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New report shows Airbnb contribut over INR 72 billion to the Indian economy in 2022

New research from Oxford Economics found Airbnb is an important pillar of India’s tourism industry, contributing over USD 920 million (INR 72 Billion) to Gross Domestic Product and supporting over 85,000 Indian jobs in 2022 alone. The GDP contribution and jobs supported.Airbnb guest spending has within local communities. In 2022*, Airbnb guests spent a total of USD 815 million (INR 64 billion) in India in areas like purchases on transportation, restaurants, retail stores, and retail stores. The guests spent in 2022 more than doubled the 2019 levels. In India, Airbnb’s presence was the highest in Goa, where Airbnb guests spending amounted to almost USD 190 million ( INR 14.8 billion), this was followed by Bengaluru, and Delhi, Mumbai and Manali. It details the significant contribution made by Airbnb guests to domestic tourism across the nation. In 2022*, domestic Airbnb guest spending totalled USD$670 million (INR 52.6 billion), and accounted for approximately 82 percent of total Airbnb guest spend in India. “Airbnb has been at the heart of some of the trends reshaping the nation’s travel and tourism industry, including the shift in travel away from cities and towards more rural communities, and the increase in demand for long-stay trips, exemplified by the live and work anywhere phenomenon, Lambert said. “Domestic travellers have been crucial to the tourism sector’s resilience over the past three years as Indian guests saw opportunities in domestic travel as a substitute for international holidays, with self-drive and regional trips increasing in popularity which led to a wider dispersion of tourism spend outside the traditional or ‘popular’ destinations in India. As destinations across India continue to recover, we are committed to partnering with governments and communities to rebuild their tourism economies in a way that is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable.” This report explores the twelve months to March 2023 — representing a year since travel restrictions started to be removed across India. * This report presents results for the twelve month period up to and including March 2023, referred to as 2022*, which represents the first full year after the reopening of international travel. Prevailing exchange rates at the time of study were applied, using proprietary data from Oxford Economics

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Air India to operate non-stop Kolkata-Bangkok flights from Oct 23

Air India is all set to introduce a non-stop service between Kolkata and Bangkok from October 23. Launched during the festive season in Kolkata, this new flight will cater to the need for a convenient direct connection between the two cities, the airline said in a statement on Wednesday. It will operate six days a week from Monday to Friday. Flight number AI-322 will depart Kolkata at 10 pm (local time) to reach Bangkok at 2.05 am (local time) the next day. The return flight AI321 will take off from Bangkok at 3.05 am to land in Kolkata at 4.10 am. The flight will be operated with a narrow-body Airbus aircraft and it will have a two-class configuration-business and economy. The direct service to Bangkok will offer an opportunity for Air India passengers to take convenient connections via Bangkok to and from 10 popular destinations in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia on the network of Bangkok Airways, with which Air India enjoys an interline partnership with seamless connections beyond Bangkok, the statement said. Air India currently operates a total of 14 flights to Bangkok per week with daily non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai connecting the destination, it said.

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Bhutan planning to slash ‘expensive’ airfares to boost tourism

In a move to boost tourism in the country, Bhutan has announced plans to reduce the 'expensive' airfares for visitors travelling to the country. As per the country's Finance Minister, this step would result in an uptick of travellers to the country and increase the number of visitors visiting the nation. Reportedly, it has been found that expensive airfare is one of the prominent reasons behind discouraging travellers from travelling to Bhutan. Apart from this, the government has put in place a number of incentives, such as lowering the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) from USD200 to USD100 per person, each night. Other plans include permitting low-cost hotels to accommodate tourists and creating other long-stay incentive programmes. The government is currently taking action to encourage travellers by considering price reductions. If reports are to go by, the government is planning to do so with Drukair Corporation and Bhutan Airlines to reduce the airfare for the tourists. This is part of the government’s incentive, considering the tourists complain about the expensive airfare, added Finance Minister Namgay Tshering. However, other lawmakers believe that the SDF policy's frequent modifications are not the ideal strategy for advancing the tourist sector. In an effort to invigorate its tourism industry, Bhutan is embarking on a strategic plan to make travelling to the country more accessible and attractive for visitors. Bhutan planning to slash ‘expensive’ airfares to boost tourismCredit: iStock The Finance Minister emphasised that this move is poised to usher in a significant influx of travellers and boost the overall number of visitors to Bhutan. It is a well-known fact that the ‘expensive’ airfare has often been a deterrent for potential travellers, discouraging them from choosing Bhutan as their destination. However, it's worth noting that not all lawmakers are in complete agreement with the frequent modifications to the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) policy, as some believe that there may be alternative strategies to foster growth in the tourism sector that should be explored.

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Travel wishlist: 7 best Indian destinations to explore in October

October is a festival-filled month, so there are plenty of holidays to plan your much-anticipated trip. The Indian subcontinent transforms into a beautiful place in October, as nature dons its finest colours and traditional festivals come to life. It is the perfect time for tourists to embark on an unforgettable journey through this fascinating and diverse country. In this article, we share our handpicked list of the top seven Indian destinations to visit in October. Kashmir is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque places in India, earning it the title of 'paradise on earth'. Exploring the stunning valleys and mountains, visiting various religious sites and taking in the local culture are just some of the things you can do in Jammu and Kashmir in October. If you're looking for a relaxing holiday, October is definitely the month for you. Kashmir is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque places in India, earning it the title of 'paradise on earth'. Exploring the stunning valleys and mountains, visiting various religious sites and taking in the local culture are just some of the things you can do in Jammu and Kashmir in October. If you're looking for a relaxing holiday, October is definitely the month for you. Over the years, Bir Billing has established itself as one of the top paragliding destinations in India. Bir is a great location for those looking for an aerial experience as the peak paragliding season begins in October and lasts until June. Situated in the Kangra valley of Himachal, the village is a traveller's dream, complete with snow-capped peaks, lush mountains, and delicious pahadi food.(Unsplash) Over the years, Bir Billing has established itself as one of the top paragliding destinations in India. Bir is a great location for those looking for an aerial experience as the peak paragliding season begins in October and lasts until June. Situated in the Kangra valley of Himachal, the village is a traveller's dream, complete with snow-capped peaks, lush mountains, and delicious pahadi food

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Thailand Renews Contract With VFS Global For Processing Visa Applications Across India

Continuing its partnership with the Thailand government, VFS Global has re-won the contract to process visa applications for Thailand from India. The company will cater to travellers from India across visa categories through visa application centres and drop off centres as per the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Embassy in Delhi and Royal Thai Consulate General in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai. VFS Global’s relationship with the Government of Thailand dates to nearly two decades. The company has processed more than 2.2 million Thai visa applications since 2005. As a part of the mandate, VFS Global will roll out drop box services in Tier-II cities such as Ranchi, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Indore, Nagpur, Nasik, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Currently the service is available at Agra, Amritsar, Dehradun, Jaipur, Ludhiana, Guwahati, Patna, Bihar, Bhubaneswar, Jamshedpur, Siliguri and Visakhapatnam. The VFS Global newest visa application centre (VAC) in Lucknow (a drop box facility earlier) will also accept applications for Thailand visas. “The renewal of the Thai visa contract attests to VFS Global’s superior business performance, commitment to improving customer experience, and unshakable faith placed in us by the 70 sovereign governments we work with, including Thailand,’’ said Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global.

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Saudia enters a new era, unveils new brand identity and livery

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, revealed its new brand identity and livery during a milestone event in Jeddah, in the presence of Royal Highnesses, Excellencies and leaders from both the public and private sectors, as well as prominent media correspondents and aviation experts. This new identity is in line with a wider strategic digital transformation plan aimed at strengthening the airline’s support for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to bring the world to Saudi Arabia. The rebrand marks the beginning of a new era for Saudia, introducing innovative concepts in terms of customer services with a strong focus on digital aspects and enhancing the guest experience by celebrating Saudi culture. This transformation reinforces Saudia’s national identity as it reimagines all products and services to engage all five senses. Guests can anticipate an authentic Saudi experience during their journey, showcasing the very best of Saudi Arabia and its rich culture. This includes a distinctive fragrance and sonic identity, locally inspired cuisine, all crafted by skilled Saudi craftsmen. This new identity mirrors Saudi Arabia’s welcoming spirit, leaving guests with a deep sense of the country’s warmth and hospitality while promoting a deeper appreciation of Saudi culture for both nationals and visitors. The rebrand also encompasses new uniforms for cabin crew and ground staff. The new brand color identity, comprised of green, blue, and sand, represents Saudia’s aim to expand its fleet and destinations, connecting the world to Saudi Arabia, emphasising the Kingdom’s authenticity and deep-rooted values. In parallel to the rebrand, Saudia has also undertaken a huge digital transformation, entirely enhancing the customer digital experience. Saudia leads among international airlines in operating generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a virtual assistant, named “SAUDIA”, being one of the first of its kind in the region. Saudia will enable guests to complete the entire transaction through this efficient process by the end of the year. The ambitious, long-planned digital transformation, fully improves customer experience but also allows more streamlined operations and processes while ensuring the highest levels of protection of guests’ personal data, through strong partnerships with global leading companies. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said, “We are experiencing a new era and a very exciting time for Saudia. Our airline has evolved from a Douglas DC-3 aircraft in 1945, to a 140 aircraft modern fleet serving over 100 destinations, becoming one of the largest airlines in the region. The name and logo of Saudia are integral parts of the Kingdom’s aviation history and development, and our people share a special emotional connection with the brand. We have incorporated this rich heritage into our new identity, adding elements that reflect our visionary approach, poised to captivate the world.” Saudia is not only rolling out a fully integrated digital program and revamping its look, it is also effectively and quickly helping advance Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, collaborating with all industry stakeholders to achieve the targets of the National Aviation Strategy. The strategy aims to turn Saudi Arabia into a leader in the global industry, by enhancing the customer experience, improving safety and working towards a more sustainable future, in line with Saudia’s expansion goals to bring around 330 million visitors to the Kingdom by 2030.

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