The coastal Thai city of Pattaya is embarking on an ambitious rebranding effort, aiming to distance itself from its associations with sex tourism and illegal gambling into a destination that appeals to families, while also positioning itself as Thailand’s first casino city.
Indian Tourism Industry's Hits and Misses
30.07.2024 - 13:43 / skift.com / Peden Doma Bhutia / Nirmala Sitharaman / Indigo Airlines
Skift Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia and India Reporter Bulbul Dhawan unpack some of the biggest takeaways from the recent Union Budget announced in India as well as the earnings calls of IndiGo, MakeMyTrip, and the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). Find out how the budget fared compared to the expectations of the travel industry stakeholders in this latest episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast.
Indian Budget and Tourism Sector: The 2025 fiscal year budget, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, fell short of the travel industry’s expectations. The budget focused on developing temple destinations in Bihar and Odisha as a tourism hub. Key industry demands, like industry status for tourism and a uniform tax rate for hotels, were ignored. Madhavan Menon of Thomas Cook (India) expressed disappointment over the lack of reinstated advertising budgets for inbound tourism, previously slashed by 97%.
Taj-Parent IHCL gets Into Branded Residence: Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is entering the branded residences market, starting with Taj Branded Residences in Chennai. CEO Puneet Chhatwal highlighted this segment’s lucrative potential, valued at INR 220 billion ($2.6 billion) and growing annually. IHCL plans to launch the reimagined Gateway brand with 15 hotels, scaling to 100 hotels by 2030. The company aims to open 25 hotels this fiscal year, with 7 already opened.
IndiGo’s Premium Shift and Digital Upgrades: IndiGo is enhancing its digital platforms, introducing an AI booking assistant on WhatsApp. The airline plans to offer in-flight entertainment through its app, currently being tested on the Delhi-Goa route. Despite a 12% drop in net profit to INR 27.3 billion ($326 million) for the quarter ending June 30, IndiGo is expanding international routes. IndiGo will increase flights to Central Asia and potentially more destinations, aiming for double-digit growth in fiscal 2025.
MakeMyTrip’s Focus on Rising Middle Class: MakeMyTrip achieved its highest-ever quarterly gross bookings, revenue, and adjusted operating profit, with gross booking value exceeding $2.4 billion, a 22% year-on-year growth. CEO Rajesh Magow attributed this to India’s rising middle class, increased disposable income, and changing travel behavior. Emerging destinations like Turkey and Kazakhstan are seeing significant increases in Indian tourists, indicating a positive long-term outlook for outbound travel from India.
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In this episode, the discussion centered on the recent earnings reports and the 2025 fiscal year budget. The Union Budget left the travel industry in India disappointed due to its lack of significant measures for tourism, such as industry status and a uniform tax
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