About India Outbound Magazine
India Outbound, a bi-monthly print magazine with dynamic web and social media presence focused on outbound travel from India, is published by Media India Group. Distributed all over India, and in all the top tourism events across the world, India Outbound caters mainly to the tourism professionals and is looking to develop new and innovative circuits and promote new destinations to the high-end travellers.
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GCC to welcome 81 pc more Indian visitors by 2024, says ATM report
The number of Indian tourists travelling to the GCC is expected to increase 81 pc from 5.4 million in 2018 to 9.8 million in 2024, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10 pc, according to the latest data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2020.
As destinations throughout the Middle East prepare to showcase their latest offering at ATM 2020, which is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 19-22, 2020, Colliers International predicts more than 20 pc of India’s total outbound market will travel to the GCC by 2024 – with business, place of work and leisure underpinning this demand.
Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “This influx of Indian visitors to the GCC shows no sign of abating, with every reason to believe India will maintain its position as a top source market as the region prepares to welcome an estimated increase of 81 pc by 2024, providing a significant boost to the region’s tourism industry as we look ahead.”
Adding to this, India retained its top spot on Dubai’s list of source markets for inbound tourism, with almost one million Indian tourists arriving in the emirate during the first half of 2019.
Last year, Indian tourists accounted for approximately 26.1 million of total outbound trips made, with reports from the UNWTO estimating this figure will increase by 92 pc to reach more than 50 million by 2022.
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Thailand tourism partners with Thai Airways to mark their 60th anniversaries
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined forces with Thai Airways International (THAI) to mark their 60th anniversaries in 2020 with a range of campaigns to strengthen the kingdom’s positioning as a preferred tourist destination whilst promoting responsible tourism, in line with the global sustainable development goals.
The partnership was announced by TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn and THAI president Sumeth Damrongchaitham at a recent joint press conference.
Yuthasak Supasorn expressed his pleasure at the collaboration with THAI to celebrate their 60th anniversaries together. “Indeed, we share similar goals in attracting international travellers to Thailand for memorable Thai travel experiences and promoting domestic tourism to stimulate the local economy,” he said.
This 60th-anniverary collaboration will have TAT sharing with THAI its marketing insights of annual events like the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok, World Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony, the Great Mekong Bike Ride, as well as international events including the Honda LPGA Thailand and PTT Thailand Grand Prix (MotoGP).
THAI is also launching the ’60 Days Countdown Hot Offer’ for its passengers travelling to Thailand from March 1–May 1, 2020 alongwith ‘60th Still Flying’ special campaign for senior tourists who are still eager to travel. Other packages and activities will also be launched on this occasion.
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Sri Lanka promotes itself as a MICE destination in India
Sri Lanka is a prime outbound tourism destination for Indians and to further enhance the positioning of Sri Lanka as a preferred MICE destination, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) showcased the MICE options & opportunities to Indian travel trade, PCOs and MICE organisers. Meet in Sri Lanka promotion organised by SLCB in collaboration with Sri Lanka consulate general in Mumbai had major focus to attract Indian MICE market, through these events.
India has been an important market for Sri Lanka for developing MICE in terms of numbers, value and also connected services. The year 2018 saw 63,733 MICE arrivals in Sri Lanka as compared to 57,694 in 2017.
Chamari Rodrigo, consul-general, Consulate General of Sri Lanka, Mumbai, who was present and leading the events in Mumbai & Pune, stated, “Sri Lanka has been gaining immense popularity in India and has experienced a consistent growth over the period.”
“With our current mission we are targeting key markets of India like Mumbai & Pune. With extensive direct airlines connectivity of 121 flights per week from 11 stations in India to Sri Lanka and further complemented by SpiceJet, Indigo, Air India and now Vistara, Sri Lanka becomes an easily accessible destination for MICE from India. There is an existing strong cultural bond and cooperation between India & Sri Lanka, which makes Indian travellers feel at home while they are in Sri Lanka,” added Malkanthi Welikala, manager-marketing, SLCB.
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Qatar organises for global stars to perform at GCC Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
Global musicians Katy Perry, music band Maroon 5, Latin music star Maluma and musician Cheb Khaled will perform in Doha between December 13-19, in time for the FIFA Club World Cup being hosted in Qatar from December 11-21, 2019.
In addition, some of the Middle East region’s famous music stars will perform during the finals of the GCC Cup, which concludes on December 8. The line-up taking the stage between December 5-7, features Qatari musician Fahad Al Kubaisi, Yara, Omar Al Abdallat, Ibrahim Dashti, and Rahma Riad.
The series of musical events are being held under the banner Qatar Live, organised by Qatar Airways and Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC).
Even fans of electronic music can enjoy at the Daydream Festival organised for the first time on December 12-20, at the Ritz-Carlton, Doha with a line-up of world-renowned DJs like Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Robin Schulz, Sam Feldt, Afrojack and others.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive and secretary-general of QNTC, HE Akbar Al Baker, said, “I am thrilled to launch our Qatar Live series of music concerts today, set to be the best of its kind in the region, and look forward to welcoming these fantastic musical talents to Doha in the coming weeks. With the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup Qatar 2019 and the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 happening during the same period as these music events, it is going to be a really exciting time to be in Doha for residents and visitors alike. To celebrate, we are offering passengers special fares and packages to Doha during this time.”
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SriLankan Airlines moves ahead with business turnaround plan
SriLankan Airlines has made significant progress in its efforts to become a sophisticated customer-centric airline intent on achieving financial success, by implementing a wide-ranging turnaround plan under the leadership of its Board of Directors with the support of its employees across all divisions.
Following the appointment of a new Board of Directors in April 2018, the majority on an honorary unrecompensed basis, SriLankan began implementing a wide range of initiatives to curtail losses and improve the customer experience, despite many challenges including the impact on tourist arrivals from the Easter Sunday attacks, volatile fuel prices and depreciation of the rupee.
The airline will expand its presence in the important Australian market by commencing operations to Sydney next year and further strengthen its position as the largest foreign carrier in India with the launch of services to Ahmedabad. SriLankan also intends to stretch its wings in Southeast Asia with a new service to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam, while plans to return to Frankfurt, Paris and other earlier destinations continue to be under consideration.
Enhancements are being effected to the internet booking engine to provide a more customer-friendly experience. With the introduction of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, the airline will be able to enhance its offering to the frequent flyer members through FlySmiLes and provide greater rewards for its loyal customers.
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Los Angeles Tourism, first US destination to open an office in India
As a sign of further commitment to the India market, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board became the first US destination to open a tourism office in India, located in Mumbai. The newly opened office will focus on driving travel aspiration and motivate Indian visitors to increase length of stay and spend in Los Angeles.
Seema Kadam will serve as Los Angeles Tourism’s first regional director for India. Los Angeles Tourism president & CEO Ernest Wooden Jr officially opened the new office alongside international delegates while in the presence of India’s tourism industry. The office will work with the travel trade to develop customised and tailored product itineraries in line with consumer and travel trade interests.
Commenting on plans for the India market, Ernest Wooden Jr said, “Los Angeles Tourism’s journey towards this milestone that we celebrate today began nearly three years ago when we set off on a high-octane, strategic and long-term marketing programme. Targeted trade and consumer efforts have helped establish a distinct and relatable identity for Los Angeles amongst Indian travelers and this new office will strengthen our presence and interaction with the local travel community. We are optimistic that the strong foundation we have laid in the country will help us achieve our targets in the years ahead.”
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Tourism Australia woos Indian travellers with Virtual Travel Fair
Tourism Australia has announced the launch of its sixth version of ‘Virtual Travel Fair’, a bi-yearly travel sale that gives Indian travellers an opportunity to grab attractive deals on holidays to Australia. The announcement comes off the back of Tourism Australia’s latest campaign ‘Experience the game and beyond’, which targetted Indian cricket fans and gives them an opportunity to be a part of the ICC T20 World Cup along with a holiday experience in Australia.
Tourism Australia has partnered with seven major airlines including Air India, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Thai Airways to offer fares starting from just INR 40,000. The sale is valid from November 14-December 13, 2019 with a travel validity of up to December 2020. Additionally, tourism products ranging from hotels and car rental agencies to adventure and leisure experiences have also come on board to extend unmatched discounts, which can be accessed through Tourism Australia’s Aussie specialist agents, key distribution partners and leading online travel agents like MakeMyTrip, GoIbibo, Yatra and Cleartrip.
Nishant Kashikar, country manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia mentioned that how the response to the previous versions of the sale event had been phenomenal, and they are confident of repeating the success with 2020 being the year of cricket in Australia.
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Airbnb and IOC announce nine-year major Global Olympic partnership
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Airbnb announced a significant agreement to support the Olympic Movement through to 2028 with a nine-year, five-Games partnership, designed to create a new standard for hosting that will be a win for host cities, a win for spectators and fans and a win for athletes.
In line with the Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future and Airbnb’s mission to promote sustainable travel, the agreement will support the sustainability objectives of the Olympic Movement. The agreement includes accommodation provisions that will reduce costs for Olympic Games organisers and stakeholders, minimise the need for construction of new accommodation infrastructure for the Olympic Games period and generate direct revenue for local hosts and communities. Working together with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), they will work to increase accommodation that supports accessibility for people with disabilities or other accessibility needs.
Airbnb co-founder, Joe Gebbia said, “Airbnb and the IOC have a strong track record in creating and accommodating the world’s greatest events. Our Olympic partnership will ensure that the Games are the most inclusive, accessible and sustainable yet, and leave a lasting positive legacy for athletes and host communities.”
Thomas Bach, IOC president said, “This innovative partnership underpins our strategy to ensure that the efficient staging of the Olympic Games is sustainable and leaves a legacy for the host community. With Airbnb’s support, we will also develop new opportunities for athletes around the world to develop their own direct revenue streams through the promotion of physical activity and the Olympic values.”
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Jerusalem gets more accessible for wheelchair users and visually impaired
The Old City of Jerusalem has become more accessible for both wheelchair users and the visually impaired, with improved infrastructure and audio apps to help residents and visitors better navigate the small streets and alleyways of the Old City. The accessibility of the Old City is an innovative project that enables wheelchair bound visitors to enjoy the historic and cultural wealth of the city. Among other things, four kilometres of streets in the Muslim, Armenian and Christian quarters were adapted, and about two kilometres of handrails were installed alongside staircases. The accessibility is carried out with the cooperation of the merchants and the residents of the area.
The accessibility of the Old City is intended to ease the congestion in the main streets and to enable wheelchair users, the users of freight carts (including strollers), and other handicapped people, to visit the city's tourist attractions with greater ease. The East Jerusalem Development Company has also produced a printed accessibility orientation map along with a dedicated application in eight languages that enables real-time navigation between the alleys and sites.
In addition, the Centre for the Blind in Israel has made available an app that has made the Old City of Jerusalem accessible to the blind with special audio tours.
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Frankfurt to open its Christmas market on November 25
A business and financial hub and home to the glowing headquarter of the Central Bank; Frankfurt is also a vibrant, traditional and a charming city. And the Frankfurt Christmas Market is the best place to experience the true holiday spirit of the city.
The tradition of the Frankfurt market stretches back to the 14th century making it the oldest in Germany. It lures the region with historical settings, traditional food and handcrafted souvenirs. The Römerberg and St Paul's Square houses more than 200 stands with people selling colourful Christmas tree decorations, candles, sweets and candy and traditional German cuisines.
This year, the Christmas markets will be held from November 25-December 22, 2019. During this time, the historic old town is brightly illuminated by thousands of fairy lights with the air filled with the scent of baked apples, gingerbread and mulled wine.
This market stretches from Frankfurt’s Hauptwache all the way to the Main riverbank. A 104 feet tall Christmas tree adorns the centre of the market square. The Artists Christmas market is a major art exhibition at the St Paul’s church and the Römer. Another highlight in Frankfurt during the festive season is the Chiming of the Church bells.
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