Best waterproof travel bags for adventurous travellers: Top 8 picks to stay dry on the go
Discover the top waterproof travel bags for your adventurous trips. Find the perfect one for your needs and travel worry-free. | Travel Key Points
Hindustan TimesDemand for premium travel shoots up
Demand for luxury travel experiences in India is on the rise, with an increasing number of affluent travelers opting for premium services despite higher costs. The trend is evident in various sectors, including wellness retreats like Ananda in the Himalayas, which has seen a doubling of Indian guests since the pandemic. Companies are catering to this trend with upscale offerings, such as Thomas Cook's relaunch of premium European packages and Cleartrip's surge in sales of premium air tickets. This shift reflects a growing preference for exclusive and curated travel experiences among Indian travelers. Key Points
Economic TimesWhat to do when you need to file a travel insurance claim
India Business News: Navigate the process smoothly! Learn what to do when you need to file a travel insurance claim. Ensure a hassle-free resolution for peace of mind. Key Points
Times Of Indiatravel trends 2024: Patna, Varanasi feature in most searched travel destinations; still Goa tops chart. Full list here
India's top airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata reflect the nation's passion for travel. Wowtickets.com survey shows growing interest in tier two cities like Pune and spiritual destinations like Varanasi. Key Points
mintHow to travel around Sikkim under ₹25,000?
Sikkim is finally getting its first railway station at Rangpo after a long wait of 49 years. Here’s a budget guide under (Rs. 25,000) to explore the state. Key Points
Hindustan Times
travel insurance: Curbing the risks as you globe-trot; here's all you need to know
Travel insurance is essential for Indian travellers embracing experiential journeys, as it provides financial protection against higher risks. Customizable plans cater to individual needs, ensuring a worry-free travel experience. Key Points
mintThere is more to travel than hotels: 4 stocks from different segments of travel & tourism sector
When it comes to tourism and hospitality, the first thing which comes to mind is airlines and hotels. However if one looks at the whole industry, there are very special and niche players who are part of the whole ecosystem. Right from a digital ticket booking player who has a monopoly to airport lounge service provider which has the maximum market share, to a company which not only sells packages for travel but also has other business which are related to one or the other part of the travel. So, when the debate has settled that as a sector travel and tourism is the one which is likely to have better growth than it has seen in the past then it is probably time to bring these niche players on the watchlist. Key Points
Economic TimesAs economy flies high, so does corporate air travel: Business flyers pass pre-Covid numbers
Executives at airlines and travel companies said increased activity among IT, mechanical, banking services, and pharmaceutical companies is driving the trend. At a time when fares are rising amid capacity cuts by airlines, the growth trend in corporate travel is seen to be stickier than that in the more price-sensitive leisure travel segment. Key Points
Economic TimesBudget 2024: travel industry in search of a sweet spot in the Union Budget 2024
Budget News: Discover how the Union Budget 2024 is set to enhance the travel industry's recovery journey through strategic digital marketing initiatives. Find out how businesses can leverage digital strategies for growth and resilience. Key Points
Times Of IndiaIndia's growing middle class poised to transform travel landscape
Globally, the middle class is already the largest spender. India is expected to become the fourth largest global spender on travel by 2030, and by then the middle class, with increased purchasing power, will make 47% of its population, say reports by Booking.com-McKinsey & Company, and People Research on Indias Consumer Economy-Indias Citizen Environment (PRICE-ICE), respectively. Key Points
Economic Times
Global air travel at 99% of pre-covid level, says IATA
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 63.8% rise in November traffic compared to November 2022, the highest year-over-year rate among regions, according to the International Air Transport Association. Key Points
mintBitten by the travel bug, young Indians find a cure in loans
With the market having expanded, evident in the definitive uptick in travel loans, the average loan value per person has dropped about a quarter to Rs 1.5 lakh per person. The average value has seen a reduction given the large increase of younger travellers availing of loans -- for both domestic and short-haul overseas destinations. Key Points
Economic TimesLRS outflows fall sharply in October after TCS regime takes effect
Remittances down 37% over September; shift to credit-card spending for international travel likely. In October, outward remittances under the liberalised remittances scheme, or LRS, fell 37% to $2.1 billion from $3.5 billion in September. Key Points
Economic TimesWhy are so many foreign countries wooing Indian travellers?
More Indians might be holidaying overseas this Christmas-New Year season than last year as relatively cheaper fares and packages, better connectivity, and easier entry requirements have made the proposition more compelling, ET has reported. Tour and travel companies such as Thomas Cook, SOTC and EaseMyTrip have seen up to 30% uptick in demand for short-haul international routes compared to last year. Key Points
Economic TimesCan you limit the negative impact of tourism? Here are 4 ways
The need for building a greener future has never been clearer. But when it comes to travel and tourism, there is a core tension. Key Points
ThePrint
More Indians may spend New Year holidays abroad
Tour and travel companies such as Thomas Cook, SOTC and EaseMyTrip have seen up to 30% uptick in demand for short-haul international routes compared to last year. Packages for many of these destinations are comparable with those for popular domestic spots, as some countries are actively wooing Indian travellers with visa-free entry and by nudging airlines to offer easy connectivity at affordable rates. Key Points
Economic TimesA Thanksgiving tradition returns: hectic travel in the US
Industry group Airlines for America forecast U.S. airlines would carry some 29.9 million passengers between November 17 and November 27 Key Points
mintThanksgiving: Airlines gear up for record-breaking travel
Thanksgiving 2023 is sure gonna be the busiest day of the year. Airlines, specifically are expected to bear the load of travel the most. Read along and plan your travel accordingly. Key Points
Hindustan TimesTo be the next China, India needs faster trains
Starting with the inaugural Beijing-Tianjin line in 2008, Chinas high-speed rail is now a 26,000-mile network and supports a top speed of 220 miles per hour. Meanwhile, Vande Bharat Express, Indias newest and fastest passenger locomotive, is unable to accelerate to its full potential — most parts of the existing tracks wont even allow 80 miles an hour. Key Points
Economic TimesExpedia beats profit estimates, announces $5 bln share buyback
Expedia Group (EXPE.O) on Thursday announced a new share buyback plan of $5 billion after posting a better-than-expected quarterly profit, as the online travel booking company benefited from resilient demand and higher rates that boosted margins. Key Points
Reuters
Thomas Cook India sees Q2 profit up 16 times to Rs 76.6 crore this Q2
India Business News: Thomas Cook India has reported a record growth in profit for July-September 2023, (Q2 FY ’24) with the same growing to Rs 76.6 crore from Rs 4.9 crore Key Points
Times Of IndiaI went on my honeymoon alone. It reinforced my independence and individuality after getting married.
She chose to go on her honeymoon alone. She will have time to travel with her husband, but since they couldn't agree where to go, she went solo. Key Points
InsiderTravel, tour firms pad up for cricket World Cup; expect big sales
Travel and tourism companies are expecting a boost in business as the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup matches begin in India. Companies are offering bundled packages that include post-match exploration of the respective destinations. There has been an increase in flight bookings, hotel reservations, and apartment and homestay rentals. Key Points
Economic Timestravel firms urge govt to defer TCS on overseas trips
Travel firms and operators in India are seeking a deferment of the October 1 deadline for a 20% tax collected at source (TCS) on spending above Rs 7 lakh on overseas tours. They argue that there is no proper mechanism to monitor spending across multiple sources, and that the responsibility for tracking these expenses should lie with the banking system rather than travel operators. Key Points
Economic TimesYatra Online shares to debut on Thursday. What GMP signals ahead of listing
Ahead of the issue opening, the company raised Rs 62 crore in pre-IPO placement via the rights issue. The Rs 775-crore IPO included a fresh equity issue worth Rs 602 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of up to 1.21 crore shares. Analysts say the company is well-positioned to capture a significant share as India's travel and tourism industry grows. Key Points
Economic Times
LTC rules: 3 new changes that Central Govt employees must know
LTC new rules for Central Govt employees: In an Office Memorandum released earlier this month, the DoPT has mentioned how certain charges related to air travel or rail travel would be reimbursed to those Central Government employees who are eligible for LTC. Know the latest LTC rule changes for the Central Govt employees. Key Points
Economic TimesRateGain travel Q1 results: Revenue grows 79.8% at ₹214.48 crore
Its profit after tax (PAT) stood at ₹24.91 crore in the first quarter of Fy24 as compared to ₹8.42 crore in the same quarter last year Key Points
mintBooking Holdings profit beats estimates as travel demand defies inflation
Booking Holdings (BKNG.O) beat Wall Street targets for second-quarter profit on Thursday as pent-up demand for travel outweighed concerns around high inflation, sending the online travel agency's shares up 3.88% after hours. Key Points
ReutersAirbnb forecasts revenue above estimates on rebound in international travel
Airbnb (ABNB.O) forecasts third-quarter revenue above market estimates on Thursday, but industry fears of softening U.S. domestic demand have sent the vacation rental firm's shares down 4.2% in after-hours trading. Key Points
ReutersResident Indians frontload LRS spends
Significantly RBI data indicates a surge under all major heads of eligible transactions. But Spends on overseas travel which accounts for over half of LRS or liberalised remittances scheme rose 50 percent in May to $1.5 billion. Key Points
Economic Times
Tourists are back with a bang, but a long visa wait is keeping them away from the United States
International tourist arrivals remain at 26% below pre-pandemic levels, according to a June 2023 monthly report from the US travel Association, with spending slower, too. At the close of 2022, international visitor spending in the US was at $99 billion, just over 50% of where it stood in 2019. Thats a far cry from 2019, when the US received 79.4 million visitors, who spent $181 billion. Key Points
Economic TimesProtecting yourself from travel scams: Stay one step ahead of cybercriminals
Beware of travel scams targeting vacation seasons. Avoid fake travel sites and fraudulent plane ticket sales. Book directly with airlines, verify ticket confirmations, and use reputable sources. Key Points
Economic TimesEurope heatwave 2023: Is it safe to travel to Italy, France and Spain now? Can you claim refunds on cancelling plans?
Europe is experiencing record high temperatures, with a heatwave set to intensify. Red alerts have been issued in several countries. Travelers are advised to take precautions and consider canceling trips if they have medical conditions. Key Points
mintAmazon partners with travel site Priceline in a first for Prime Day
Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) is partnering with travel booking site Priceline to offer discounts during Tuesday's Prime Day, the first time an online travel agency has participated in the shopping event. Key Points
ReutersGet paid for travelling by opting for these career options
There are many lucrative career options available for those who love to travel. Flight attendant, pilot, travel blogger, cruise ship crew, travel photographer, translator, and tour guide are some of the options that offer both money and adventure. Being a part of the aviation industry offers the opportunity to interact with different people and travel around the world and the same applies to the cruise ship crew. Key Points
Economic Times
Domestic travel operators welcome TCS rollback, but say move is a partial relief
The travel industry in India has expressed gratitude for the government's decision to withdraw the increase of tax collected at source (TCS) on overseas tour packages from 5% to 20% on amounts up to ₹7 lakh per annum. However, industry bodies have emphasized that their long-standing demand of reducing the TCS percentage to 2.5% remains unmet. Key Points
Economic TimesBooking.com to launch trip planner partially powered by tech behind ChatGPT
Booking.com said on Tuesday it would test a trip planner, partially powered by ChatGPT's large language model, on its travel booking app that would allow select travelers in the U.S. to pose queries and create itineraries. Key Points
ReutersIn Milan, putting an AI travel adviser to the test
Travel companies are already using artificial intelligence to help with customer service and bookings, but now services such as Kayak and Expedia are experimenting with AI assistants to help people find places to go and stay. I decided to put Expedia's service to the test by comparing its itinerary with one prepared by a human adviser. I have one day to visit Milan. Where should I go? I asked it. What should I see? Key Points
Economic TimesEaseMyTrip eyes ‘significant’ revenue boost from new insurance business, COO Lokendra Saini says
EaseMyTrip, an Indian travel aggregator, expects a significant revenue boost from general insurance business that it is set to roll out. COO Lokendra Saini said insurance is a natural addition to travel-related products as customers want insurance for their lives, journeys and fulfilment. EaseMyTrip has also suggested alternatives to the government for new 20% TCS levied on overseas travel, a levy that is likely to hurt the industry. Key Points
Economic Times