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.
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International tourism down 70 pc across all regions: UNWTO
Restrictions on travel introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic continue to hit global tourism hard, with the latest data from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) showing a 70 pc fall in international arrivals for the first eight months of 2020.
According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international arrivals plunged 81 pc in July and 79 pc in August, traditionally the two busiest months of the year and the peak of the northern hemisphere summer season. The drop until August represents 700 million fewer arrivals compared to the same period in 2019 and translates into a loss of USD 730 billion in export revenues from international tourism. This is more than eight times the loss experienced on the back of the 2009 global economic and financial crisis.
All regions across the world recorded large declines in arrivals in the first eight months of the year. Asia and the Pacific, the first region to suffer from the impact of Covid-19, saw a 79 pc decrease in arrivals, followed by Africa and the Middle East (both -69 pc), Europe (-68 pc) and the Americas (-65 pc). Following its gradual reopening of international borders, Europe recorded comparatively smaller declines in July and August (-72 pc and -69 pc, respectively). The recovery was short-lived however, as travel restrictions and advisories were reintroduced amid an increase in infections. On the other side of the spectrum, Asia and the Pacific recorded the largest declines with -96 pc in both months, reflecting the closure of borders in major destinations of the region.
Demand for travel remains largely subdued due to the ongoing uncertainty about the pandemic and low confidence. Based on the latest trends, UNWTO expects an overall drop close to 70 pc for the whole of 2020.
UNWTO’s panel of experts foresees a rebound in international tourism in 2021, mostly in the third quarter of 2021. However, around 20 pc of experts suggest the rebound could occur only in 2022. Travel restrictions are seen as the main barrier standing in the way of the recovery of international tourism, along with slow virus containment and low consumer confidence. The lack of coordinated response among countries to ensure harmonised protocols and coordinated restrictions, as well as the deteriorating economic environment were also identified by experts as important obstacles for recovery.
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Suspension of international passenger flights extended to Nov 30
India's aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the suspension of international passenger flights till November 30.
It has added that the international scheduled flights may be allowed on select routes on a case-to-case basis. The DGCA also informed that the suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it.
International passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, domestic flight operation resumed from May 25. International passenger flights are operating under Vande Bharat mission and bilateral air bubble agreements with various countries.
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Maldives Tourism to allow all type of tourists for a split-stay
The Maldives tourism ministry has recently announced the facilitation of ‘split-stay’ between all types of resorts. However, all accommodation facilities must take a prior approval as per split-stay procedures and guidelines from the ministry and all facilities must submit a no objection form for the split-stay to the ministry of tourism, at least two days prior to the travelling date.
Additionally, the ministry has extended the validity of the PCR test for Covid-19, to be conducted within a maximum of 96 hours prior to departure from the first port of the embarkation en route to Maldives. Under the new guidelines, tourists are allowed to travel from one tourist resort or guesthouse to another (if neither is under monitoring nor have any reported community spread of Covid-19).
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Saudi Arabia to open for international Umrah pilgrims from Nov 1
Saudi Arabia will be allowing foreign pilgrims to enter the country to perform Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) from November 1 onwards, as per the latest news reports of the region. As per the protocol issued by the Saudi government, pilgrims will be required to undergo quarantine for three days upon their arrival along with other medical requirements.
The latest development comes in the wake of reopening of Mecca’s Grand Mosque on October 4, allowing the first group of pilgrims to perform Umrah after six months of restrictions.
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Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority appoints Intrepid Marketing as India Representative
The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA) has assigned Intrepid Marketing and Communications to undertake all its trade, marketing, and communication initiatives across India to establish Bahrain as Indian travellers’ go-to short-haul destination. With its super-cosmopolitan vibe, Bahrain aims to target the potential frequent travellers (FITS) and group-events like meetings, conferences and events. With a direct hop from India in under five hours via its national carrier Gulf Air, Bahrain is looking at becoming India’s next big travel muse.
“We are certain that this partnership will enhance our existing relations with the travel fraternity in India. Also, Intrepid will be building new bonds with the online travel communities,” says Ali Hasan Follad, the acting director of marketing and tourism promotions, BTEA. “As travel restrictions are changed and lessened, we are working on expanding Bahrain’s presence, stirring conversations around experiential travel and ‘dream itineraries’ around Bahrain,” Sunil Mathapati, director, Intrepid Marketing and Communications says.
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Skål International India gets a new team
The India chapter of world's biggest travel professionals' association, Skål International, elected its new board for the next couple of years at the annual general meeting that took place in Chennai.
Carl Vaz of Skål Bombay was unanimously chosen president, while Sanjeev Mehra of Skål Kolkata and Venkat Reddy of Skål Chennai were elected vice president I and vice president II, respectively. Krishna Gopalan of Skål Pune was chosen as secretary, Ranjit Vig of Skål Delhi was elected treasurer. Sarvanan from Skål Chennai will represent India at the International Skål Council.
Earlier, Skål International also formed its new board under president-elect Bill Rheaume. Skål International with its close to 14,000 members, entailing of industry’s managers and executives meet at local, national, regional and international levels to do business among friends throughout 342 Skål Clubs across 102 countries. Skål International India has 14 clubs and about 1200 decision-making level members.
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