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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.

Thomas Cook India launches Study Buddy programme

Thomas Cook (India), one of India’s leading integrated travel services companies, launches ‘Study Buddy programme’ with special offers on all student remittances made until September 30, 2021. The offers are available across the company’s omnichannel touch points – over 1,100 retail outlets (both owned and FX Mate B2B partner outlets), toll-free contact centre and portal.

With Indian students having lost out on their academic year in 2020 due to the pandemic, 2021 has witnessed a significant resurgence in the overseas study opportunity. The increasing uptick in admissions for the upcoming semester commencing July-August 2021 offers Thomas Cook India a strong potential. Hence to maximise this opportunity, the company’s foreign exchange division has launched its special Study Buddy programme to benefit students on every education remittance made until September 30, 2021.

Highlights of the Study Buddy offer include a grand prize, one free air ticket to the study destination per month (for travel up to Sept 2022) along with other gifts like blue-tooth headphones, gift vouchers, membership cards, etc.

“The international study segment is a highly opportune one and we are already witnessing the growth of over 20 pc. Our unique Study Buddy programme with attractive offers has hence been specially designed to benefit our students and thereby increase our share of the education remittances business,” says Deepesh Varma, senior vice president, foreign exchange, Thomas Cook (India) Limited.

Indians looking to live anywhere when travelling returns, according to the latest Airbnb & YouGov survey

Indians are looking at travel in newer ways and exploring flexible, nearby travel and travel to work remotely, according to new research by Airbnb and YouGov conducted in May 2021. The survey showed that 43 pc of Indians would like to travel this year when able to and of which 66 pc to destinations that are a drive away. Indians are excited about visiting new places with loved ones, relaxing in nature, enjoying offbeat destinations and sharing their experiences and recommendations with others. About 33 pc would like to spend time travelling and working in different locations, says the survey.

While the timeline for travel recovery depends on a number of external factors such as vaccination coverage, Indians continue to be eager to get back to travelling and connecting with new people and places. A third of Indian travellers would like to spend time travelling and working ‘anywhere’ in different locations, in a post-pandemic world, while about 62 pc say they would opt for off-peak times of the year to travel. Almost seven in 10 respondents are interested in unique accommodations when they travel next especially with formats such as heritage homes, farm stays and villas, and 35 pc say that they are very likely to stay in unique accommodations when they travel next. About 70 pc of GenZ and 73 pc of the millennials, who comprise a large pool of current and future travellers, are leading this trend.

“As many of us think of travelling again, stepping out of the door will be about spending quality time with loved ones and creating new memories in unique destinations nearby or in nature. It will also be about exploring more flexible ways to live and work in a new world. Reflecting these preferences in India and around the world, Airbnb recently launched more than 100 upgrades that include new ways for customers to discover unique nearby destinations, and easier ways to sign up to be a host on Airbnb,” said Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager - Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

SITE India to organise an incentive summit

The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) India, which is the only business events focussed travel association, will conduct a virtual global incentive summit, SITE India Incentive Summit 2021 on July 29 & 30, 2021.

The incentive travel industry is now more attuned to new realities through its relentless efforts in adapting to the changes. SITE India plans to lean itself into this shift in understanding the mindset and behaviour of the clients through this summit.

The first edition of the summit is expected to have power-packed educational sessions with the leading speakers from the incentive travel industry and speed networking at the lounge and meet with new connections.

“This summit will help the Indian incentive travel industry professionals with global peer networking opportunities and a chance to present their own skills and offerings," says Nitin Sachdeva, president, SITE India.

UFTAA selects a new board with India's Sunil Kumar at the helm

UFTAA, the United Federation of Travel Agents Association, a global federation of travel agents' association held its annual general assembly virtually to form its new board with Sunil Kumar Rumalla, the immediate past president of Travel Agents Association of India, (TAAI), being re-elected as the president.

Other members of the board include representatives from Israel, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Kenya, Mauritius, Malta, Italy, Canada, Benin, China and Nepal.

“Rebuilding – Restarting – Re-establishing Travel & Tourism Leadership”, the theme resolution taken by UFTAA general assembly is in its expansion phase. UFTAA’s priority is to reach out to its members by partnering with as many national associations and authorities as possible to guide this important transition period that can usher in an early sustainability.

In the last 66 years, UFTAA has connected over 65 countries with a membership of over 25,000 travel companies, UFTAA’s general assembly unanimously resolved to draw the attention of governments on “Vaccine Equity” related to uniform policy on the corridor of travel formalities.

Tourism Malaysia’s video wins global award for best camerawork

A collaborated production between Tourism Malaysia, SHARP, and Chilli Pepper Films have won a Special Award for Best Camerawork at the 21st WorldMediaFestivals, under the Tourism & Travel Media Awards category. Based in Hamburg, Germany, the WorldMediaFestivals have been honouring creativity in media worldwide for the past 21 years, including audiovisual, print, and online production. The first video shot 8k technology in Malaysia with a duration of two-and-a-half-minute titled ‘AMAZING’ won the special award “MAGIC EYE” for best camerawork. In addition, the creative production has also secured a place among four other winners under the Advertising category for the 2021 Tourism & Travel Media intermedia-globe Gold Award. ‘AMAZING’ shares the recognition with four other themed videos from Thailand, Japan, and Austria. “There are still so many attractions in Malaysia to be highlighted through the lens of SHARP, especially our off-the-beaten-track destinations, our rich flora and fauna, and our blessed natural resources,” says Zulkifly Md Said, director-general of Tourism Malaysia.


India Outbound is a publication of Media India Group