The Indian aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said Monday that it issued a decade-high of 1,622 commercial pilot licenses in 2023, up from 1,165 licenses in 2022.
14.12.2023 - 16:00 / skift.com / Prashant Pitti
Travel platform EaseMyTrip anticipates a robust quarter during the festive season, with a big increase in Christmas week bookings – a year-on-year surge of 20% to 30%.
Prashant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, expressed optimism during his interview with CNBC-TV18. During the winter vacation season, 3.5 million arrivals in India are expected, per EaseMyTrip insights.
Profitability Focus in the Fiscal Year: Pitti emphasized the company’s commitment to “growing at double the pace of the market, with a focus on profitability while expanding the gross merchandise volume (GMV)”. Pitti said the company’s gross merchandise volume (GMV) was about INR 8,000 crore last year.
Eyes on Expansion: EaseMyTrip is also reinforcing its non-air business by planning to acquire a 51% stake in three travel companies in India. It also recently collaborated with telecom company Vodafone Idea (Vi) to introduce exclusive travel offers for subscribers, including special deals on flights, hotels, train reservations, bus bookings, and cab services.
As the year concludes and festive cheer fills the air, Indians are eager to create holiday memories with loved ones. Online travel portal Booking.com shared recent data on Indian travelers’ domestic preferences during the festive period.
Top Domestic Destinations (December 2023- January 2024)
Accommodation Preferences
While hotels remain the preferred accommodation, Indian travelers are exploring alternative options. The top five searched accommodation types for festive travel include hotels, resorts, guest houses, villas, and apartments.
International Travel Preferences to India
International travelers visiting India also exhibit specific preferences during the festive period.
Top Destinations Searched by International Travelers (December 2023- January 2024)
Top Nationalities Searching Destinations in India.
Meanwhile, a recent Crisil report stated that the Indian tour and travel sector anticipates 12-14% growth in the current and upcoming fiscal years.
The World Travel & Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII), has appointed Deep Kalra, founder and chairman of MakeMyTrip India Pvt. Ltd, as the new chairperson.
Jyotsna Suri, chairperson & managing director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, will serve as the vice chairperson for the 2024-25 term.
Karla takes over from Dinesh Khanna, executive director of Eastern International Hotels, who chaired WTTCII during 2022-23.
Kalra highlighted WTTCII’s active engagement with states, emphasizing collaboration with the Goa Tourism Board as a member. The organization has formalized a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of West Bengal to develop a comprehensive marketing and public relations roadmap,
The Indian aviation watchdog, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said Monday that it issued a decade-high of 1,622 commercial pilot licenses in 2023, up from 1,165 licenses in 2022.
Daily flights to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) began on New Year’s Day
Taking your first solo trip is a rite of passage for a traveler. It gives you a chance to step outside of your comfort zone, deepen your sense of empowerment and independence, and spend your time exactly how you want.
While remote work gains ground, a subgroup of professionals is taking it a step further — enter the digital nomads. These are individuals who leverage technology not just to work from home but to work from anywhere, exploring the diverse landscapes of a destination.
More international travelers have been visiting South Africa this year, with visitors from the U.S. especially seeing significant growth. But crime fears might deter a full recovery. So leaders are deploying 2,300 tourism monitors during the peak holiday season to bolster the safety of visitors.
We are excited to announce the venue for the inaugural Skift India Summit – The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel and Residences, located in the heart of Delhi, India. Set against the backdrop of luxury and sophistication, this iconic five-star venue will play host to the Summit on March 19-20, bringing together leaders and visionaries from across the travel industry.
Vietnam was the most-searched destination for Indians in 2023, according to the Google trends. There was a revival of global exploration after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The resurgence is evident in the latest report, unveiling the most Googled tourist destinations of the year. Here are some of the top searches:
Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet on Tuesday officially confirmed its intent to bid for Go First, which filed for bankruptcy in May this year.
The latest signs of a major transformation at India's flagship airline are taking shape.
TBO has acquired Jumbonline, an online booking system by Jump Tours Group. TBO Co-Founder Gaurav Bhatnagar made the announcement on LinkedIn on Monday. Based in India, TBO.com is a travel distribution platform.
From towering Himalayan peaks to vast expanses of grassland and the steamy hills of the Western Ghats, India offers a diversity of hiking experiences like nowhere else on Earth.