBiz Mo

The Serai Resorts has welcomed the Karnataka Governments decision to resume safari and eco-tourism activities at Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park (Kabini) under enhanced safety protocols. The resumption follows a temporary suspension of safari operations and marks an important step to wards restoring responsible wildlife tourism while reinforcing the states commitment to balancing [...] The post The Serai Resorts welcomes resuming of safaris at Bandipur & Nagarhole National Par

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) will be integrated with Indonesias payment system, which will enable tourists and businesses to make cross-border retail payments more easily by using their domestic payment apps. Addressing a joint press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, PM Modi said, We are [...] The post After Greece, Indonesia to link Indias UPI for benefit of tourists & businesses appeared first on TravelBiz Mo

Indian airlines carried 1.53 crore domestic passengers in May, over 11 per cent higher than 1.38 crore people flown in April, according to official data released on Tuesday. Compared to May 2025, the domestic air traffic jumped 9.49 per cent. In May, IndiGos market share dipped to 64.9 per cent, and that of Air India [...] The post Indian airlines flew 1.53cr domestic passengers in May appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India travel news, travel trends, tourism .

Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) is strengthening its focus on the Indian market as demand for experiential, family and premium travel continues to grow. India remains Sentosas largest international source market, with visitor numbers increasing 8 per cent year-on-year from April 2025 to March 2026. The growth underscores the increasing importance of India as Sentosas largest [...] The post India remains Sentosas largest international source market appeared first on TravelBiz Monitor: India