Here's Why More Indian Passengers are Opting for Nonstop International Travel — India Report

Goa is not ready to lose out on the destination wedding business, especially this close to the upcoming wedding season. The state has rolled back its decision to increase the fees to hold private events, including weddings.  

The number of travelers combining business and leisure trips has increased in recent years in large part due to the rise in remote work, and the boom in blended travel is expected to continue. The market could potentially be worth $731.4 billion globally by 2032.

Coldplay is coming to Mumbai in January, and the hotels are ready to make money off of it. The band’s three-show event has caused hotel prices near the DY Patil Stadium to surge to INR 640,000 ($7,600) for three nights, according to prices listed on Booking.com. 

In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan dive into the top travel stories from India this month. They explore Leela Hotels’ move toward an IPO, South Africa’s new visa reforms, and Oyo’s acquisition of Motel 6. The discussion also covers key trends in Indian aviation and how Indian millennials are driving a surge in travel spending.  

$2.8 billion: That was the international spending by Indians in July 2024. It was the highest amount in 10 months and led by growth in travel spending: Data from the latest bulletin from India’s central bank showed that Indians spent $1.7 billion for travel. Last year, Indians spent $1.4 billion. 

Elivaas, a tech-driven luxury villa and apartment management Indian startup, has secured $5 million in a funding round led by Bengaluru-based 3one4 Capital, with participation from Peak XV’s Surge and other angel investors. 

Schloss Bangalore, the luxury hospitality group behind India’s The Leela Palaces, has filed for a massive $599 million (INR 50 billion) IPO, the largest ever in India’s hotel industry. The company seeks to capitalize on the growing demand for high-end accommodations in India while also paying down debt.

Spirit Airlines is embracing fall with a great sale that has one-way flights starting as low as $40.

While Tokyo’s modern architecture, neon lights, Michelin-starred restaurants, and world-class museums are a huge draw for international visitors, they’re far from the only things to see and do in Japan. From the champagne powder of Niseko’s ski slopes to the UNESCO World Heritage temples of Kyoto, it’s well worth getting outside the nation’s capital city. And thanks to a new promotion, travelers can now see more of the country for less.

Just as September or «National Passport Month is underway, the U.S. State Department has released additional dates for its ongoing passport fairs, making applying for a first time passport even easier.  The agency published an updated schedule for September and October, which will take place in many states including California, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. For example, the Seattle Passport Agency will be open on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 9am-2pm, where the office is regularly closed on weekends. Applicants should be advised that appointments are required, and can be booked on the office’s website.  Other events include the Boston Passport Agency on Sept. 26, Atlanta Passport Agency on September 28, the University of Texas at Dallas on September 28, the Broward County Clerk in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Oct. 12, and more. 

At this point, you probably know which items you can and cannot pack in your luggage when traveling through U.S. airports. Even when flying internationally, you can usually enter another country with those same TSA-approved items without incident.

The Transportation Security Administration plans to roll out a program that won’t require an additional security screening for travelers flying from certain destinations back to the U.S., TSA administrator David Pekoske said at the Skift Global Forum on Wednesday.