Hotel technology platform STAAH unveiled insights into its network of 19,000+ properties, revealing that in 2023, Indian travelers continued to remain inclined to book directly with hotels, despite the resurgence of online travel agencies.
21.12.2023 - 05:49 / skift.com / Kishan Reddy
()
While there is no shortage of pilots in the country, there is a lack of commanders for specific aircraft types, the ministry of civil aviation has said. To address this, foreign pilots are being utilized through Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA).
The government said that it has also taken several steps to establish more flying schools across the country to train greater number of commercial pilots.
Currently, there are 34 Flying Training Organizations (FTOs) in the country operating at 55 bases, providing flying training to cadets. In the current year (2023 till November), a total of 1491 Commercial Pilot Licenses (CPLs) have been issued, indicating a substantial increase compared to previous years.
Pilots deaths: The question of a pilot shortage comes after several pilot deaths, many of which have been attributed to fatigue and stress. In early 2023, a 37-year-old Air India pilot died in the airline’s Gurugram office after suffering a cardiac arrest.
In August of this year, an IndiGo pilot collapsed and died before his flight last week. News agency Reuters had reported that this pushed India’s air safety watchdog to review pilot fatigue data to see if any policy changes are required. Post the incidents, there were complaints from some Indian pilots that they are being stretched to the brink by airlines, even though they comply with regulations.
Adventure tourism is expected to contribute $800 billion as India aims for a $3 trillion tourism economy by 2047. If achieved, this will make India one of the top 10 adventure tourism destinations globally.
The tourism ministry organized the National Conference on Adventure Tourism this week in Gujarat with the aim to provide a platform to deliberate and devise strategies to make India a global adventure tourism hub.
What happened at the conference? The conference had a session that focused on the role of states in adventure tourism, with presentations from Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, MP Tourism Corporation, Ladakh, Kerala, Sikkim and Punjab — the states where topography is conducive for adventure sports.
Joint Roadmap for Growth: Achieving this growth requires a joint strategic roadmap by the central government, states, and the tourism industry, aiming for 20 million foreign tourist arrivals, $90 billion in foreign exchange.
Some Background: Earlier this year, tourism minister G Kishan Reddy said that India would focus on developing infrastructure for the adventure tourism segment.
In August this year, the Uttar Pradesh government decided to implement its Water Tourism and Adventure Sports Policy-2023 to boost tourism in the state. The policy would be effective for 10 years and would apply to all inland, air, and water routes,
Hotel technology platform STAAH unveiled insights into its network of 19,000+ properties, revealing that in 2023, Indian travelers continued to remain inclined to book directly with hotels, despite the resurgence of online travel agencies.
Indian online travel agency EaseMyTrip announced on Monday that it has suspended all flight bookings to Maldives in what its Co-Founder and CEO, Prashant Pitti, deemed was in “solidarity with the nation.”
In 2023, travel came back with a vengeance, with travel bookings climbing to near pre-COVID-19 numbers, according to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey. But many destinations struggled to manage the heightened influx of tourists, and some governments actively took measures to limit the quantity of visitors. Among the changes: new or increased tourist taxes, campaigns aimed at discouraging problematic visitors, and attendance caps at popular attractions.
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.
Where do you find spectacular and life-changing destinations that are without the hordes that have become commonplace in so many destinations worldwide, particularly in Europe? Last week in Forbes, I asked some travel experts about where people are going. This week, I asked the same gurus about their choices for where to go next. I was looking for off-the-radar destinations they love, places to go before they get discovered.
A host of VIPs from the skydiving world – including Red Bull aerial athlete Fred Fugen and multiple world record holder David Nimmo – have taken to the skies above Ifuru Island Maldives to launch the destination’s first permanent skydiving dropzone.
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.
Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo became the first Indian airline to transport 100 million passengers in a year. Celebrating its 17th anniversary this year, IndiGo has become one of the world’s largest airlines by passenger traffic.
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: