Launching the ‘fast track immigration – trusted traveller program’ (FTI-TTP) — which enables faster immigration of pre-verified flyers through automated e-gates — at five more international airports in the country, home minister Amit Shah on Thursday suggested that its coverage be maximised by enabling resident Indians and overseas citizens of India (OCI) to sign up for FTI-TTP at the state of issuing of passports or OCI cards itself.With the inclusion of Lucknow, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli and Kozhikode international airports, the total number of airports covered under the program has risen to 13. First launched at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here in June 2022, the program had added seven more airports — covering Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi and Ahmedabad — in January this year. Shah said the facility will be available at the upcoming Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports as well. Addressing the FTI-TTP inauguration event at five airports through video-conference, Shah said around 3 lakh persons had registered under the program and over 2.6 lakh travellers, both inbound and outbound, had availed of it, enabling them to clear immigration in as little as 30 seconds and with no long queues or manual checks. “The next phase of the effort to enhance passenger convenience by integrating Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of ‘speed, scale, and scope’ into the FTI-TTP is starting from today,” he said, adding that the program introduces foreign travellers to the positive changes taking place in India. Drawing attention to the 60% increase in international passenger traffic over the past 11 years of Modi govt — from a little over 5 crore in 2014 to 8.1 crore in 2024 — Shah said the figure of 2.6 lakh who have availed of the FTI-TTP facility is too small, leaving tremendous scope to maximise its coverage. Stating that everyone who has availed of the program has voiced appreciation, the home minister said “our goal should be to ensure that every Indian citizen and every OCI cardholder takes advantage of this facility”.“To achieve this, I request that when issuing passports and OCI cards, we can also conduct this registration (under FTI-TTP), so that people don’t have to come twice for fingerprinting or document verification. Whenever they travel, they can simply use their passport. I think we must further explore the technological possibilities to maximize the number of people who can take advantage of this program,” he added.

Pickyourtrail has announced the launch of three new offline stores across Chennai, Kochi, and Vapi this month. This expansion marks another milestone in the brand’s omnichannel journey, seamlessly blending digital convenience with the trust of in-person consultations. With these additions, Pickyourtrail moves closer to its vision of opening 50+ stores across India in the next 12–18 months, making personalised international holidays more accessible to travellers nationwide.

A recent BCG report highlights India as one of the fastest-growing global travel markets, with domestic leisure travel expected to grow at 12% annually until 2040, and international travel at 10%. This surge is driven by Millennials and Gen Z, who are prioritising discovery, personalisation, and hybrid planning journeys that combine AI tools with human expertise. Reflecting this trend, Pickyourtrail has recorded a 23% rise in hybrid bookings, with such customers spending 12% more on trips, opting for longer stays, and showing stronger repeat and referral behaviour.

Anchored in its proprietary AI-driven platform, the brand’s omnichannel strategy has already reduced decision fatigue by 20% for travellers. Its growing network of offline stores is designed to complement this digital backbone, providing reassurance through physical touchpoints. The company’s stores have seen a 3–4% lift in conversions in the past six months, reinforcing the need for high-trust, human-led experiences in international travel planning.

“With every new store, we see not just more walk-ins and conversions, but also a stronger sense of confidence among customers,” said Hari Ganapathy, CEO & Co-founder of Pickyourtrail. “International holidays are big decisions for families, and our stores help bridge the gap between aspiration and action by offering personal assurance alongside digital convenience.”

He added, “India is at a turning point in the way it travels. Younger explorers want flexibility, not friction, and our omnichannel approach is designed around that insight. Whether customers start online and finish in-store, or vice versa, our goal is to provide the same level of care and clarity at every stage.”

As India’s travel landscape grows more aspirational and experience-driven, Pickyourtrail continues to double down on its mission of making world-class, customised holidays accessible to more Indians. Several new store launches are already planned for the coming quarter, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to shaping the future of travel through a perfect balance of technology and human touch.

Carcassonne & Jaisalmer form historic twin alliance

In a significant cultural development, the medieval French city of Carcassonne in Occitanie has officially been twinned with Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The agreement, finalised on 30 August 2025, crowns more than four years of exchanges and relationship-building between the two cities. Both municipalities are celebrated for their imposing fortresses overlooking the town, a shared feature that has earned Jaisalmer the affectionate nickname “Carcassonne of the desert.”

The origins of this initiative date back to February 2021, when a France 2 news report filmed in India captured the Maharaja of Jaisalmer expressing admiration for Carcassonne and his wish to build closer ties. Inspired by these words, Jaisalmer representatives highlighted the architectural and cultural parallels between the two destinations, sparking discussions that gradually evolved into formal cooperation.

Over the years, delegations from both sides engaged in multiple visits and exchanges. These efforts culminated in the signing of the twinning pact this August, establishing a structured framework for collaboration. The agreement strengthens cooperation in tourism, heritage conservation, arts, culture, and sports, with joint committees and working groups set to coordinate future initiatives.

The twinning with Jaisalmer becomes Carcassonne’s fourth international partnership, following earlier alliances with Eggenfelden in Germany (1973), Baeza in Spain (2012), and Tallinn in Estonia (2013). To celebrate the milestone, Carcassonne will install new signs at all city entrances listing its four twin cities along with the official dates of each union.

For Rajasthan, this is the second landmark cultural partnership with France. The City Palace of Udaipur had earlier been twinned with the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, creating avenues for cross-cultural dialogue and tourism promotion. The addition of Jaisalmer–Carcassonne deepens these links, reinforcing Rajasthan’s role as a bridge between Indian and European heritage.

This new partnership is expected to enhance cultural diplomacy, expand tourism opportunities, and foster people-to-people connections between the desert city of India and the fortress town of France. By blending shared history with future collaboration, Jaisalmer and Carcassonne are set to write a new chapter in international heritage cooperation.