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• Australia raises minimum savings for student visa, warns on fake recruitment

  The moves follow a raft of actions in recent months to tighten the student visa rules as the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in 2022 triggered a sudden influx of migrants, exacerbating pressure on an already tight rental market. English language requirements for student visas were increased in March and the government has been taking steps to end settings that allowed students to prolong their stay.

  

• Travelers stranded as widespread delays hit UK airports

  A spokesperson from one of the major affected airports shared their concerns, saying, "We are doing all we can to manage the situation, but the scale of the disruption is unprecedented." The primary challenges fueling this disruption are identified as an unexpected surge in travel demand and significant staff shortages, which have combined to create a perfect storm of delays and cancellations.

  

• TBO Tek raises INR 696 crore from anchor investors ahead of IPO

  The company's Initial Public Offering (IPO) is scheduled to open on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, and will remain open for subscription until May 10, 2024. The IPO price band has been fixed in the range of INR 875 to INR 920. The anchor allotment details reveal that TBO Tek Limited has allotted 7,570,807 Equity Shares to anchor investors at an allocation price of ₹920 per Equity Share, which includes a share premium of INR 919 per Equity Share, with a face value of INR 1 each.

  

• Thailand extends visa exemption program for Indian tourists

  This extension comes after the success of the initial waiver implemented last November. Previously, tourists from India and Taiwan were allowed to stay in Thailand for only 15 days under a visa-on-arrival scheme. By extending the exemption, Thailand hopes to encourage longer stays and more frequent visits from these countries.

  

• Indian airlines to carry half of country's international traffic by 2028: Crisil

  The share of Indian airlines in international passenger traffic that originates from, terminates in, or transitions through India is projected to increase by 50 percent by fiscal 2028 from 43 percent in 2024, as reported by Crisil Ratings. The rating agency stated that the enhancement would be a result of Indian airlines increasing their fleet size.

  

• Sri Lanka renews visa-free entry for India, select countries

  The country's Cabinet on Monday decided to award free visa entry to nationals from India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia who are on a 30-day visit to the island nation.The scheme was launched in October as a pilot project to rebuild the tourism industry in the country.According to the Department of Immigration and Emigration which handles visa-free entry, foreigners from the above-mentioned countries should apply visa via website www.srilankaevisa.lk before arriving in Sri Lanka and the validity period of this free visa is 30 days.

  

• Etihad Airways to operate to Jaipur and Bali over next two months

  Javier Alija, Vice President Sales and Distribution, Etihad Airways, said: "We're looking forward to a great week ahead at the Arabian Travel Market, where we have the opportunity to showcase the growth story at Etihad Airways, in partnership with Zayed International Airport, our new home in Abu Dhabi. We look forward to welcoming our trade and tourism partners and industry peers to our stand and look forward to a fruitful week for the important travel trade industry."

  

• Maldives urges Indians to 'be a part' of its tourism, says country's economy 'depends' on it

  "We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will give a warm welcome to Indian arrivals. As the Tourism Minister, I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives' tourism. Our economy depends on tourism," he said.

  

• Govt showcases India as 365-day tourist destination at Arabian Travel Mart

  The pavilion has made a resounding entry, aiming to capture the entirety of the UAE market. The country's delegation comprising tour operators, luxury hotels, wellness resorts, and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be highlighting India's attraction as a round-the-year tourist destination, according to an official statement.

  

• Transforming hospitality and travel with AI-powered conversational intelligence

  At the core of AI-powered conversational intelligence's impact lies its remarkable ability to understand and analyse customer sentiments across diverse communication channels. Whether through phone calls, emails, written comments, or surveys, leading AI-powered Conversational Intelligence (Conversational Intelligence) platforms excel in capturing and interpreting customer feedback, providing invaluable insights for service enhancement.

  

• Turkiye Tourism & OTOAI join forces to conduct mega Fam trip for Indian outbound tour operators

  Spanning the captivating cities of İstanbul, Antalya, and İzmir with exclusive visits to Pamukkale and Kuşadası, participants will delve into Türkiye's diverse tapestry of attractions, ranging from ancient marvels to awe-inspiring natural landscapes. Each leg of the itinerary is meticulously curated to showcase Türkiye's rich cultural heritage, stunning vistas, and renowned hospitality, granting OTOAI members a holistic perspective of Türkiye's tourism offerings.

  

• Emirates announces first A350 destinations including key Indian cities

  The airline plans to introduce its latest aircraft type to nine destinations in the coming months, including several cities in India, bringing its renowned Premium Economy seats to the Middle East/GCC regional routes for the first time. Emirates Premium Economy seats will be available on 42 destinations by February 2025.

  

• STB launches 'Family Playdates. Made In Singapore' campaign to promote family-friendly travel

  The STB has partnered with Singapore Airlines Group, Sentosa Development Corporation and Mandai Wildlife Group for its latest summer campaign, ‘Family Playdates. Made In Singapore’, with exciting offers of up to 50 per cent for the families with children segment. Families can embark on an immersive journey through Bird Paradise, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Singapore Zoo, experiencing close encounters with wildlife and indulging in educational and entertaining activities.

  

• Redevelopment work begins at Varkala Sivagiri railway station in Kerala

  The station will be redeveloped at an estimated cost of INR 123.36 crore in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode. The construction period is 30 months. Meanwhile, the same agencies secured the contract for the redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station at an estimated cost of INR 439 crore in EPC mode. The expected completion period is 42 months.

  

• Foreign firms at Colombo airport to continue to facilitate visa services: Sri Lankan immigration

  The services of the foreign companies GBS Technology Services and IVS Global FZCO in partnership with VFS VF Worldwide Holdings Ltd would be continued at the airport, senior immigration department officials said. The delays at the visa-on-arrival counters were a technical fault, which would be rectified by next week and the foreign companies would resume their operations after that, they said.

  

• Can air taxis fly between Delhi and Gurgaon?

  What you've wished you could have done as you grind a way through crazy traffic is now a 2026 promise, which comes in the form of a collaboration between the parent company of India's largest airline and an American firm - backed by aircraft giant Boeing - that makes flying five-seaters.

  

• Commercial jet maker Airbus is staying humble even as Boeing flounders. There's a reason for that

  Yet the European company is unlikely to extend its advantage in the Airbus-Boeing duopoly much further despite having customers clamoring for more commercial aircraft, according to aviation analysts. The reason: Airbus already is making planes as fast as it can and has a backlog of more than 8,600 orders to fill.

  

• Australian Airline Qantas to pay USD 79 million in compensation and fine over 'ghost flights' scandal

  Qantas Airways agreed to pay 120 million Australian dollars ($79 million) in compensation and a fine for selling tickets on thousands of cancelled flights, the airline and Australia’s consumer watchdog said on Monday. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued the Sydney-based airline in the Federal Court last year.