News

Philippines Tourism Promotions Board Celebrates Landmark Growth And Recognizes Influence At Pasasalamat

Philippines TPB kicked off 2025 with Pasasalamat, honoring media and showcasing tourism milestones, record growth, and upcoming global initiatives. TPB Philippines Launches 2025 with Pasasalamat Event, Highlighting Tourism Growth The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines welcomed 2025 with its annual Pasasalamat event on January 27 at the historic Centro de Turismo Intramuros. This gathering recognized the contributions of media professionals and content creators in advancing the country’s tourism industry while reflecting on TPB’s major achievements. TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles shared that in 2024, the agency generated over PHP 11.3 billion in sales leads, marking a 44.8% increase from the previous year. Key global travel fairs, such as ITB Berlin and the World Travel Market in London, played a significant role, bringing in PHP 918 million in potential deals. Additionally, strategic collaborations with major media outlets—including GMA7, ABS-CBN, CNN, Bloomberg, and Euronews—contributed PHP 1.44 billion in media values.

Read more

Russia’s E-Visa Revolution Fuels a Tourism Boom from India to Moscow with Visa-Free Travel Poised to Accelerate Growth in the Coming Year

Thomas Cook India partners with Moscow to boost tourism, MICE, and business travel, driving long-term growth and enhancing travel experiences for Indian visitors. Thomas Cook (India) Limited has forged a significant two-year strategic alliance with the Moscow Project Office for Tourism & Hospitality Development. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed by Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, Meeting Industry, Visa at Thomas Cook (India) Limited, alongside Mr. Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, and Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee. This collaboration is set to enhance bilateral engagement by fostering knowledge exchange, adopting best industry practices, and curating innovative travel experiences tailored to Indian travelers. The objective is to boost tourism and strengthen business Meeting Industry opportunities between India and Moscow, promoting sustainable long-term growth.

Read more

LNER plays a key role in London’s Chinese New Year celebrations

LNER has played a key role in London’s Chinese New Year celebrations helping welcome in the Year of the Snake.Estimated to have been attended by hundreds of thousands of people, the capital was brought alive with vibrant displays and rich traditions marking the beginning of the lunar calendar New Year. Billed as the largest Chinese New Year parade outside of China itself, the annual parade through London’s Chinatown and Trafalgar Square took place on Sunday 2 February 2025.David Horne, Managing Director at LNER and Commercial Director David Flesher participated in the prestigious ‘dotting of the eye’ ceremony.

Read more

Flyadeal Gears Up For Hajj 2025, Targeting 75,000 International Pilgrims To Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s budget airline expands charter operations to accommodate increased demand during pilgrimage season.Flyadeal is gearing up to transport over 75,000 pilgrims on dedicated international charter flights for this year’s Hajj season, marking a major milestone in its ongoing expansion. The airline has been steadily increasing its Hajj-related services since 2023, and this year’s growth underscores its commitment to facilitating religious travel. Having flown approximately 35,000 pilgrims into Saudi Arabia last year—a 35% increase compared to 2023—flyadeal now aims to more than double that figure in 2025. To support this surge, the airline is deploying additional widebody charter flights to Jeddah and Madinah, key entry points to the Holy City of Makkah.

Read more

Lanzarote hosts ‘Epicentro Lanzarote’ to advance sustainable tourism practices

Lanzarote is set to host “Epicentro Lanzarote,” a two-day event on February 13-14, 2025, at Jameos del Agua, focusing on sustainable tourism practices.This initiative is a collaboration between the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the Lanzarote Society for External Promotion (SPEL – Turismo Lanzarote), and the UN Global Compact Spain. The event aims to equip key stakeholders in Lanzarote’s tourism sector with practical tools and showcase best practices for sustainability.The opening session will feature Héctor Fernández, CEO of SPEL – Turismo Lanzarote, GSTC Chair Luigi Cabrini, and Silvia Rial, Corporate and Sectoral Sustainability Manager at the UN Global Compact Spain.They will discuss the significance of collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable tourism.

Read more

India’s North East Tourism & Economy to Benefit from Over Forty-Seven Percent Budget Increase

The Union Budget 2025-26 boosts India’s North East with a 47.6% fund increase, enhancing tourism, infrastructure, connectivity, and economic growth.The Union Budget 2025-26 has significantly increased financial support for the North Eastern Region (NER), with a 47.6% rise in the allocation for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER). For the upcoming fiscal year, the budget estimate stands at Rs 5,915 crore, a sharp increase from Rs 4,006 crore in the revised estimates for 2024-25. This move highlights the government’s focus on improving infrastructure, connectivity, industry, and social development across the region.

Read more