India Outbound - November - December 2024

In this issue

Tis the season of festivities again!

Taylor Swift’s chef d’oeuvre Eras Tour made it evidently clear just how grand the implications of music festivals are on tourism with record figures! Among the thousands of Swifties on her world tour were fans from India, leading the pack. So as thousands of Indians tune in to the beats in criss-crossed cities across the world, we let music tourism take the centre stage in our year-end November-December 2024 issue of India Outbound magazine. Discover the craziest of music festivals in the spotlight to the best of destinations, with lesser-known destinations leading the collection.

And as you dance to the rhythm, you might as well catch yourself gently sail away to the vibrant Diwali celebrations aboard Resort World One’s maiden voyage for Dubai! Or explore the many marvels of Disney, a childhood favourite for most of us, onboard Disney Adventure, the first ship of Disney Cruise Line to be based in Asia as it homeported from Singapore.

For the adventure-hearts, take your pick in Paris of the Caucasus, Batumi, in all its lively colours during once upon an autumn foliage.

And to please your culinary senses, we bring you an array of flavours from Fiji that you can savour after experiencing its neighbour Sydney, arguably the prettiest Australian city!

Other highlights of the issue:

Event Report: APAC Travel Marketplace sets stage for Abu Dhabi’s Asian conquest

Offbeat: Nimes: French city with Roman Soul

Interview: Shahnaz Husain’s cool tips for skincare during travel

Read the November-December 2024 issue for features on several other
destination reports, experiences and interviews with travel industry
leaders.

DESTINATIONS TUNE INTO MELODIES OF MUSIC TOURISM

One of the fastest growing niche segments of tourism is centred around music as millions of travellers around the world make their way to music festivals and especially to concerts by leading stars like Taylor Swift or Adele. For destinations and tourism stakeholders where these festivals and concerts are organised, music tourism is hitting all the right cords.

10+ mins

EXPLORING BATUMI IN ALL ITS COLOURS

Georgian Black Sea resort town of Batumi is often referred to as the Paris of the Caucasus countries and it attracts the rich and famous from all over the world, bewitching them with its multiple shades and hues.

10+ mins

APAC Travel Marketplace sets stage for Abu Dhabi's Asian conquest

With the objective of enhancing engagements and increasing the footfall from its largest source market, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi recently hosted the first edition of APAC Travel Marketplace that attracted over 200 travel and tourism stakeholders from across the Asia Pacific region.

7 mins

La Mamounia is an oasis for travellers

In order to cement its foothold in the Indian market, Moroccan luxury resort La Mamounia, located in the picturesque town of Marrakech, recently organised a visit to Mumbai and Delhi, engaging with top-tier travel industry partners from India. General Manager Pierre Jochem tells India Outbound that the resort, which recently completed 100 years, is targetting the Indian visitors seeking to explore Morrocan art, culture and heritage, besides its captivating beauty.

1 min

Nimes: French city with a Roman soul

Explore the charming city of Nimes, nestled in the heart of the Occitanie region in the South of France. With its stunning architecture and iconic landmarks such as the ancient arena and the majestic Maison Carrée, Nimes has an undeniable resemblance to the timeless beauty of Rome.

4 mins

Scenic Sydney: Sky street & sea

When in Sydney, arguably the prettiest Australian city, soar through the sky like a bird, conquer the world's tallest steel arch bridge, have close encounters with cuddly koala bears and soak up the sun on a vibrant beach!

5 mins

Bintan Island: SEESE

A haven of nature, with thriving flora and fauna, the Indonesian island of Bintan, that is barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry and comes with easy visa regimes, is an ideal extension for any Indian visitor to Singapore, looking to add a touch of wilderness to the experience.

8 mins

Africa has come a long way as travel destination for Indians

The perception of Africa as a tourism destination has come a long way in India as travellers from India have gone beyond safaris to discover other elements that make travel to Africa attractive. The change is not just amongst Indian tourists, but destinations have also learnt more about their Indian clients and are taking steps to customise their offer to the Indian visitors, writes Alpa Jani, Founder, Ace Connect, a tourism marketing company.

4 mins

Navigating Natural Wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

For us city dwellers, even the sound of a cuckoo might seem exotic. So now imagine discovering a vastness filled with shifting dunes and interlaced emerald lagoons.

5 mins

Shahnaz Husain's cool tips for skincare during travel

Celebrity beautician and hair care expert Shahnaz Husain tells India Outbound on her secrets for skin-care and hair-care while travelling.

3 mins

Debuting at COP29, can tourism lead march towards curbing carbon emissions?

Tourism will make its debut in global climate change negotiations in the next round of discussions, COP29, that opens in Baku later this month. So far, the discussions have spectacularly failed to produce any notable outcome, besides platitudes and numerous missed commitments. The global tourism industry has a golden opportunity to lead the way and show the world the true path to curbing carbon emissions. But the sector's own record in this aspect is hardly blemishless.

4 mins

UPI IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A GAME CHANGER FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS

Having revolutionised digital transactions in India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now expanding globally. After tepid beginnings in the immediate neighbourhood, UPI is gaining acceptance in many countries making a win-win for Indian tourists and businesses overseas that are increasingly eager to tap the burgeoning Indian outbound travel market.

7 mins

Explore the Jewel of Southern Spain, Seville

Home to one of the largest historic centres of Europe and three world heritage sites, the stunning city of Seville, located by the picturesque Guadalquivir River in southern Spain, offers tourists an experience rich in history, culture, art, gastronomy and much more.

5 mins

Plovdiv: Timeless jewel in Bulgarian crown

With a history spanning over two millennia, Plovdiv is not only one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, but also a vibrant conduit linking Bulgaria's past and its present.

4 mins

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India Outbound Magazine Description:

India Outbound is a magazine promoting Foreign Destinations in India. India is one of the fastest growing tourism markets not only in France but all over Europe. In 2010, over 12 million Indians travelled overseas as against 5.5 million visitors to India...