Read in Browser

About India Outbound Magazine

India Outbound, a brand of Media India Group, is India’s only B2B travel media platform, that encompasses a print magazine, a website, an online TV channel and dynamic social media platforms, entirely dedicated to the promotion of foreign destinations and products in India. India Outbound is a niche platform not just for tourism destinations and products to promote themselves to the Indian travel industry, but also for decision makers to build/change their strategy in a context where the Indian outbound market is not only growing but changing with new dynamics. India Outbound brings to you the latest trends of the market with in depth analysis.

Seychelles to allow vaccinated Indian visitors

In the wake of the ongoing rise of Covid-19 outbreak, the tourism-driven small island nation off the east coast of Africa, Seychelles has issued new travel measures for Indian visitors in a press conference held recently. Effective immediately, the Public Health Commissioner has announced that only vaccinated visitors from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have completed two weeks after their second dose are permitted to travel to and enter Seychelles with proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

However, all travellers will be required to present a negative PCR test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure. There will be no quarantine requirement, minimum stay nor restriction on movement for them upon entry into Seychelles. It is not mandatory for children under 18 years of age to be vaccinated and can enter the country after presenting a negative PCR test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to departure.

Saudi heritage destination AlUla introduced to India

To promote and showcase the culture and heritage region of Saudi Arabia to the film fraternity of the world, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the agency credited to develop AlUla as a tourist destination of the world, and the film commission under it plans to unveil their film tourism policy at the forthcoming Cannes film festival. The commission is expected to offer attractive incentives and rebates for film production units that intend to use AlUla and its diverse landscapes as a backdrop for their movies.

AlUla’s vast desert landscape features preserved tombs, sandstone outcrops, historic dwellings and monuments, both natural and human-made. As part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, it has been decreed that the priceless heritage and nature-based experiences of AlUla will be shared with visitors who will now have the opportunity to experience a living museum and a unique journey through time.

The RCU feels India has a potential market of 1.5 million just for AlUla. They think that AlUla can appeal to Indian travellers not only for its heritage value, but also for its outdoors, varied soft adventure activities, and culinary variety. AlUla is easily accessible by flight from Riyadh, Madinah and Jeddah. AlUla International Airport has been approved to receive international flights. RCU has appointed Beautiful Planet Destination Marketing as their India representative to handle the marcom and travel trade activities in India.

Israel plans to launch a new global campaign

Israel plans to reopen its doors to vaccinated tourists starting at the end of May, supported by the launch of a strategic campaign for as many foreign tourist arrivals as possible in 2021. The announcement was made by minister of tourism Orit Farkash-Hacohen on April 27, 2021, at a press conference held in Tel Aviv.

In addition to the launch of the campaign, the minister revealed additional steps taken by the ministry of tourism in preparation for the recommencement of tourism in 2021. The ministry of tourism is creating and promoting a number of large international events, each geared at keeping Israel in the hearts and minds of strategic groups of tourists.

Farkash-Hacohen also announced the ministry would reinstate a directive incentivising foreign airlines to operate flights to the Ramon Airport located outside of Eilat and to get the incentive for every foreign traveller they bring.

“In recent years, Indian travellers have become familiar with the cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and now we want to introduce them to the resort city of Eilat, on the shores of Red Sea. Once international travel resumes from India, we are confident that Eilat will be a destination on the minds of the Indian travellers, so we want to make progress with potential flight routes when the demand comes,” says Sammy Yahia, director of tourism, India & Philippines, Israel Ministry of Tourism.

Australia bans passenger flights from India until May 15

Prime minister of Australia Scott Morrison puts a temporary ban on direct passenger flights from India until May 15. He says the suspension would remain in place due to “clearly present” risks of travel from India, leaving thousands of Australians including high-profile cricketers stranded.

It follows similar moves by countries including Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Britain to halt or restrict flights in response to the spiralling Covid-19 crisis.

The flight ban came a day after authorities lifted stay-at-home orders for two million people in Perth, in Australia’s west, where a snap lockdown was imposed after a man who returned from his wedding in India infected others in quarantine. The virus then spread to others in the community, prompting calls from some state leaders for Canberra to toughen its approach to travel from the subcontinent.

UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker to restore confidence in travel

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have launched a Destination Tracker in preparation for the restart of international travel. It is the result of both organisations joining efforts to boost confidence and accelerate recovery of the tourism sector when borders reopen. In October 2020, UNWTO and IATA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to restore confidence in international air travel. The UNWTO-IATA Destination Tracker is a new free online tool for governments to provide information on Covid-19 requirements for travel and the measures in place at the destination.

The tool is available through the websites of both organisations and will provide information on a) Covid-19 indicators including infection rates, positivity rates and vaccination roll out by destination/country; b) air travel regulations including test and quarantine requirements, provided by IATA’s Timatic solution; and c) destination measures including general health and safety requirements such as the use of masks, transit through a country, curfew, or regulations related to restaurants and attractions, provided by national tourism organisations.

Liz Ortiguera becomes new CEO of PATA

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced the appointment of Liz Ortiguera as its next Chief Executive Officer effective May 17, 2021, succeeding Dr Mario Hardy who will finish his term at the end of May.

“We are delighted to welcome Liz to the PATA family, especially as she will be the first Asian American female CEO in PATA’s 70-year history,” commented Soon-Hwa Wong, PATA Chair.

“I am confident that PATA, with its diverse member base of industry leaders, will continue to help catalyse our industry's recovery and growth. From crisis comes innovation and from community comes strength. PATA is even more critical as a business community today to support new partnerships, innovation, and the adoption of sustainable business practices,” said Ortiguera.


India Outbound is a publication of Media India Group