Travel
Indians remain largest source of tourists to Nepal in September
Nepal recorded 88,248 international tourist arrivals in September, with Indians accounting for the largest share at 17,425, up 12% year-on-year. Arrivals in the first nine months of 2026 rose 6% to 865,920. Nepal and northeast India also agreed to develop a Buddhist and cultural tourism circuit linking Lumbini with eight northeastern states.
India tourism growth faces skills crunch; workforce shortfall may hit 11 million by 2035: CBRE
India's tourism industry could face a shortage of around 11 million workers by 2035 as demand for trained professionals struggles to keep pace with expanding hotels and emerging tourism segments, according to a CBRE Research report. The report highlighted gaps in specialised skills, worker retention and training capacity, particularly in tier-II and tier-III cities.
EaseMyTrip joins Apple Pay India launch to offer faster, seamless booking payments
EaseMyTrip has announced its partnership with Apple Pay to improve the payment process for its users. This collaboration aims to provide faster and more secure payment options during travel bookings. Customers can now complete their bookings without repeatedly entering payment details, enhancing convenience. Apple Pay officially launched in India recently, marking a significant development for online payments.
VFS Global: Helping build the tourism infrastructure for trusted mobility
India's tourism sector is flourishing with a notable surge in tourist arrivals, signaling a significant recovery. VFS Global is instrumental in this growth, aiding travelers by simplifying documentation and using cutting-edge technology to prevent fraud and improve safety. This revitalization not only enhances visitor experiences but also catalyzes local employment and promotes economic sustainability, ultimately offering an optimistic perspective for the future of tourism in India.
Travel industry may need to prioritise continuity, trust as AI reshapes booking journey: Report
Travel companies will increasingly need to focus on building continuity across the customer journey, strengthening trust and making it easier for travellers to return to an existing plan as artificial intelligence reshapes how trips are discovered and booked, according to a joint report by Skift Research and McKinsey & Company.
Private firm inks MoU with Andaman and Nicobar administration to develop two trekking trails
Indiahikes has signed a memorandum with the Andaman and Nicobar administration to develop trekking trails. This collaboration aims to enhance adventure tourism by exploring lesser-known areas of the islands. The initiative will involve documenting trails and conducting pilot trekking experiences. A guidebook detailing the proposed trekking routes will also be created. Indiahikes hopes to promote sustainable trekking while working alongside local communities in the region.
ET Graphics: Where Indians travel and why
Religious travel accounted for the largest share of overnight trips at 47.7%, followed by health and medical travel (29.6%), and holidaying, leisure and recreation (22.1%). On an average, Indians spent Rs 11,723 per overnight trip on holidays, with transport accounting for around 30% of the expense.
Forget holidays, Indians travelled most for religion: 47.7% of domestic overnight trips were for pilgrimage, govt survey reveals
Religious travel accounted for 47.7% of domestic overnight trips in India during the year to June 2026, making it the most common purpose of travel, according to the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey released by the statistics ministry. Health and medical travel followed at 29.6%, while holidaying, leisure and recreation accounted for 22.1%. Religious travel led in both rural and urban areas, while rural households recorded 127 trips per 100 households during the period.
Durga Puja travel alert for Kolkata flyers: October 16 tickets show a massive airfare spike, with some routes costing nearly twice as much
Airfares to Kolkata are set to surge around Durga Puja, with tickets for October 16 priced 71% higher than fares for the following week, according to an analysis of 53 domestic routes. The median fare for flights into Kolkata on October 16 stood at Rs 14,117, compared with Rs 8,259 for the following week, while Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru recorded the steepest increases.
State-owned Balmer Lawrie to demerge Travel & Vacations unit
Balmer Lawrie's board approved demerging its travel unit into a subsidiary. This move aims for operational agility and significant revenue growth. The division currently generates Rs 390 crore in annual revenue. Management expects the business to surpass Rs 500 crore within three years. This restructuring will attract specialized talent and new technologies.
Must Watch
GFF 2026: Visa, ONDC look to make India’s tourism offerings easier to discover
Visa and ONDC will collaborate to simplify tourism discovery for travelers across India. This partnership aims to connect visitors with local businesses and unique travel experiences. They will leverage open network principles and digital innovation for seamless journeys. ONDC seeks to strengthen demand-side participation in its growing tourism sector.
Visitor footfall in Ladakh sees an increase of 50 percentage in 8 months
Ladakh has seen a significant tourism boom this year. Visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026 exceeded all of 2025. International tourist numbers also showed a substantial year-on-year increase. This growth reflects the Prime Minister's vision and infrastructure development. The administration aims for sustainable, year-round tourism in the region.
Festive fever checks in early: Hotel bookings, room rates rise as Indians plan longer getaways
Hotels and travel companies are seeing stronger festive-season demand, with bookings, occupancy and room rates expected to improve from last year. Travellers are increasingly opting for longer 5-9 day itineraries combining festivals and holidays, while spending more on stays and experiences. Search volumes for festive travel have also surged.
Indian origin tech entrepreneur to launch luxury travel concierge platform Vaultfy
Vatsal Desai is excited to introduce Vaultfy, an innovative luxury travel concierge platform, set to launch on September 17. This app will showcase an AI assistant named Alfred, designed to handle all user requests efficiently. Vaultfy's mission is to eliminate the need for traditional middlemen and provide better pricing through streamlined services. Users can choose monthly or annual subscriptions, with family packages in the pipeline.
Small wins, breakups and bad weather among new travel triggers for Indian travellers: Study
Indian travellers are increasingly taking trips without waiting for holidays. Fifty-eight percent of travellers took trips simply because they wanted to. Many travellers booked trips to celebrate small wins and for a change. Everyday situations also emerged as unconventional triggers for travel. Travellers are creating their own reasons to get away.
India not shining enough for international tourists, arrivals likely to stay flat this year
India's foreign tourist arrivals are projected to plateau this year, influenced by rising oil prices from ongoing global conflicts that have increased travel costs for many. Industry professionals urge the need for renewed marketing initiatives abroad, while the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality forecasts only 8-9 million foreign visitors by 2026, still falling short of pre-Covid levels, indicating a persistent challenge for India's tourism sector.
