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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on September 27, 2024
World Tourism Day 2024 celebrates the theme “Tourism and Peace,” highlighting tourism's role in fostering global harmony and understanding. In India, where tourism plays a significant role in economic growth, the government has implemented various measures to promote the sector while enhancing cultural and social connections.
India’s Ministry of Tourism has introduced several policies to promote tourism under the banner of “Dekho Apna Desh” to encourage domestic travel. The government also launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, focusing on developing theme-based circuits such as eco-tourism, heritage, and spiritual tourism across the country. In 2024, the National Tourism Policy aims to boost infrastructure, create job opportunities, and promote sustainable tourism while maintaining India’s rich cultural diversity.
In addition, the PRASHAD Scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive) focuses on developing and rejuvenating pilgrimage destinations. The Incredible India 2.0 Campaign continues to enhance India's global image as a premier travel destination. These measures align with the theme of “Tourism and Peace,” using tourism to bridge cultural gaps, promote mutual understanding, and foster national integration.
Several tourist places in India receive special support from the government for their development and promotion. Key regions such as Varanasi, Amritsar, Kedarnath, and Ajanta & Ellora Caves have been given focused attention under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes. These sites are not only of historical significance but also hold cultural importance, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
In 2024, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Goa witnessed some of the highest footfalls, driven by religious tourism, cultural festivals, and beach vacations. Religious sites like Varanasi, Tirupati, and Amritsar saw a surge in visitors, reflecting India’s rich spiritual heritage, while Kerala and Meghalaya emerged as popular destinations for eco-tourism and wellness tourism.
What to see?
For those seeking the best monsoon experiences in 2024, India offers a variety of destinations that come alive with lush greenery, cascading waterfalls, and serene landscapes. Kerala’s backwaters, Meghalaya’s living root bridges, and Goa’s Dudhsagar Falls remain top choices for monsoon travelers. However, for those looking to explore off-beat and lesser-known locations, Tirthan Valley in Himachal Pradesh and Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh offer tranquil escapes surrounded by untouched nature. Coorg in Karnataka and Munnar in Kerala are perfect for misty hill station retreats, while the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, with its blooming alpine meadows, presents a unique monsoon adventure.
Other underexplored gems like Lonar Lake in Maharashtra, formed by a meteor impact, and Chikmagalur in Karnataka, known for its coffee plantations, are also gaining popularity among those who wish to experience India’s natural beauty away from the usual tourist spots. These offbeat destinations provide a peaceful connection to nature, ideal for those seeking solitude amidst scenic landscapes.
As India celebrates World Tourism Day 2024, travelers are encouraged to explore both famous and hidden gems, enriching their experiences while contributing to sustainable and peaceful tourism that benefits local communities. Let’s use tourism to build bridges of understanding and foster peace across cultures.
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By Hariharan U
Published on January 3, 2026
IndiGo has outlined a cautious yet forward-looking approach as it prepares for the next phase of growth, placing strong emphasis on “operational reliability” while planning a limited set of international route additions. The airline said its immediate focus is to “stabilise operations” as it continues to strengthen capacity and network resilience.
As part of its international plans, IndiGo has announced the launch of non-stop services to Athens. This route will also mark the international debut of India’s first Airbus A321XLR, a new aircraft type expected to support the airline’s entry into fresh overseas markets as it gradually expands beyond short-haul operations.
Beyond Athens, the airline has not shared details of additional international destinations or capacity increases. IndiGo stated that it will continue to grow its international footprint while further densifying its domestic network, without outlining the pace or scale of expansion.
On the domestic front, the airline is also preparing to begin operations from Noida International Airport at Jewar, strengthening its presence in the National Capital Region once services commence.
Addressing recent operational challenges, IndiGo said it had swiftly restored normal operations following a temporary network disruption. The airline also confirmed that it is “fully collaborating and providing requested information to the regulator's committee” as part of an ongoing review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
While IndiGo reiterated its long-term ambitions, including plans related to widebody aircraft and sustained growth, its near-term outlook remains measured. The airline said its renewed focus on stability will help drive future scale, innovation, and impact as it carefully explores new frontiers.
Published on January 1, 2026
Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has made an impressive start, handling a total of 26,021 passengers in its first five days of operations. This includes 12,431 arrivals and 13,590 departures, showing strong demand right from day one.
Weekend traffic was particularly high, with 5,548 travellers on Saturday and 5,614 on Sunday, reflecting growing confidence among passengers. During this initial period, the airport managed 162 flight movements, 81 arrivals and 81 departures, while keeping on-time performance smooth for both airlines and ground services.
Currently, NMIA connects 13 major domestic destinations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa (MOPA), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Nagpur, Vadodara. These connections cover key business and leisure hubs, giving travellers more options and conveand nience in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Looking ahead, the airport plans to expand its network with additional destinations and increased flight frequencies in coordination with partner airlines. With strong early passenger response and ready infrastructure, NMIA is set to become a modern, seamless travel hub in Western India
Air India has strengthened its partnership with airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, by entering into a new codeshare agreement, making travel between India and the Baltic region easier and more seamless for its customers. This move builds on the interline partnership established between the two carriers in June 2025.
Under the codeshare, Air India has begun adding its ‘AI’ designator code on airBaltic-operated flights between Riga and Air India’s European gateways including Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Milan Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, and London Gatwick. This allows passengers to travel between India and Riga with a single Air India ticket, covering connecting flights under the same booking.
Additionally, Air India’s interline agreement with airBaltic allows travellers to reach Tallinn, Estonia, and Vilnius, Lithuania via select European gateways, further expanding access to the Baltic region.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, "This expanded partnership with airBaltic reflects Air India’s commitment to providing seamless global connectivity to our customers. Latvia and the wider Baltic region are growing travel markets, and this codeshare makes the journey more convenient than ever."
Air India currently operates multiple non-stop flights connecting India with Europe:
Delhi: Amsterdam (7x weekly), Paris (14x weekly), Frankfurt (12x weekly), Copenhagen (4x weekly), Milan (6x weekly), Vienna (4x weekly), Zurich (4x weekly)
Mumbai: Frankfurt (5x weekly)
Amritsar & Ahmedabad: London Gatwick (3x weekly each)
Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has expanded its global alliance network to include 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, offering passengers access to over 800 destinations worldwide.
The new codeshare flights are now available for booking through both airlines’ official channels and travel partners.
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