Kenya Provides Incentives to Indian Journey Brokers. Plus: New Metro Path to the Taj Mahal — India Report

The Kenya Tourism Board has launched a advertising marketing campaign in India. Beneath the marketing campaign, the tourism board will present journey brokers with incentives to advertise Kenya as a tourism vacation spot to the Indian vacationers. 

The marketing campaign highlights the significance of India for Kenya’s tourism. John Chirchir, Ag CEO, Kenya Tourism Board, mentioned that India stands as a pivotal marketplace for Kenya by way of journey and tourism. “We consider that this initiative will considerably contribute to strengthening our foothold on this dynamic panorama,” he added. 

Visa-free entry in Kenya: In January 2024, Kenya turned a visa-free nation for worldwide vacationers, together with for Indian passport holders. The transfer aimed to spice up the nation’s tourism sector, whereas additionally streamlining the entry course of within the nation with a brand new digital portal. Vacationers to Kenya solely want to use and pay for an digital journey authorization in an effort to enter the nation. 

In 2022, Kenya obtained greater than 81,000 vacationers from India, a rise of greater than 93% over the 2021 determine. India was additionally the fifth largest supply marketplace for the nation in 2022. Throughout the first eight months of 2023, Kenya attracted most Indian guests amongst all African nations.

New Stretch of Agra Metro Connecting Taj Mahal to be Launched 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to inaugurate the brand new stretch of the Agra Metro on Wednesday. The brand new stretch will connect with fashionable vacationer locations together with Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The speedy transit community in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra will function trains on the brand new route between 6 am and 10 pm on daily basis. 

The brand new stretch has been named ‘precedence hall’, and can join Taj East Gate with Mankameshwar Temple. In response to Ministry of Tourism knowledge, Taj Mahal was probably the most visited ASI monument throughout the 2022-23 fiscal yr. The monument obtained a home footfall of 4.5 million throughout this era. 

21.8 Million Home Vacationers Visited Kerala in 2023

The coastal state of Kerala recorded 21.8 million home vacationers in 2023, setting a brand new document for its home vacationer arrivals. This determine was almost 16% up from the 2022 ranges, which stood at almost 18.9 million vacationers. 

Notably, 2023 additionally marked a rise of about 19% over the 2019 pre-Covid ranges, Kerala tourism minister P A Mohamed Riyas mentioned. Ernakulam district, the place Kochi is positioned, noticed the very best inflow of vacationers in 2023, adopted by Idukki district, through which Munnar is located. State capital’s district Thiruvananthapuram was the third most visited district in Kerala. 

EaseMyTrip Launches Co-Branded Credit score Card with Punjab Nationwide Financial institution

On-line journey company EaseMyTrip has collaborated with Punjab Nationwide Financial institution to launch the PNB EMT co-branded bank card. The cardboard will present holders with rewards and advantages to vacationers on flights, inns, and vacation packages bookings. The cardboard additionally permits holders to entry home and worldwide airport lounges. 

Co-branded bank cards are gaining popularity within the hospitality and journey trade in India. Final yr, Marriott Worldwide’s loyalty program Marriott Bonvoy partnered HDFC Financial institution to launch a co-branded bank card. Full-service airline Vistara has additionally partnered with a number of banks together with SBI and Axis Financial institution to launch a spread of bank cards. IndiGo additionally has a co-branded bank card with HDFC Financial institution. 

Yatra On-line Appoints Gaurav Luthra as Chief Enterprise Officer

Gaurav Luthra has been appointed because the Chief Enterprise Officer — New Enterprise Improvement for Yatra On-line. He’ll drive the company journey proposition of the corporate, whereas specializing in mid-market and SME clients. Luthra can even develop new merchandise together with visa facilitation and automobile leases for enterprise vacationers.

Yatra On-line is trying to additional develop its enterprise. Within the third quarter of 2023-24 fiscal yr, the corporate reported a year-on-year income progress of 23%.

Etihad Airways to Develop Operations to Jaipur

Etihad Airways has introduced its plans to develop its operations to Jaipur, Rajasthan. The nationwide airline of the United Arab Emirates will start 4 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Jaipur beginning June 16.

The airline can be rising its frequency to Thiruvananthapuram from June 15. With three extra flights, the airline will function a complete of 10 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and the state capital of Kerala.

Agoda Launches AI-Pushed Personalised Commercial Marketing campaign

On-line journey platform Agoda has launched a personalised promoting marketing campaign pushed by Synthetic Intelligence. The marketing campaign, which is tailor-made to the Indian viewers, options actor Ayushmann Khurrana. With the assistance of the know-how, the platform has created greater than 250 custom-made movies for varied vacationer locations in India and overseas. 

The marketing campaign has used a single video of the actor and transformed it into greater than 250 adverts with the assistance of generative AI. The know-how aids in adapting the advert to the consumer in line with their vacation spot of curiosity in an effort to make it related to every viewer.

Picture Credit score: Kenya has made entry visa free for all worldwide vacationers in a bid to extend tourism.