TRAVEL TRENDS
Itinerary ready and bags packed, Indians seeking visas top pre-Covid numbers
Visa applications in India from January to June have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, including a 2% rise from H1 2019 and 11% over the first half of 2023. Demand for personalized services like 'visa at your doorstep' has surged fourfold since 2019. Popular destinations remain the USA, Canada, France, and Germany.
TikTok tourists trample Angkor Wat mimicking Temple Run game
Tourists at Cambodia's Angkor Wat have started reenacting the Temple Run video game, sparking worries among conservationists about potential damage to the historic site. The viral trend, though boosting tourism, raises concerns about preserving cultural values and managing visitor behavior to ensure the site remains unharmed.
Struck by wanderlust, Indians queue up to explore Europe in non-traditional seasons; visa delays expected
Post-summer, Indian travelers saw a substantial increase in European visa applications, resulting in extended wait times. High interest in viewing the Northern Lights further fueled this trend. Thomas Cook and Air India expanded services, introducing special tours and increasing flight frequencies to cater to rising travel demands from India to Europe.
Airfares climb up to 25% for Diwali, Onam festival season travel
Analysis by ixigo revealed an increase in airfare by 10-25% on major routes for Diwali and Onam. Delhi-Chennai flights saw a 25% rise, while Mumbai-Hyderabad fares increased by 21%. Meanwhile, fares on some routes, like Mumbai-Udaipur, dropped by up to 27%. Travel demand remains high, impacting ticket prices.
Europe's STOXX 600 climbs as upbeat earnings buoy travel and leisure, financial stocks
European stocks climbed on Wednesday, driven by gains in travel, leisure, and financial sectors. The STOXX 600 index rose by 0.5%, encouraged by signs of slowing U.S. inflation and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. Key performers included Flutter, UBS, and Straumann, while Thyssenkrupp and Carlsberg faced declines.
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Travel, hospitality service providers see surge in demand for extended weekend
Indian travelers are showing increased interest in travel for the upcoming Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan long weekend to top domestic destinations including Goa, Udaipur, Mumbai, and Lonavala. MakeMyTrip and Airbnb reported a surge in bookings for both domestic and international travel. Southern cities in India saw significant growth and a preference for accessible domestic locations. International destinations like Bangkok, Singapore, and Dubai are also popular choices for Indian travelers.
Travel hot spots are turning overtourism challenges into opportunities
Tourism growth has caused protests in cities like Barcelona and Venice due to issues like overcrowding and unequal profit distribution. Solutions are being tested, including AI tools to redirect tourists, promoting sustainable experiences, and incentives for eco-friendly actions. These initiatives aim to mitigate the negative impacts of overtourism globally.
In the name of God: Why travellers’ spiritual quest is on an eternal journey after Covid
Winds of change are further lifting the spiritual tourism industry that has been witnessing a surge since the pre-pandemic time. What can India do to leverage this power and be known as a spiritual hub of the world?
Airbnb shares slump 14% as weak forecast signals slowing travel demand
Airbnb Chief Financial Officer Elinor Mertz said on a call with analysts on Tuesday that softness in long booking lead times was a big factor in its forecast.
Overseas tourism boards, hospitality & travel companies focus on Tier-II, -III cities on growing interest
Outbound travel from India's tier-two and tier-three cities is surging, prompting global tourism boards and travel companies to target these emerging markets. Dubai is expanding flight connections to 23 Indian cities, recognizing their growing potential for outbound tourism. Singapore has noted a significant increase in Indian visitors, with tier-two cities like Jaipur and Coimbatore becoming key markets.
India's tour and travel revenue set to soar 15-17 per cent this fiscal: CRISIL
India's tour and travel operators are poised to see a 15-17% revenue increase this fiscal year, driven by rising domestic tourism and a growing trend towards international travel, according to Crisil's latest report. This follows a significant 40% revenue spike last fiscal, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Key factors include improved infrastructure, rising incomes, and government support for domestic tourism. The report highlights strong financial health and operating margins for travel operators, bolstered by a shift from 'revenge travel' to more frequent vacations and an increase in both domestic and outbound travel.
Domestic travel operators to see 15-17 pc revenue growth this fiscal: Crisil Ratings
India's tour and travel operators expected a 15-17 per cent revenue increase this fiscal, driven by domestic and international travel. Improved infrastructure, higher incomes, and government focus on tourism contributed to growth. Steady operating margins and healthy credit profiles supported the sector, as reported by Crisil Ratings.
Travel industry set for strong upswing in 2024: CRISIL
India's travel sector experienced a remarkable revival, with outbound tourism projected to surpass 30 million in 2024. Factors like eased COVID-19 restrictions, growing disposable incomes, and government initiatives have spurred this growth. Tour operators expected a 15-17% revenue rise this fiscal year, bolstered by domestic and international travel trends, and enhanced infrastructure.
For Independence Day break, travellers make tryst with luxury
The extended weekends in August, including Independence Day, resulted in a booming demand for hotels and flights, causing prices to soar and popular destinations to quickly sell out. SpiceJet promoted travel during holidays such as Parsi New Year, Rakshabandhan, and Janmashtami. Notable destinations like Udaipur, Lonavala, and Goa saw heightened interest. Premium properties such as The Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa and The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur had high rates. Espire Hospitality Group's resorts also experienced high occupancy. Cleartrip documented over 15,000 air bookings for the long weekend, marking a 37% increase.
Many taking path less travelled
Mallorca saw renewed anti-tourism protests over rising housing costs caused by tourists. Similar protests occurred in Barcelona, Malaga, and the Canary Islands. Residents of Japan's Fujikawaguchiko even blocked a popular view of Mount Fuji. Increasing tourism in India, like in Goa and Puducherry, has led to ecological and infrastructural strains. Policymakers are reluctant but considering tourism limits.
After busy summer, travel biz hots up in monsoon too
India's travel bookings surged 25% this monsoon. Rajeev Kale cites value and discounts. Hotel tariffs dropped 20-40%. Leisure Hotels, Radisson, SOTC see growth. Premium rates in Goa, Kerala, Coorg. Top short-hauls: Bhutan, Sri Lanka. Mehul Sharma's Signum Resort, Igatpuri occupancy up 24%. Popular: Malabar river festival, Alappuzha boat race, Dubare Elephant Camp.
From 'Maharaja' to 'Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper' to 'Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 1': Watch this week's latest OTT releases
This week offers an exciting lineup of OTT releases across Netflix, Prime Video, and more. Highlights include 'Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper,' a crime comedy starring Manav Kaul; the final season of 'Cobra Kai' beginning with part one; and 'Lady in the Lake,' featuring Natalie Portman. Other notable releases include the post-apocalyptic thriller 'Arcadian' with Nicolas Cage, the family comedy 'Mr Bigstuff,' and the sci-fi drama 'I.S.S.' The variety spans across genres, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Techie takes revenge: Launches website to expose airlines after girlfriend's lost luggage
Pieter Levels, frustrated by his girlfriend's lost luggage incident with Vueling Airlines, launched luggagelosers.com. This innovative website ranks airlines based on their rates of lost baggage using real-time data sourced from social media. The initiative aims to empower travelers with information while advocating for improved baggage handling standards across the airline industry.
No movies, no books, no food or water: Would you try 'rawdogging'on your next long-haul flight?
The latest trend in air travel, "rawdogging," involves passengers disconnecting mentally by avoiding all forms of entertainment and stimulation during flights. This extreme practice challenges individuals to push their boundaries by sitting passively and abstaining from any engagement or external stimulus.
Summer Getaways: Delhites rush to these refreshing destinatons amid heatwave and school holidays
During the school holidays, many are flocking to cooler hill stations to escape the heat, with redBus reporting a significant increase in holiday travel bookings. Destinations like Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala are top choices, offering not just relief from the heat but also opportunities for activities like trekking and sightseeing. Families and solo travelers are opting for road travel, drawn by the flexibility and adventure of bus journeys.
More Indians are travelling than ever before: Mastercard Economics Institute on travel in 2024
In 2024, more Indians are traveling internationally than ever before, driven by a growing middle class and expanded route capacity, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute's report. Domestic air travel surged 21% above 2019 levels, while international travel rose by 4%. Top destinations for Indian travelers this summer include Amsterdam, Singapore, London, Frankfurt, and Melbourne. The report highlights a shift in Indian travel habits towards exploration and discovery, with increased visits to Japan, Vietnam, and the United States.
TBO Tek sees robust listing. What should investors do now?
TBO Tek strong listing can be attributed to the unwavering investor confidence in the company’s solid technological foundation and its potential for continued growth in the online travel sector.
TBO Tek shares debut at 55% premium over issue price
TBO Tek's shares debuted on NSE and BSE at premiums of 55% and 50% respectively. The company's appeal stems from its robust technological foundation, leveraging a proprietary platform. It raised funds from anchor investors for growth and inorganic acquisitions. IPO opening witnessed strong interest. General Atlantic acquired a minority stake in TBO.
TBO Tek shares to debut on Wednesday. What GMP signals ahead of listing
The TBO Tek IPO was booked over 80 times at close on strong interest from non-institutional investors. Ahead of the IPO opening, the company raised nearly Rs 697 crore from anchor investors.
From 'BMCM' to 'Yodha', action potboilers are tanking at the box-office!
And for a while it appeared that cinema goers wanted the 3S -- stunts, stars and spectacle -- on the big screen.
Ayodhya, Lakshadweep record highest growth in searches this summer: MakeMyTrip
MakeMyTrip's summer travel trends reveal Ayodhya, Lakshadweep, and Nandi Hills among the domestic destinations with the highest growth in searches, while Goa remains the most-searched. Puri and Varanasi top the list for pilgrimage destinations, with Ayodhya witnessing a surge in search volumes. Internationally, Baku, Almaty, and Nagoya show significant growth in searches, alongside Luxembourg, Langkawi, and Antalya. Family travel has grown by 20%, and solo travel by 10% compared to last summer.
White-collar hiring falls 3% in April, shows Naukri JobSpeak Index
Despite a 3% year-on-year and 1% month-on-month decline in white-collar hiring, various sectors experienced job growth. Notably, demand surged for specific roles like drilling engineers, brand managers, and IT professionals in different cities.
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