While much has been said about the strong momentum in India's aviation sector, the sudden closure of Pakistan's airspace throws a wrench in the works. With longer routes pushing up operating costs, airlines are now staring at slimmer margins, all while battling it out in an already cut-throat market.
Following the success of the inaugural event, Skift India Forum returned bigger and better in 2025 as we brought together industry leaders, visionaries, and innovators in the travel industry to…
If rerouting becomes the new normal, India risks losing its edge as a fast, affordable hub, and that will hit more than just airlines. The immediate blow is to outbound tourism, particularly to emerging favorites like Central Asia, but a prolonged airspace closure could threaten inbound recovery as well.
With the economy stabilizing and leisure and business travel bouncing back, investors like GIC are betting big on the “next wave” of premium hotel demand. The SAMHI deal signals not just confidence in the sector, but in the evolving Indian traveler.
Cruise tourism in India has long had a loyal following, but it’s the growing integration with the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) segment that’s giving it an extra push.
Post-Covid, hotel chains in India were playing catch up with unprecedented surge in demand. That done, the industry is back to anticipatory expansion, but in unexplored regions this time.