After Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to reduce foreign travel, tourism industry body FAITH says the country must not lose the opportunity to bring more international visitors in. It wants eased visa rules, better connectivity, and stronger global marketing to increase tourist arrivals and protect foreign exchange earnings.
A cruise ship in the South Atlantic has triggered a major health emergency after confirmed hantavirus infections and multiple deaths. Passengers reportedly developed flu-like symptoms that quickly worsened into severe respiratory complications following visits to Antarctica and remote islands. Public health teams from multiple countries are coordinating an investigation to trace exposure, including links to 12 nations directly or indirectly tied to the ship’s route.
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Air India has launched a new non-stop Delhi to Hanoi route operating five times a week, using Airbus A320neo aircraft. The service marks the airline’s first direct connection to Vietnam’s capital and is expected to widen travel options between India and Vietnam. Passengers can also benefit from connections via Delhi to Europe and the UK, with more flexible multi-city plans.
China says it will facilitate the travel of 1,000 Indian pilgrims for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, set to resume in 2026. The pilgrimage will be conducted in batches between June and August, with applications currently open for interested travelers. The yatra is considered spiritually significant for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists.
Thomas Cook India has boosted its prepaid Forex Card range to 28 global currencies, aiming to match rising travel demand for emerging destinations. With more local-currency options, travelers can make smoother transactions abroad. The firm is also leveraging its partnership with Blinkit to speed up forex loading, adding convenience ahead of international trips.
Iran has resumed flights to major international destinations including Beijing, Istanbul, and Muscat, with Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport City CEO saying services have restarted as a fragile ceasefire holds. The update follows Iran Air’s efforts to restore domestic passenger flights, starting with the Tehran–Mashhad route on April 22, reported by IRNA.
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Indian travelers heading abroad this summer are facing a sharp cost surge, with tour packages rising 20–25%. Escalating tensions in West Asia are lifting oil and airfare prices, while a weaker rupee further inflates expenses. As a result, outbound travel drops significantly, with the UAE and Gulf effectively grinding to a near stop, while Far East and domestic travel gain interest.
Adani Airports has partnered with MakeMyTrip to launch a new duty-free pre-booking service for international travellers. Passengers can browse over 14,000 products from 100+ brands and reserve their duty-free purchases before reaching Adani-managed airports. The move is designed to cut down on airport waiting time while offering exclusive online deals for both departing and arriving travellers.
Dubai has earned $29.4 billion from international tourists, placing it at the top worldwide for visitor spending, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The big question now is whether Dubai’s sustainability initiatives can keep pace with its booming tourism economy—turning glitz into a longer-term, lower-impact model.
India is set to begin talks with Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia to increase flight capacity, as the West Asia conflict limits how much Indian airlines can expand. With Southeast Asia a top choice for Indian travellers, more routes and seats could improve travel options and help steady or reduce airfares while diversifying destinations.
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Air India has teamed up with WestJet through an interline partnership that lets travellers book one ticket for connected journeys between India and North America. The deal covers flights linking to 30-plus destinations across Canada and the United States, with coordinated baggage handling and easier transfers designed to reduce friction on multi-leg trips.
Union Budget 2026 reduces Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for overseas tour packages, setting a flat 2% rate on international travel. The move lowers the prior TCS structure, which ranged from 5% to as high as 20%, making foreign trips more affordable for Indian citizens and easing the upfront tax burden.
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