Travel Guides & Articles
From free air tickets to films, tourism boards woo the aspirational Indian traveller
Reserve Bank of India data shows that international travel is largest segment for outward remittances accounting for 60% of the total in FY25.
Overseas tourism boards are pulling all the stops to lure international visitors and Indians are on high on the radar.
While Tourism Australia unveiled its ‘Come and say G’day’ marketing campaign in Mumbai on Wednesday, Thailand announced a plan to offer free domestic flight tickets to 2,00,000 tourists. The free tickets will be available to travellers around the world including India.
“Our new campaign extends a bespoke invitation to Indian travellers to visit Australia and experience a holiday that lasts a lifetime,” said Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager (India and Gulf), Tourism Australia.
The AU $130 million campaign is in its second phase and features Sara Tendulkar. The multi-channel campaign is being rolled out in five countries including India and targets high spending tourists who are looking for immersive and experiential holidays.
Over 4,50,000 Indians visited Australia in twelve months ending June, a growth of 8 per cent year on year. Kashikar expects Indian arrivals to cross half a million next year.
Thailand received 18.3 million foreign tourists between January to July. This included around 1.3 million Indians.
Thailand is also investing in new campaigns to promote less familiar destinations. This includes beach and wildlife attractions in the province of Krabi that served as a locale for the shoot of movie- Jurassic World Rebirth.
On Wednesday Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry announced the free domestic flights scheme to encourage travellers to explore destinations beyond the main cities. The Tourism Authority of Thailand will work with Thai airlines for this campaign that is expected to run between September to November.
The Ministry will submit a proposal for Budget allocation to the cabinet next week, local news reports said.
“India has emerged as the world’s new tourism powerhouse and tourism boards are eyeing this huge market potential,” said Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head (holidays), Thomas Cook India.
Kale said the company has partnered with various tourism bodies for product development and joint marketing activities.
In July, Singapore Tourism Board and IndiGo announced one year strategic partnership to engage with Indian travellers. The initiative combines attractive travel deals, engaging co-branded content, strategic influencer partnerships, and innovative creative formats to enhance the pre-travel experience. The partnership also extends beyond B2C campaigns to include comprehensive trade outreach.
Love for travel
Reserve Bank of India data shows that international travel is largest segment for outward remittances accounting for 60 per cent of the total in FY25. Over $16.9 billion was remitted for travel purposes last fiscal a marginal dip over FY24.
Rising disposable incomes, increasing air connectivity and relaxed visa norms are boosting outbound travel. Destinations such as Jordan and Central Asian countries are gaining traction with launch of new flights and Indians are also spending on luxury and sustainable experiences in Northern Europe.
“Indian travellers are looking beyond the ordinary,” said Sara Sodhi Juneja, who organised a Finland tourism workshop in Mumbai earlier this week.
According to Cleartrip, international travel from India has grown 25 per cent year-on-year in FY25 with South East Asia remaining top draw highlighting region’s value driven appeal. “We expect increased momentum around festive period as Indians continue to prioritise purposeful high-value travel experiences,” it said.
Published on August 21, 2025
Travel Guides & Articles
Bird sanctuaries in India that will soon welcome migratory birds and the best time to visit them
It’ll soon be that time of the year when we start seeing new winged visitors around us. Yes, the winter migratory birds are just around the corner, with some already here in India, and some yet to come. India, with its diverse ecosystems ranging from wetlands to forests, is a haven for birdwatchers, especially during the winter months (October to March) when millions of migratory birds arrive from regions like Siberia, Europe, and Central Asia. The reason why these birds come to visit us is because they are in search of a warmer wintering spot. For food and offspring, our winter is perfect for them. As they escape harsh northern winters, they make some of India’s popular bird sanctuaries their home for a few months. Here is a list of top bird sanctuaries across India preparing to welcome these winged visitors in the 2025 winter season.
Travel Guides & Articles
India eyes bigger slice of Philippines’ $2.5 billion rice market with export push
The Philippines has emerged as a critical market for India’s agricultural exports. In 2024, Manila imported farm goods worth nearly $20 billion, including semi-milled rice, wheat and meslin, oilcake, food preparations and palm oil. India’s shipments to the country stood at $413 million, making up just 2% of the Philippines’ total agricultural imports.
Key Indian exports to the Philippines included beef, groundnut, rice and tobacco. Despite being the world’s largest exporter of rice, with overseas sales worth $11.83 billion in 2024-25, India’s rice exports to the Philippines were valued at only $48.91 million during the same period.
“Philippines is the largest importer of rice in the world, with imports in 2024 valued at $2.52 billion. However, there is significant opportunity to expand India’s rice exports in the Philippines as, despite India being the world’s largest rice exporter, India’s rice exports were only $48.91 million to the Philippines in the same period,” the official noted, calling it an untapped opportunity.
To bridge this gap, the commerce ministry is facilitating a delegation of rice exporters, along with those dealing in other potential products such as onions, potatoes, groundnut and meat, to travel to the Philippines in early September. The initiative is expected to strengthen trade linkages and help Indian exporters establish a stronger foothold in the region.
The engagement is set to continue later in the year, with a team of Philippine food importers due to participate in World Food India, scheduled for September 25-28 . They will take part in the International Rice Conference on October 30-31, 2025, billed as the first large-scale trade fair of its kind for the rice sector.
India is also witnessing a surge in agricultural exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Exports to the bloc rose from $480 million in 2023-24 to $628 million in 2024-25, driven largely by stronger trade ties with Russia.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has played an active role in the growth of India agriculture exports by showcasing Indian produce at international trade events such as World Food Moscow. According to officials, such platforms have been vital in boosting visibility, forging new business partnerships and consolidating India’s presence in the CIS market.
Travel Guides & Articles
KSRTC adds 90 extra buses for Onam festivities between Bengaluru, Kerala: Report | Bengaluru
Published on: Aug 31, 2025 02:47 pm IST
The KSRTC will deploy 90 additional buses from September 2 to 4 to accommodate Onam travellers between Bengaluru and Kerala.
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