Sri Lanka Tourism hosts networking meet in New Delhi
Sri Lanka Tourism organised a networking and press meet in New Delhi to strengthen engagement with the Indian travel trade and media. The session featured Buddhika Hewawasam, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority & Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau; Nalin Jayasundera, President, SLAITO; and Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager – India, Bangladesh & Nepal, SriLankan Airlines. Sri Lanka welcomed over 530,000 Indian tourists last year, with stakeholders expressing strong optimism for sustained growth ahead.
India’s first Submarine Tourism Project set for Sindhudurg
Maharashtra has approved India’s first submarine tourism initiative off the Sindhudurg coast, featuring a 24-seater battery-operated submarine and an underwater museum around the decommissioned INS Guldar. The ₹112 crore project aims to attract marine adventure seekers and position Sindhudurg as a global marine tourism hub, offering unique underwater exploration of coral life and maritime heritage.
UP Tourism launches “Lucknow Darshan” electric Double-Decker Bus
Uttar Pradesh has launched the Lucknow Darshan electric double-decker bus service to redefine city tourism with guided panoramic tours of heritage and cultural icons like Vidhan Sabha Bhavan, Hazratganj and Gomti Riverfront. Operated by the UP State Tourism Development Corporation, the eco-friendly service runs twice daily from 1090 Chauraha with tickets around ₹500, promoting sustainable and immersive exploration of Lucknow’s attractions.
Etihad marks 20 years on Abu Dhabi–Johannesburg route
Etihad Airways has completed 20 years of operations between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, reinforcing its long-standing presence in the African market. Since launching the route in 2005, the airline has carried nearly two million passengers, strengthening business, tourism and cultural ties between the UAE and South Africa. In 2025 alone, over 100,000 guests travelled on the sector, which offers seamless onward connectivity to Europe, North America, the Indian Subcontinent and more.
#First Opinion
At ITQ Technologies, our 2026 vision is centred on accelerating technology-enabled travel retailing. We aim to empower OTAs, TMCs, airlines and wholesalers through API-first connectivity, intelligent automation, unified content aggregation and data-led personalisation. ITQ-Travelport’s focus spans product innovation, operational excellence and ecosystem scale – helping partners move from transactional distribution to intelligent retailing with agility, scale and sustainable profitability.
Anil Parashar, Executive Director, ITQ
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