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PayU tailors payment solutions to meet travel sector needs

Anuradha Murthy, Head - Partnerships & Alliance, PayU highlighted the importance of data insights in the travel industry, citing examples of how businesses can use data to target relevant segments and improve their return on investment. She also acknowledged PayU efforts to facilitate payments and make them more accessible, with a focus on the knowledge behind those payments. a leading digital payments platform, tailors its solutions to meet the unique requirements of the travel sector. Speaking at the recently concluded 2nd ET Travel & Tourism Conclave & Awards during a fireside chat on 'Innovative financial services: Achieving growth during disruptions' Anuradha Murthy, Head - Partnerships & Alliance, PayU shared how they study the different stakeholders in the travel ecosystem like travel agencies, booking engines, and property managers to plug in core payment solutions as well as ancillary services around reconciliation, invoicing, and more. PayU facilitates international payments in over 32 currencies and addresses challenges like monitoring success rates and providing a dashboard for transaction reconciliation. The platform is also PCI 3DS2 compliant, adding an additional layer of fraud prevention for international transactions Payment solutions provider offers tailored solutions for travel industry, leveraging technology and data to meet evolving customer needs. Anuradha Murthy, Head - Partnerships & Alliance, PayU highlighted the importance of data insights in the travel industry, citing examples of how businesses can use data to target relevant segments and improve their return on investment. She also acknowledged PayU's efforts to facilitate payments and make them more accessible, with a focus on the knowledge behind those payments. To increase demand and make travel more accessible, PayU offers affordability solutions like EMIs and other credit options on their checkout. Recommendation engines also nudge customers towards the most lucrative payment options based on their transaction history. During the conversation, Murthy also highlighted how PayU is making travel more accessible and affordable for customers through easy payment solutions, such as easy EMI options and short-term lending. "Look at leisure travel. As an example, a lot of customers actually look for easy payment solutions, not just from a perspective of convenience, but from a perspective of affordability. So, for example, an easy EMI solution, right, or looking at other credit or lending options, short term lending options, it could be a flexi cache, we provide these kinds of solutions to make it convenient for a traveller to sort of afford these solutions," she mentioned. Emerging areas PayU is focusing on include social commerce on platforms like WhatsApp and providing data insights to help travel businesses better acquire and target relevant customer segments. The representative highlighted how priority settlements within an hour and other value-added services help address the working capital needs of the travel industry. "Technology is key. Data is a great source, in order to predict user behaviors. So, when you combine the two, for example, what you can do is that you can nudge the customer towards a certain kind of behavior," Murthy said.

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South Africa takes a major step toward fixing work visa mess

South Africa’s home affairs minister signed planned changes to work permit regulations aimed at fixing a bureaucratic morass that’s frustrating the country’s biggest investors and exacerbating a skills crisis, people familiar with the situation said. Now that the changes have been signed by Aaron Motsoaledi, they’ll be gazetted in the coming days and released for public comment, the people said, asking not to be identified as the decision hasn’t been made public. The changes may include a range of measures suggested by a government study including the creation of a remote worker visa category. Companies operating in South Africa struggle to find skilled workers, a result of a dysfunctional education system and exacerbated by emigration. That, they said, is hindering growth and exacerbating unemployment as skilled workers create jobs for those with fewer qualifications. Still, between 2014 and 2021 only 25,298 skilled work permit visas were approved, according to a report prepared for the presidency. More than half of applications were rejected on grounds including errors in the complex application process and the inability of the Home Affairs Department to process them. The department didn’t respond to a request for comment. Industry bodies including the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which represents owners of factories in the country including Volkswagen AG and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, have warned the skills shortage may halt their members’ expansion plans and threaten 100,000 jobs. A chamber representing European Union companies operating in South Africa collated complaints that showed that some companies are considering moving their African headquarters to other countries on the continent because of their frustration. Eight recommendations in the study, which was released by the presidency in April, include a points-based system, where applicants who meet a minimum education and salary level would be granted work permits. It’s unclear whether all or some of them will be included in the changes. While processing a work visa in South Africa can take 48 weeks or more, the process in Kenya is a maximum of 12 weeks and just eight weeks in Nigeria, the authors of the report wrote. Thirty days will be allowed for public comment before the changes can be passed into law.

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Day safari at Maharashtra's Kas resumes; to boost tourism

The Kas Plateau Executive Committee, which also manages the plateau during the Kas Flower festival, said that they were losing revenue as the resumption of the day safari was delayed. However, the initiative will help the employ youth in the region. Kas plateau resumed bookings on December 11, after being shut since June. The Kas darshan ‘day’ safari in Kas plateau, an Unesco World Heritage Site in Satara district of Maharashtra, resumed bookings on December 11, after being shut since June. The Kas Plateau Executive Committee, which also manages the plateau during the Kas Flower festival, said that they were losing revenue as the resumption of the day safari was delayed. However, the initiative will help the employ youth in the region. Maruti Chikne, member of Kas plateau executive committee said, “Roughly 20 youths from villages in the region received employment through this initiative. These youths contribute largely to control wildfires, fill artificial water holes and conduct night patrols. Poaching activities are also curbed because of this.” Datta Kirdat, deputy head of the Kas plateau executive committee, said, “The Kas Darshan safari covers nearly 50 kms and tourists can visit Kas plateau, Mandapghal caves, Sajjangad point, Ghatai Devrai (sacred groves), Kumudini lake, Vanjulwadi, Vajrai waterfall, Andhari Sahyadri nagar windmills, Venna river, Ekiw falls, Navra-Navri hill at Attadi village.” During the Kas Flower festival — between end-August to mid-October — most of the points on the day safari remain closed for visitors. “Tourists can visit these natural sites only in the rest of the year,” added Kirdat.

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UP govt to equip tourism dept's website with features such as data encryption, SEO

Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has invited applications through the Request for Pro (RFP) medium from experienced and qualified service providers for the annual maintena updates and enhancement of its official website. The selected agency will streamline the department's website, ensuring it is well-equipped with various technical features such a data encryption, search engine optimization (SEO), error-free user experience and regular software updates. In view of the increasing tourism potential of the state of Uttar Pradesh in recent years, the Uttar Pradesh Government, headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has stepped up preparations for the Maha Kumbh 2025. According to Chief Minister Yogi's vision, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department has invited applications through the Request for Proposal (RFP) medium from experienced and qualified service providers for the annual maintenance, updates, and enhancement of its official website, www.uptourism.gov.in. The selected agency will streamline the department's website, ensuring it is well-equipped with various technical features such as data encryption, search engine optimization (SEO), error-free user experience, and regular software updates. Additionally, the Tourism Department has commenced the application process for various sectors of the Tent City to be set up during the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. The website of the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department functions as a central hub for information and resources related to tourism in the state. The website has been designed to provide a wide range of information and services to both tourists and stakeholders interested in the maintenance, it will continue to be hosted on the same platform. The annual maintenance process carried out by the agency will be quite effective in ensuring a smooth and seamless user experience on the website related to the latest developments and tourist attractions in the state. This includes addressing technical issues, updating and downloading text, photos, and videos on the website, as well as continuous monitoring and resolution of broken links and website errors. The implementation of best practises for on-page and off-page SEO to increase the website's visibility on search engines, making online booking and reservation processes error-free, and enhancing security encryption, including the application of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) in the security assessment process, will also be undertaken to improve security. The Tourism Department has started preparations for the Maha Kumbh scheduled to be held on the Sangam banks in Prayagraj in the year 2025. In this regard, the Uttar P radesh Tourism Department has invited applications through e-tender for setting up tents in the Tent City to be established during the Maha Kumbh. Currently, applications have been invited for a total of nine types of tenders, including Block F-1, F-2, F-3, F-5, E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4, and E-5, for the development of tent sites. Agencies selected from these tenders will be responsible for constructing and managing Tent City with various facilities in different blocks.

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India set to be the fourth-largest global travel spender by 2030

We are witnessing a renaissance indicative of India's unmatched ability to rise above unprecedented challenges brought on by and following the global pandemic. If we continue to capitalise on the limitless opportunities for growth, India's post-pandemic narrative with become even more inspirational and dynamic. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and the same year, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that over 100 million direct tourism jobs were at risk. The economies of tourism-dependent countries suffered extensively, but a recovery is in full flow. The aviation analytics firm Cirium has stated that global airline capacity is slated to finally surpass its 2019 levels. This signals a significant recovery from the losses that the global travel market suffered during the pandemic. Air travel is on the upswing across the world, and India in particular exemplifies this resurgence. India's domestic air traffic touched a new peak on April 30 this year, with over 456,082 passengers travelling in a single day as 2,978 flights took to the skies. In October, Booking.com and McKinsey & Company released 'How India Travels', a report projecting India as the fourth-largest global spender in travel by 2030, with expenditure that is expected to reach up to USD 410 billion. This indicates a 173 percent increase from 2019, when Indian travellers cumulatively spent over USD 150 billion. Interestingly, the report also indicates that in 2022, Indian travellers helped in the recovery of the tourism industry by spending 78 percent of the 2019 levels, while Asia as a whole reached just about 52 percent. pandemic ennui with a vengeance to jet off towards their dream destinations. This year, among these travellers in India, there was also a large segment of first-time flyers. Many of these new travellers are from the millennial and Gen Z generations, who consider travel to be an experiential and aspirational activity. The growing popularity of travel influencers has also increased the tourist influx to aspirational and 'trending' locations. These could range from a highly-rated homestay in Leh to an Aurora 'glamping' resort in Iceland! Indians are also spending far more on luxury travel now, and Thomas Cook India reports a 50% jump in business class travel versus last year. In However, for this boom to be sustainable, the aviation industry mustformulate a way to deal with not just an increasing demand for better connectivity and convenience but with spiralling turbine fuel prices,supply chain challenges, and financial distress that have grounded many ambitious airlines. Engine issues and inadequate MRO infrastructure need attention as well. Updated airports, modern fleets, smart air traffic management systems to prevent delays and congestion, and a skilled workforce are some of the key elements that can support this growth. We are witnessing a renaissance indicative of India's unmatched ability to rise above unprecedented challenges brought on by and following the global pandemic. If we continue to capitalise on the limitless opportunities for growth, India's post-pandemic narrative will become even more inspirational and dynamic.

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Pahalgam first tourist spot to adopt SGLR rating system for promoting sustainable tourism

The Swachhta Green Leaf Rating (SGLR) system will be introduced at the tourist spot on pilot basis to assess tourism infrastructure like hotels, resorts, home stays on the parameter of safe sanitation practices, according to a top state official. The SGLR is a collaborative initiative taken by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) and the Tourism Ministry for voluntary rating of hospitality infrastructure for hygiene and sanitation. World-famous tourist spot Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir has become the first destination in the country to adopt the Swachhta Green Leaf Rating as part of the sustainable tourism program. The Swachhta Green Leaf Rating (SGLR) system will be introduced at the tourist spot on a pilot basis to assess tourism infrastructure like hotels, resorts, home stays on the parameters of safe sanitation practices, according to a top state official. The SGLR is a collaborative initiative taken by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) and the Tourism Ministry for voluntary rating of hospitality infrastructure for hygiene and sanitation. Virtually launching the adoption of the SGLR in the hospitality sector by hoteliers in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo advised all stakeholders, including the authorities concerned, to ensure the success of this model. He said that J&K, as the torchbearer, has an added responsibility to set an example. "Since tourism is one of the mainstays of our economy, it has added significance for us to preserve the pristine assets of beauty and a pleasant environment in our UT", Dullo said. He further said that responsible citizens lead to responsible practices in each sector, considering the three pillars of sustainable development: economy, ecology, and equity. Dulloo unveiled the three components of Solid Waste Management (SWM), Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), and Greywater Management (GWM), emphasising their practical principles. "Three phases of accreditation involving orientation for stakeholders, voluntary declaration, followed by verification and ground truthing, as facilitative steps to improve tourist destinations", he said. The SGLR comprises three themes, each allocated a total of 200 marks, with the first two having 80 marks each and the last one having 40 marks. "Participating entities are required to score at least 50 per cent in each theme to be eligible for the certification process. Entities scoring 100- 130 marks receive ''1-Leaf Status,'' 130-180 marks as ''3-Leaf Status,'' and those scoring between 180-200 achieve the best with ''5-Leaf Status,'' the official said. The rating system is part of Travel for LiFE program for tourism sector under Mission LiFE, that has been envisaged to create awareness about sustainable tourism and to nudge the tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable practices synchronous with nature. The program aims to mainstream sustainability into tourism sector towards developing a sustainable, responsible and resilient tourism sector.

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