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About India Outbound Magazine

India Outbound 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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Sri Lanka to reopen for tourism on August 1

Sri Lanka is all set to welcome travellers from all countries from August 1, 2020. ‘‘Sri Lanka Tourism will provide international visitors with the highest standards of safety as we embrace tourists from across the world to experience the beauty of our paradise island once more. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has put in place all precautions recommended by global health and travel authorities to re-open the country to tourists,’’ says Kimarli Fernando, the chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism. Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Ratmalana International Airport (RIA) as well as Hambantota's Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) will open from August 1, 2020 for international travelers. The issuing of visas will be only online and must be applied for prior to travel. The online visa procedure and requirements include a negative PCR test report from an accredited laboratory taken within 72 hours prior to landing in Sri Lanka; a confirmed travel itinerary covering at least five nights at certified accommodations; a valid return air ticket; travel insurance with health and hospitalisation cover and a visa fee of USD 100.

The Sri Lankan authorities have clearly mentioned that the tourists will not have to undergo mandatory quarantine procedures. However, a mandatory health screening and sanitising process including a PCR test will be conducted at arrival airports free of charge for tourists, and all travellers will be transferred through pre-booked transportation to designated hotels in close proximity to the airport, to await their PCR test results which would be expected within 24 hours. The first night pending the test result could be in a selected certified hotel in Colombo or Negombo for arrivals from BIA/RIA, and in and around Hambantota for arrivals from MRIA. Sri Lanka Tourism will conduct further PCR tests free of charge, for any tourists staying longer than five nights.

An independent audit process will commence to certify registered entities as ‘Safe & Secure’, starting from five-star hotels, boutique hotels and villas and four-star establishments, followed by certification of establishments ranked three-star and below. Sri Lanka Tourism has developed guidelines and put in place necessary precautionary measures for all stakeholders to adopt in their operations, to ensure the safety of international travellers. All major tourist attractions are also required to have a Covid-19 health and safety protocol as per the guidelines and will have spot audits to ensure compliance.

Dubai Tourism’s virtual gaming event for Indian partners

Over the past three months Dubai Tourism has been active in its communications with its lead source market, India, by hosting multiple webinars, sharing information on the latest developments. It most recently launched a virtual gaming night of a Dubai-themed version of Housie. The customised version of the traditional game swapped the numbers for Dubai’s famous landmarks and attractions such as Dubai Creek and Dubai Frame, to promote awareness of the destination’s different tourism pillars. To add a surprise to the virtual gaming night, a live performance from popular Emirati singer Adel Farooq wowed participants, singing two of his favourite Hindi songs, both classics from the 70s. The evening was streamed on Zoom and Facebook Live and saw over 400 attendees, including major travel agents, tour operators and freelancers experience Dubai from a distance. Hospitality and stakeholders who provided prizes on the evening for future experiences included, La Perle, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Kidzania, Rove Hotels, Armani Hotel, Royal Gulf, IMG Worlds of Adventure and Burj Khalifa’s At The Top amongst others.

Maldives organises a Facebook live event

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) recently organised a Facebook Live event, ‘Maldives: The Sun Will Shine Again’ which was hosted to convey hope and show the world that the Maldives is getting ready to welcome back tourists to the sunny side of life. The event began with welcome remarks by the managing director of MMPRC, Thoyyib Mohamed. “While global restrictions have forced us to press pause on our travel plans, we are just as restless to open our borders to you. The Maldives is working tirelessly to implement both short-term solutions and long-term recovery goals in the wake up COVID-19,” he said.

Apart from the theme song of the event, local musicians played songs about the destination. Over 200 persons including 76 participants from the Maldives tourism industry as well as tour operators, airlines, influencers, key-opinion leaders and celebrities from all over the world. Local entrepreneurs and others in the creative industry also took part in this event by sharing their brand stories with positive messages to the world. 30 holiday prizes sponsored by the Maldives industry were given away during the event. The 30 winners were drawn from an overwhelming 10,000 responses from a lucky draw held during the event. During a poll run during the event, 49 pc of the people said they are already planning a trip to Maldives as soon as the borders open, and 45 pc believed that health and safety is the most important factor in choosing a travel destination.

Destination DC launches DC Special Agents Academy

With the United States being one of the epicentres of coronavirus, it will be big challenge for the country to draw tourists. Traditionally, Indian tourists have preferred cities on the east and west coast notably New York, San Francisco andWashington DC top of the list. During this period of lockdown, like many other destinations, Destination DC (DDC), the official destination marketing organisation for Washington, DC, launched the Washington, DC Special Agent Academy, an online programme, designed to train the travel agents around the world who are interested in becoming Washington, DC experts. As a DC special agent, travel professionals will be better prepared to sell the nation’s capital and its unique offerings to their customers. Agents will also be able to better match future travellers’ special interests and travel styles with a personalised DC experience when the post Covid-19 travel resumes.

The programme’s initial rollout consists of three courses, or “operations,” with several missions covering a variety of topics. The first operation covers the city’s captivating monuments, memorials, museums and historic neighbourhoods. Later operations dive deeper, covering sports, dining, educational tours and the unique offerings available in the greater Capital Region. “Travel agents play a huge role in inspiring potential visitors to Washington, DC, which is why additional education will benefit the destination,” says Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president & CEO of DDC. “As travel agents around the world prepare for the return of flights and travel once the Covid-19 pandemic subsides, now is the perfect time to learn more about why travellers should add Washington, DC to their itinerary when returning to the US,” he adds. Through DDC’s international representation, the Washington, DC Special Agent Academy has launched in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, France, Germany and India reaching more than 30,000 agents.

Thomas Cook and SOTC launch ‘Assured’ safe travel programme with Apollo Clinics

Thomas Cook (India), along with its group company SOTC Travel, have jointly launched ‘Assured’ to promote safe travel during the coronavirus pandemic. The companies have partnered with Apollo Clinics part of Apollo Hospitals to jointly set a benchmark for safety in travel. The two travel companies say they spent the last few months talking to their customers to understand their concerns and priorities about travel following the pandemic. A significant 75 pc of the respondents to the ‘Holiday Readiness Survey’ expressed their concern that health and safety was their overriding issue. The Assured programme ensures meticulous health and safety protocols – at every stage of the customer journey – from the various contactless booking processes, safe physical outlets & processes at the sales/servicing pre tour stage, as well as the on-tour stage, say the companies in a press communiqué.

“Our intent is that our Assured programme serve as a handy guide/reference point that would assist all our stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry achieve a single common goal i.e. ‘Safe travel for all Indians,” says Madhavan Menon, chairman and managing director of Thomas Cook India.


India Outbound is a publication of Media India Group