India's move to allow visa-on-arrival to Japan, South Korea, and the UAE nationals can significantly boost international tourism, given the close ties and proximity of the three countries to India. But is it enough?
Tourism in India is growing, especially from domestic travelers. This is leading to a robust demand for accommodation across the country. But the India hotel industry needs to provide enough supply.
SpiceJet has been facing financial and legal issues for years. However, the positive momentum of the Indian aviation industry is keeping it from going bankrupt, and that is what the airline is banking on.
MakeMyTrip's newest collaboration is with Air India Express to offer holiday packages on the airline's website and app. The move comes a month after IndiGo introduced a hotel booking option on its platform.
Paytm's move to expand its travel offerings comes after it recorded a successful quarter for flight bookings. Initially started as a financial services company, Paytm has been enhancing its offerings to increase its revenue streams.
There is an overall push in India to enhance air connectivity to smaller regions across the country. An increase in number of airports, increase in disposable income, and heightened interest in travel have given airlines the confidence to invest in expansion of their domestic operations. This is leading to Indians traveling more, domestically and internationally.
Air India Express has become the first airline to operate from two airports in the national capital region. The airline is aiming to use the Hindon airport to connect with the smaller cities in western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. It is not yet known if the airport will serve as another hub - but would it make sense if it were to become one?
Even as Thailand is a popular travel destination among Indians, most places beyond Bangkok and Phuket remain unexplored. Smaller resorts and businesses now seem to be trying to attract Indian tourists.