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India Remains Top Contributor As Dubai International Airport Crosses 41 Million Passengers In H1 2023

Dubai International Airport sees 41.6 million passengers in first half of year, more than in 2019 By Jon Gambrell Dubai, Aug 22 (AP) Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, announced on Tuesday it served 41.6 million passengers in the first half of this year — exceeding figures for the same period in 2019 as travellers return to the air after the lockdowns of the coronavirus pandemic. The airport, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates in skyscraper-studded Dubai, long has served as a barometer for the aviation industry worldwide. The new figures at the airport known as DXB reflect figures offered by the International Air Transport Association that traffic worldwide is at 94 per cent of pre-COVID levels. "As we recover with our (half-year) traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels, we continue to remain committed to ensuring every guest who travels through our airport leaves with a smile,” Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said in a statement announcing the figures. The 41.6 million passengers is up some 50 per cent from the 27.9 million recorded the same time last year, as airlines now have more planes and routes running again. Passenger traffic this year largely has been driven by the airport's standard travel destinations — India, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Pakistan. Russia as well has been a major market as Dubai remains one of the few places still open to Russians amid Moscow's war on Ukraine. Dubai was among the first cities to reopen to tourists in the pandemic. That helped boost the city-state's tourism industry, as attractions like the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and the sail-shaped Burj Al-Arab luxury hotel draw both visitors and transit passengers out of airport lounges. Dubai surpassed its pre-pandemic, half-year tourist figures this year with 8.55 million international visitors. Dubai hotels saw an average occupancy of 78 per cent during that period — ranking among some of the world's top destinations. Emirates also saw its most profitable year ever in 2022, earning USD 2.9 billion as passengers returned to its long-haul Boeing 777s and its double-decker Airbus A380s. Griffiths said given the demand, the airport has bumped its projected passenger numbers for 2023 to 85 million, just shy of 2019's annual traffic of 86.3 million passengers. The airport saw 89.1 million passengers in 2018 — its busiest-ever year before the pandemic. DXB had 66 million passengers pass through it in 2022. “We started the second half with strong demand in July, and with the ongoing seasonal peak coinciding with the reopening of schools in August, we're preparing for an exceptionally busy rest of the year,” Griffiths said. Dubai International Airport now serves 257 destinations across 104 countries.

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Air India flyers can now enjoy simplified European travel experience with intermodal ticket partnership

Air India passengers are in for a seamless travel experience across Europe as the airline announces a groundbreaking intermodal interline agreement with AccesRail. This partnership enables travellers to access a wide network of over 100 European cities via train and bus, all under a single ticket, while retaining the same baggage allowance as on Air India flights. This collaboration will notably benefit passengers, especially those aiming to reach smaller European cities lacking airport facilities. The new pact empowers Air India passengers to embark on an intermodal journey, effortlessly connecting to cities and towns in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, and the UK. Key European gateways for this expanded service include Amsterdam, Birmingham, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Milan, and Vienna. AccesRail, an IATA travel partner with its unique designator code (9B), is the driving force behind making these intermodal journeys on a single ticket a reality. Nipun Aggarwal, AI's Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer, stated, "The expansion of our global network is one of our key priorities in the ongoing, comprehensive transformation of Air India. This partnership with AccesRail not only helps us to provide our guests easy access to an extended network of destinations across Europe but also to bridge the gaps in connectivity between India and Europe. Augmenting our network with an intermodal approach also underlines our commitment to environmental sustainability.” Andrew Popescu, VP (Business Development) at AccesRail, also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "We are excited to be launching our Air India-AccesRail cooperation and look forward to continuing with AI on a global scale with so many of our intermodal rail and coach partners. Through this enhanced AccesRail partnership, Air India will be able to, now and in the future, offer its customers more destinations and more possibilities in a more seamless fashion." Air India's expanded network, facilitated by AccesRail, includes a roster of rail and bus operators such as Avanti West Coast (UK), Great Western Railways (UK), London North Eastern Railways (UK), National Express (UK), Trenitalia (Italy), ÖBB Austrian Railways (Austria), SNCB Belgian Railways, and Thalys (Netherlands/Belgium). " This strategic collaboration between Air India and AccesRail is set to redefine the European travel experience for passengers, providing them with a broader range of destinations and a more seamless journey, all while prioritizing sustainability and convenience.

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Hong Kong Tourism Board brings back Travel Mission to India this year

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will host its Travel Mission to India after a pause of three years. The annual marquee event will include a delegation of 28 trade members comprising Hong Kong land operators, hoteliers, airlines, cruise company and popular family attractions, like Ocean Park Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong, Ngong Ping 360, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Hong Kong, among others. The Hong Kong delegation will hold business sessions with the Indian trade partners in Bengaluru (Tuesday, 22 August), Mumbai (Wednesday, 23 August) and New Delhi (Friday, 25 August). The trade mission will focus on the growing leisure, fly-cruise and Meetings and Incentive (M&I) segment, highlighting the diverse experiences in Hong Kong for the Indian travellers leveraging the 14-day visa-free travel facility for Indian passport holders and flight capacity expansion from Indian cities.

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Hotel Sector Could Add $1 Trillion to Economy by 2047

The Indian hotel sector is poised to contribute $1.5 trillion to the country’s economy by 2047, up from $65 billion in 2022, forecasts the Hotel Association of India in its “Vision 2047: Indian Hotel Industry” report. The association anticipated growth of 15% in the long-term for the overall hospitality industry. The total contribution includes aspects of services from corresponding industry verticals such as food and beverages, salon & spas, etc. Looking at it more broadly, the group forecasts that tourism and hospitality will contribute $3 trillion. To reach that target, the sector will need: Policy support and ease of doing business. Rise in national and international tourist footfalls. Extending accommodation growth beyond the metros to tier II, III cities. Domestic Tourist Visits: These are anticipated to rise from 677 million in 2021 to 1.5 billion by 2030 and then further to 15 billion by 2047 in the long term (2037-2047), the report said. International Travelers: There would be 15 million international visitors arriving in India by 2024, 25 million by 2030, and 100 million tourists by 2047. Total contribution of Indian hotel industry to GDP (in USD billion). “The tourism industry is going through a significant transformation and technology has helped us enhance customer engagements. Convergence of efforts at different levels and collaboration between the government and private stakeholders will be the key to the successful realization of the vision of creating jobs and contributing to the national growth story,” said Puneet Chhatwal, president of Hotel Association of India and managing director and CEO of Indian Hotels Company. Tourism Ministry Launches Wedding Tourism Campaign After promoting medical and wellness tourism for years, the Ministry of Tourism has now set its sights on the wedding tourism market to showcase India as a premier wedding destination globally. What the Campaign Entails: 25 key destinations have been shortlisted to be pitched across the world. Besides royal weddings, India plans to hardsell beach weddings and Himalayan weddings. Other Highlights: The campaign is developed in consultation with industry experts, associations, and wedding planners that delves into India’s myriad locales, ancient rituals, gastronomy, and infrastructure. Wedding Tourism Policy: Earlier in April, the Events and Entertainment Management Association of India collaborated with consulting firm Deloitte to create a draft of the policy that includes: Guidelines for the promotion of India’s unique wedding customs and traditions. Development of infrastructure to support the industry’s growth. Creation of a legal framework to ensure that the industry operates ethically and transparently. Oyo Partners With Haryana to Offer Employment in Europe to State’s Youth Budget hotel operator and aggregator Oyo will facilitate on-the-job training across its vacation home business in countries such as Denmark and Netherlands to selected youth from Haryana in conjunction with Shri Vishwakarma Skill University. The Partnership: Oyo signed a memorandum of understanding with Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited (HKRNL), and the Foreign Cooperation Department, the company said in a statement. Objective: The aim is to create job prospects for the youth in various job roles within the hospitality sector in European nations. “The initiative not only will contribute to the economic development of the state but also foster international cooperation and cultural exchange through the movement of skilled workers,” said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Outline of the Plan: Youngsters registered on HKRNL will receive skill training aligned with the specific job requirements identified by Oyo. Vishwakarma Skill University will be responsible for providing this training and awarding the corresponding certificates. Once the training is completed, the Foreign Cooperation Department will facilitate the process of overseas employment for these youths. Germany to Invest $541,000 in India to Promote Tourism Germany has earmarked an investment of about $541,000 on marketing activities in India to showcase itself as the preferred destination to Indian tourists. Visa Woes: Germany is also working to speed up the visa process, which is still taking up to eight weeks, said Georg Enzweiler, deputy head of mission at the German Embassy. Rise in Indian Tourists: Germany reported a 209% increase in overnight stays by Indians in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to data from the German National Tourist Board. In 2022, Indians spent a total of 623,363 nights in Germany and are yet to reach the record level of 961,656 in 2019. Visa Rejections: Indian travelers faced one of the highest rejection rates in the world when it comes to Schengen visas, according to Schengen Visa Statistics 2022 data. Indians filed over 600,000 Schengen visa applications last year — the third highest in the world — but also faced a steep rejection rate of 18%. 57% Travelers Prefer Planned Itineraries: Booking.com Report Nearly 57% of Indians prefer a planned itinerary and book local travels, places to visit, eateries, in advance, according to Booking.com’s second edition of the APAC Travel Confidence Index 2023. 30% said that they prefer to book only transport and accommodation in advance; while everything else can be on the go. Deep-Dive on Traveler Perspective: Nearly half (42%) of the Indians mentioned that they trust digital travel platforms but like to prioritize factors like booking multiple aspects of their trip, flexible cancellation and refund policies when choosing these platforms. Cost: 50% of Indian travelers surveyed said that they use online accommodation booking websites or apps to compare prices before booking accommodations. Accommodation Types: Nearly 40% choose a digital travel platform based on the variety of accommodation options such as hotels, apartments, hostels, resorts and ‘bed and breakfasts’. Cancellation and Reservation Policy: 40% responded that flexible cancellation and refund policies are another factor they consider while selecting a digital travel platform. User Experience: 35% rely on other users’ experiences and reviews on the platform website or app before making the choice. Loyalty Programs: 24% of Indian respondents mentioned that loyalty programs are important while considering when choosing a digital travel platform. Accor Signs Grand Mercure in Agra Hotel operator Accor has introduced its first Grand Mercure property in Agra, a city renowned for the iconic Taj Mahal. Number of Rooms: 168 When: The hotel is expected to be open by September 2023. Location: The property is located in Fatehabad road, a short drive away from the famous tourist site. Current Properties: Accor operates 58 properties in India under the Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, and ibis brands. Future Plans: Accor aims to open mid-level hotels across metros and budget brands in tier-2 and tier-3 cities in India. With a pipeline of 25 properties under development, the company aims to have more than 100 hotels by 2027 in the country. China Temporarily Eases Visa Rules for Indians China has temporarily eased its visa regulations for Indian citizens applying for categories such as business (M), tourism (L), short-term family visits (Q2) to Chinese citizens, transit (G), and crew (C) visas. What are the Changes? The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in India has issued a notice stating that applicants eligible for single or double-entry visas for the mentioned categories are exempted from collection of biometric data (fingerprints) until December 31, 2023. Cost of a Chinese Visa: $45-$95. This depends on the visa type and its validity period. Visas Issued So Far: China issued over 71,600 visas to Indians traveling to China so far in 2023, Chinese Embassy in India spokesperson Wang Xiaojian said last month. Visas have been granted for purposes of business, study, tourism, work, among others. Lemon Tree Hotels Opens Property in Rajkot Lemon Tree Hotels has opened Lemon Tree Hotel, Rajkot in the western state of Gujarat. This is the sixth property of the group in the state.Number of Rooms: 45 rooms and suites. Recent Signings: Lemon Tree Hotel, Hissar. Last month, the mid-market hotel chain signed a license agreement for a 48-room property in Udaipur in the northern state of Rajasthan, under the company’s brand ‘Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels.’ The hotel is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of financial year 2024.Targets: The company aims to achieve an occupancy of about 74% and take prices up by another 10-15% depending on market conditions in the third quarter of the year.

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International tourists with e-visa can enter India from Goa's Mopa Airport

The Manohar International Airport (MIA) has been granted immigration check post status for allowing entry to individuals holding e-visas, according to an official statement. International flights commenced at the Manohar International Airport in Mopa on July 21, with the arrival of a flight from London-Gatwick airport. The North Goa airport is developed and operated by GMR Goa International Airport Ltd (GGIAL), a subsidiary of the GMR Airports Infrastructure Ltd. "To ensure seamless and hassle-free experience for international travellers, the MIA has achieved the status of an authorised ICP for entry of individuals possessing e-visas. E-visas are granted to foreigners with travel intentions such as leisure, visiting friends or relatives, medical treatment and business purposes," PTI quoted an official as saying.

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Battling Ticketless Travel, Unbooked Luggage, Railways Collects Over Rs 11,456 Crore in Fines Since FY14

he Indian Railways (IR) collected fines totalling over Rs 11,456 crore from passengers travelling without a ticket or with an improper ticket, as well as from those carrying unbooked luggage (UBL) in the last 10 financial years (FY). The country’s national rail carrier also witnessed a jump of over three times in fine collections for the mentioned offenses between FY14 and FY23, that is, from Rs 688.11 crore in FY 14 to Rs 2,260.05 crore in the last fiscal year. In the same period, the Railways detected 26.03 crore ticketless passengers and those travelling without a proper ticket or with UBL at 3.5 crore in FY20, according to an RTI reply accessed by News18. According to railway rules, all three of these actions constitute fraudulent offences under the Railways Act and are subject to punishment with fines and potential imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime. Section 54 of The Railways Act, 1989 empowers authorised railway staff, including the Train Ticket Inspector in this case, to examine the tickets of those embarking on the journey. Travelling fraudulently (Section 137 of the Railway Act) or without the proper ticket can result in up to six months of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000, or both. On the other hand, travelling without the proper pass or ticket (Section 138 of the Railway Act) could lead to monetary penalties, including a minimum fine of Rs 250, in addition to the cost of the ticket for the distance travelled. Zone-wise, the Railways collected the highest amount of fine, totalling Rs 1,506.09 crore in the last 10 financial years, from the Mumbai headquartered Central Railway for the said offences, while the East Coast Railways had the lowest collection at Rs 266.48 crore. The RTI reply further informed that the Northern Railway, headquartered in the national capital, stood out among all 16 railway zones, with 3.37 crore passengers detected travelling without ticket/ with improper ticket & UBL between FY 2013-2023. At 59.05 lakh, the lowest number detected was in the Northeast Frontier Railway, based out of Guwahati.

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