Low-cost carrier IndiGo is set to be the first airline partner for India’s new Noida International Airport when it begins its first phase of operations by the end of next year.  Expanded Connectivity: Uttar Pradesh and the surrounding regions will see added air connectivity through IndiGo’s route network as a launch carrier. NIA is expected to connect the … [Read more...]

Skift Take I'm Skift's reporter based in Dubai, and these are the questions I'm excited to get answers to at December's Skift Global Forum East. Josh Corder The Middle East’s travel and tourism ambitions can seem unbelievable: 150 million visitors into the once-closed off Saudi Arabia, 40 million visitors to the UAE – big goals keep getting more ambitious. The Skift … [Read more...]

Skift Take Malaysia hopes the visa exemptions for two vital inbound markets will accelerate its slow tourism recovery. Dawit Habtemariam Malaysia will grant visa-free entry to citizens of China and India for stays of up to 30 days starting on Dec. 1, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar made the announcement late on Sunday during a speech at his People’s … [Read more...]

Skift Take Thailand granted visa-free entry to Chinese tourists, with 11 million visitors in 2019. What gives? Srividya Kalyanaraman Thailand expects 3.4-3.5 million visitors from China this year, which is below its target, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said on Friday, despite rolling out a visa-free program to attract Chinese tourists. About 3.01 … [Read more...]

Skift Take Hopefully no one else was hurt, and that this incident was an isolated event. Dawit Habtemariam Authorities suspended international flights at one airport and closed four bridges between the U.S. and Canada in the Niagara Falls area following an incident where a vehicle crashed and exploded on impact on the Rainbow Bridge. Two people in the car died on … [Read more...]

Skift Take As we return to Dubai this December, we are thrilled to discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead for the Middle East with leaders on stage. It’s going to be a jam-packed event you will not want to miss. Rafat Ali In anticipation of Skift Global Forum East, happening in Dubai December 12-14, I wanted to sit down with both our Middle East Report, Josh … [Read more...]

Skift Take Global travel softened due to the seasonality of demand. In October 2023, the Skift Travel Health Index dipped to 103. Europe was impacted the most due to reduced pent-up demand and economic concerns. Despite China's Golden Week holiday, the travel recovery in the country remained sluggish. Saniya Zanpure The Skift Travel Health Index: October 2023 … [Read more...]

A foreign film shooting in India will now be able to claim up to 40% of the expenditure incurred (in India) with the maximum limit capped at INR 300 million ($4 million). An additional five percent bonus will be given for “significant Indian content.” What’s Behind the Decision? Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur cited better incentives to bring larger international … [Read more...]

After Sri Lanka and Thailand, Vietnam is likely to be the next destination to offer visa-free entry to Indians. According to local media, Vietnam Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung suggested it allow Indians and Chinese to visit without a visa for a short period. As of now, only nationals of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland can enter Vietnam without … [Read more...]

Skift Take Tentpole marketing campaigns tied to shopping-focused events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Prime Day have long been table stakes for product retailers. For travel brands advertising experiences instead of objects, the opportunity to drive brand lift, reach new audiences, and increase lifetime value is even greater. Amazon Ads This sponsored content … [Read more...]

Skift Take Las Vegas has made rapid recovery from the pandemic, but casinos are far from the only attraction that's boosted the city's rebound. Here's a look at what else Las Vegas is showcasing to attract visitors. Rashaad Jorden Tourism to Las Vegas has made a strong recovery from the pandemic, with visitor spending hitting a record $79.3 billion in 2022. How … [Read more...]

Skift Take Visit Orlando has one of the largest budgets in the U.S. and is the envy of destination marketers. All eyes are on what happens next. Dawit Habtemariam Visit Orlando may see a cut to its $100 million budget – one of the largest destination marketing budgets in the United States. “The general consensus here is that there needs to be a general reduction … [Read more...]

Skift Take Travelers have increasingly high expectations for personalized offers, seamless booking, and frictionless planning across the travel journey. Artificial intelligence (AI) provides travel brands with solutions to address those expectations with new tools that can improve the travel shopping experience and drive targeted customer acquisition. Google This … [Read more...]

Skift Take Today's podcast discusses Chinese tourists in the UK, Etihad's growth plans, and Japan's efforts to meant tourism demands. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, November 16. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. Listen Now 🎧 Subscribe Apple … [Read more...]

Skift Take Like the U.S, Britain is feeling the pinch of the slow return of Chinese tourists. Dawit Habtemariam Britain won’t see a full recovery in Chinese tourism next year – it won’t be until 2025 when Chinese tourists return to their pre-pandemic levels, VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates told the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday. … [Read more...]

Skift Take Even though Turkey is geographically far from the Israel-Hamas conflict, its tourism sector is not immune to its consequences. Dawit Habtemariam Tourists have stopped booking new trips to Turkey. The war in Gaza is deterring Turkey’s tourism bookings. “I had a lot of requests in September, and now they’re kind of quiet,” said Alper Ertubey, founder of … [Read more...]

Skift Take Today's podcast discusses Thanksgiving travel in the U.S., GetYourGuide's ambitions, and Emirate's $52 billion plane order. Rashaad Jorden Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, November 14. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. Listen Now 🎧 Subscribe Apple … [Read more...]

Skift Take Large-scale conflicts can damage tourism beyond the borders where fighting is occurring. Here's a look at the wider impact of war on tourism throughout the world. Rashaad Jorden Major conflicts in recent years, most notably in Israel and Ukraine, have significantly impacted travel worldwide, another hurdle for the industry in its quest to make a complete … [Read more...]

Skift Take Looks like it will be harder for Americans to escape Thanksgiving travel delays. Dawit Habtemariam Americans can expect busy roads and airports when they visit family and friends this Thanksgiving holiday. AAA released its travel forecast Monday, and the group is expecting big numbers: More than 55 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or … [Read more...]

Skift Take The industry trade group is undergoing a restructuring to make the organization “more focused, collaborative, nimble and innovative,” said an internal memo. Dawit Habtemariam The U.S. Travel Association has eliminated the positions of six employees as it restructures the organization, according to an internal memo obtained by Skift and confirmed by the … [Read more...]