Travel News

The primary reasons for travel in 2023 have been revealed by new market research published by Asaptickets. According to 63% of airline travelers, people travel overseas to see friends and family. Most (55%) would rather travel with one or more family members, and more than half (60%) do so once or twice a year. Reason for Travel Regarding the primary motives for travel, the poll reveals that 62.92% of respondents most frequently cite seeing friends and family. 10.06% of respondents say they prefer to travel and visit new places (9.27%), but 6.71% say they fly overseas for work-related travel or to take a beach holiday (5.13%). Male travelers are more likely than female travelers to travel abroad for employment (7.64%), whereas female travelers usually choose leisure travel (5.63%). A third of female travelers, or 27.7%, take international flights to visit new places, go sightseeing, and enjoy beach holidays. Merely 22.57% of male respondents, or almost one out of every five, travel for recreational purposes. Frequently Traveled For many people, travel will once again play a significant role in their daily lives in 2023, with travel volumes expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Research on travelers’ habits indicates that 59.53% of passengers take flights one or twice a year. Approximately 28.59% of travelers do it once every several years. Only 2.16% of respondents usually travel on a monthly basis, compared to 9.82% of respondents who consider quarterly travel to be a necessity. In addition, the survey finds that men travel by air more frequently than women do. More than 76% of them travel overseas at least once a year, compared to 65% of female passengers who do so once or more times a year. Organization for Tours More than half (55.60%) of Asaptickets customers travel with their family or other relatives, per the poll. Dedicated lone travelers who prefer to see the globe on their own or travel alone for work make up one-third of them (30.65%). Only 2.55% of respondents indicated that they would prefer to travel overseas with their colleagues, but 8.84% of respondents said they typically travel with friends. In contrast, men are more willing to travel alone (33.91%) as opposed to going overseas with friends (6.92%). Nonetheless, 11.68% of female travelers claim that they would rather travel with friends. Only one out of every four women (26.64%) decided to travel alone on average. Methodology: Asaptickets conducted a study among adults who used Asaptickets and Skylux Travel agency services in the United States and Canada during the previous year, whether for business or pleasure. More than 1,000 responders who were at least 18 years old in total. Source- Travel daily

United Airlines declared that it has submitted an application to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for daily nonstop service between Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. If authorized, United will be the first American airline to provide nonstop service between Houston and Haneda. This new route will cater to customers living throughout the Southern United States, 240+ Japanese-affiliated firms, and the constantly expanding Houston region. 64 locations in the South of the United States will be served by the flights, which will make up approximately 575,000 annual reservations to Tokyo, or 21 percent of the demand from the U.S. mainland to Tokyo. Houston has one international flight to Haneda, compared to five from New York/Newark, seven from Los Angeles, three from Chicago, and two each from Washington, D.C. and Dallas/Fort Worth. This new route will improve market parity and give business and leisure travelers the necessary seats and flexibility. According to Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances at United Airlines, “the Houston area has transformed into a critical hub for business and leisure travel due to its steadily growing population and booming energy and innovation sectors.” “This new service, if approved by the DOT, will improve travel options to Tokyo Haneda for customers throughout the Southern United States and fortify the economic ties between Japan and over 240 associated companies in the Houston region.” While running the largest route network of any American airline in the globe, United has worked hard to build a Japanese network to encourage competition and offer reasonable and reliable service options for travelers from the United States. Several flights are currently offered by United from its seven U.S. hubs to Haneda and Narita airports as part of its Tokyo service. With more than 14,000 employees, more than 400 daily departures, including more than 70 daily foreign departures, United is the biggest airline in Houston. A recent Compass Lexecon study estimates that the gross domestic product in Texas is supported by foreign visitor spending on United and Star Alliance member flights, as well as the Huston hub of United. In 2022, direct employment from United contributed $1.2 billion to the local economy in Houston. Houston is a major manufacturing, health care, and most significantly, energy industry commercial powerhouse. As an oil superpower, Japan has established strong economic links with Houston and the state of Texas. Houston was selected as one of the seven regional clean hydrogen hubs by the U.S. Department of Energy, in partnership with Mitsubishi Power Americas, a Japanese corporation. In Texas, Japanese-owned companies employ about 70,000 people; in Houston, there are about 240 Japanese-affiliated companies. Moreover, Houston is home to 24 of the 53 Fortune 500 corporations that call Texas home. Over the past ten years, Japanese companies have reported 119 investment projects in Texas, resulting in a total of $6.9 billion in capital investment and the creation of 19,620 employment, according to the Texas Development Corporation. However, Texas-based businesses announced 25 investment projects in Japan, resulting in 1,667 new jobs and $799 million in capital investment. Houston and Japan have more than just business links; Houston is home to Japan’s regional Consulate-General. Source- Travel daily

Last Friday, ITA Airways held a delivery ceremony for their new Airbus A321neo at their Hamburg manufacturing facility. Those in attendance included Pedro Cabrero-Vazquez, Customer Fleet Director – Europe at Pratt & Whitney, Walter Garrett, Senior Manager Asset Management Air Lease Corporation, and Francesco Presicce, ITA Airways Accountable Manager and Chief Technology Officer. The National Authority for Certification and Airworthiness (ENAC) will conduct pre-operational testing and scheduled inspections on the A321neo in Fiumicino following the ceremony. Following this, the aircraft will commence commercial flights. The first Airbus A321neo, a brand-new aircraft for our firm, is being welcomed today with pride, said Francesco Presicce, Chief Technology Officer and Accountable Manager of ITA Airways. “ITA Airways’ fleet will comprise all of the last generation Airbus aircraft families—the A220, A320, A330, and A350—with the arrival of the Airbus A321neo.” We will be able to expand our international network further with the new A321neo, which was constructed totally in accordance with ITA Airways’ new interior design. Furthermore, it’s a significant step forward in our new environmentally friendly fleet development plan, utilizing state-of-the-art technologies to maximize effectiveness and service quality while significantly reducing environmental impact. The A321neo is the first narrow-body aircraft operated by ITA Airways, with three distinct cabin areas: Business Class (including fully lie-flat seats), Premium Economy, and Economy (comprising seats specifically designated for Comfort Economy). The new aircraft is ideal for the Company’s upcoming routes (Middle East and Africa) in terms of type and interior layout. I would like to express my gratitude to the entire project team for their dedication in attaining this esteemed outcome for a nascent airline with an expanding fleet. The first Airbus A321neo to fly for ITA Airways, it bears Massimiliano Rosolino’s name, the Italian swimmer who took home the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The award-winning Airspace cabin, which offers the greatest levels of comfort and improved cabin space, the new ITA Airways custom internal lighting system, advanced entertainment systems, and full Wi-Fi access in all classes are some of the A321neo’s unique features. The interiors of the cabin, designed by Walter de Silva, are a beautiful representation of traditional Italian flair and elegance. They not only flawlessly maintain the aesthetic attributes of the brand, but they also meet the need for “people centricity” by creating a cabin impression that is consistent across all classes. Walter de Silva’s interior design for the cabin is a wonderful representation of classic Italian beauty and grace. They not only perfectly encapsulate the aesthetic elements of the brand, but also meet the requirement for “people centricity” by conveying a sense of consistency throughout all class levels in the cabin. Walter De Silva was motivated to create an interior for the ITA Airways A321neo that was both nice to look at and consistent with the aircraft’s decision to soar above the skies. The newest model of seats, XL overhead bins, fresh colors, and materials are all featured in the new aircraft. Furthermore, every seat has the newest “on-demand” video and music entertainment system, which includes 4K resolution low reflectance touchscreen monitors with 17.3′′ (Business), 15.6′′ (Premium Economy), and 13.3′′ (Economy) for a straightforward, seamless, and user-friendly experience. Passengers will experience something like to well-known multimedia apps thanks to the new IFE system, which offers biweekly programming that includes a large assortment of films, TV shows, music playlists, interactive games, and 3D interactive flight maps. Passengers can text, browse, or stream content on their smartphone while connected to the in-flight network, depending on the connectivity package they have chosen. With its unparalleled range and performance, Airbus’s A321neo is the largest aircraft in the A320neo Family. Thanks to next-generation Pratt & Whitney GTFTM engines and Sharklets, it offers a 50% reduction in noise impact and a 22% reduction in fuel and CO2 emissions per seat when compared to previous-generation aircraft in its class. The Airbus A321neo makes ITA Airways’ fleet strategy of running only Airbus aircraft even more robust. Presently, 81 aircraft are in service, comprising modern aircraft models such as the A220, A320neo, A330neo, and A350. It will be added to the fleet in the upcoming weeks to support the company’s medium-haul routes. Source- Travel daily

Travel disruptions are expected to increase in severity along with climate change. That was the feeling expressed at Phocuswright, when a number of influential travelers spoke on stage on how to handle this. In the meanwhile, technology could help reduce weather disruptions while the globe strives towards net zero goals that address climate change itself. “Everyone is on a journey, and it’s the traveler today that has to connect all the dots of that when things go wrong,” stated Jeffrey Katz, founder and CEO of Journera. However, technology ought to be doing the heavy lifting in connecting these dots, leaving the traveler with no manual labor. The travel brand should then be presented with the circumstance using that technology. The traveler will experience less stress and the brand will profit more if the brand intervenes and offers the traveler other arrangements. This will be more crucial than ever as disruptions brought on by climate change will occur more frequently and with greater intensity. The real-time, real-journey view of the customer and the technologies that can be added to it appeal to Theresa Wise, CEO of Utaza and former CIO of Delta Airlines. What currently exists, such as transaction data, infrastructure, and the logic to connect it all, is of special interest to me. The delivery systems are in place; all we need is technology to connect them so that, after a disruption, we can speak with the consumer in an informed manner and [immediately find them] a different hotel or a waiting car. Sun Country Airlines’ SVP and CMO is Brian Davis. The airline transports 4.5 million people annually between Minneapolis and the Caribbean, two areas that are increasingly affected by harsh weather. “The infrequent traveler, or those who travel once a year, is one of the defining characteristics of our airline,” he stated. Thus, we have limited capacity to influence behavior and build relationships. On the other hand, we are really enthusiastic about our new IROPS technology. We’ve been updating our technology stack in order to handle this unstable operating environment, and we’re giving travelers direct access to these capabilities so that we can assist them when disruptions occur. Paul Weaver, Vice President of Global Digital Product Design at Hyatt, believes that AI has a lot of applications in disruption management. “We’re working on scalable and affordable ways to incorporate AI into our websites and products, with a strong focus on digital storytelling. However, since we are a hotel, our clients want a certain level of humanity and care, so we must strike a balance between AI and their demands. Gen AI can truly help when it comes to providing our consumers with an improved experience, especially in times of disruption [e.g., by making it easier for the travel industry to rebook travelers in the event of a disruption]. Source- Travel daily

On board the much awaited Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International presents the main event. With a daring, new roster of expansive activities across the cruise line’s four distinctive “stages”—air, ice, water, and theater—as well as more live music and comedy than ever before, the first-of-its-kind vacation will debut in January 2024. From the first-ever marine production of “The Wizard of Oz” to a live band spectacular, the entertainment lineup aboard Icon caters to all kinds of families and vacationers. There’s also the first-ever cast of robots, skateboarders, and more. Because of Royal Caribbean, the leading live entertainment supplier in the world, a wide range of productions and performances will come to life throughout Icon day and night. The all-new AquaDome and its state-of-the-art AquaTheater, the Royal Theatre, and the Absolute Zero ice arena—all of which have the newest technology like 3D flying systems and robot arms that serve as diving platforms for high divers—will showcase over 75 world-class artists. Beyond the stage, Icon and its many venues, such as the brand-new Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues and Duelling Pianos, as well as time-honored favorites with a contemporary spin like Schooner Bar and the Point & Feather English pub, will be the scene for fifty live musicians and comedians. According to Nick Weir, senior vice president of entertainment at Royal Caribbean International, “live entertainment is at the core of so many of the memories made on Royal Caribbean vacations and we’re taking it to the next level on Icon of the Seas.” “Whether you enjoy large-scale Broadway and West End productions or live music and comedy in popular destinations like Las Vegas, Icon offers everything for every mood and style in a single vacation, along with never-before-seen twists that are exclusive to Royal Caribbean.” Highlights of the amusement travelers can expect aboard Icon include as follows: Deck-Defying AquaDome Features “Aqua Action!” – This high-octane production introduces a new type of cast by fusing technical and athletic capabilities. Blurring the boundaries between live-action films and theatrical experiences, Olympic-level high divers, skateboarders, aerialists, slackliners, and synchronized swimmers combine with high-tech firsts including a double 3D flying system and robots that double as diving boards and set designers. “Mermaids versus Pirates” – This show brings a mythological world to life with a mix of an easygoing plot, characters from fairy tales, and humor that appeals to both adults and children. In an epic battle to prove who truly is the ruler of the water, pirates and mermaids square off against one another. Acts deserving of an encore at the Royal Theatre The first cruise line to introduce the beloved story of Dorothy’s journey to Oz with a contemporary spin was “The Wizard of Oz.” Characters soaring above the audience, a groundbreaking set design with never-before-seen stage effects, more than 600 costume elements, and an original score performed by a new 16-piece orchestra are all present in Royal Caribbean’s interpretation of this beloved show that appeals to all generations. “SHOWBAND: Music. Live. Right Now.” – 16 outstanding musicians will be featured in this music lovers’ must-see and must-hear event. The show conductor and the string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instrumentalists will harness the power of live music to fully immerse the audience in an all-out sensory experience by combining their chart-topping talents with the state-of-the-art sound and video technologies of the venue. Chilling as Ice Twists and Turns at Zero Temperature “Starburst: Elemental Beauty” – This exciting tale about the building blocks of life revolves around an amazing, artistic rendition of the periodic table of elements. The new oval-shaped ice arena, which raises the bar for the cruise line’s 1999 presentation of the first ice rink at sea, will enable the Olympic-caliber ice cast to dazzle with dynamic, fast-paced choreography that packs more tricks and greater jumps. The concert will feature vivid lighting displays and stunning digitally mapped backdrops, making it an entirely immersive experience.“Once Upon a Time: The King’s Royal Ball” – This ultimate assembly of well-known fairytale celebrities is designed specifically with young tourists and their families in mind. Everybody will enjoy a nostalgic trip back in time to their childhood with timeless tales that include unexpected new features and twists not found in the original works.Past the Stage  There are songs, dance movements, and laughs everywhere you look for music enthusiasts, comedy aficionados, and everyone in between. Nine iconic locations on Icon pay tribute to live music and the greatest genres, featuring everything from rhythm and rhyme to a revolving lineup of all-time chart-toppers in rock, pop, Latin music, Caribbean sounds, and more. The Manhattan-inspired Comedy Club caters to adults only and offers three comedians who will make your friends’ or date night an unforgettable experience. It’s the perfect place for a laugh-filled night out. “SHIPS HOORAY!” – Hundreds of shipmates from the past and present will assemble for a show of skills and wits fight as swashbucklers, scalawags, and sailors of all stripes take over the rebuilt Royal Promenade with their fleets and flotillas.In the most recent installment of “Making an Icon: Creating Show-Stopping Entertainment,” Royal Caribbean’s monthly film series, travelers can go behind the scenes to learn how all the entertainment is generated.                                                  Everyone may create memories together and according to their own terms in this unique blend of the finest parts of every vacation—from the beach escape to the theme park adventure and the resort break. The game-changing experiences in store include six water slides that break records, seven pools (one for each day of the week), a stay-all-day neighborhood geared towards young families, entertainment on air, ice, water, and stage, over forty options for dining and drinking, and more spread across eight neighbourhoods that are destinations in and of themselves.   During Icon’s seven-night trips, travelers can discover the eastern and western Caribbean islands as well as The Bahamas. These include Basseterre, St.

of the Dubai Airshow in 2023, Etihad Airways is commemorating its 20th anniversary by giving attendees a sneak peek of the next Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, redesigned by Etihad, is on display at this week’s Dubai Airshow. The Economy class mattresses on the new Etihad Airways aircraft are more spacious, the Business class beds fully recline, and there are more entertainment options. The national airline of the United Arab Emirates displays its most recent Boeing 787-9, one of four new Dreamliners to be added to the fleet, in October, after the arrival of a new 787-10. The inside of Etihad’s new 787 Dreamliner cabin showcases enhancements to the airline’s multi-award winning cabins. The aircraft features the newest Etihad cabin interior, with 271 Economy seats and 32 Business class seats. A specially designed, modified version of Collins’ Elements seat is available in the Business cabin. Using the Elements seat on the Boeing 787, Etihad is the first airline in the world to do so. A suite door, more height in the suite, and plenty of space and comfort for guests are all features of the new seats. With direct aisle access, all 32 Business seats can be fully reclined to a 78-inch bed that is totally flat and equipped with Bluetooth headphone pairing, wireless charging, several charging outlets, a 17.3-inch 4K TV screen, and ample storage. With 244 standard seats and 27 Economy Space seats that have four inches more legroom than the current fleet, the new 787 delivers lighter, hence more fuel-efficient, seating than the current fleet. Safran’s most recent in-flight entertainment system, which includes Rave Ultra 13.3′′ 4K touch-screen monitors and the capability to use personal phones and tablets as a remote, is included on the new 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft is equipped with a new Viasat networking system that uses Ka-band technology to deliver Live TV with news and sports channels, as well as high-speed Wi-Fi with streaming capabilities. Free Wi-Fi discussion packages are available to all Etihad Guest members, and all visitors can purchase a full Surf plan with unlimited data for the duration of the journey. Etihad has added 12 new destinations this year, and further flights to Boston, Nairobi, and India are scheduled to begin operating in the upcoming months. The new aircraft will support the airline’s expansion goals. Along with expanding its operations, the airline recently enhanced network links and added new flight frequencies in a number of places. Antonoaldo Neves, the CEO of Etihad Airways, said, “Our 20th anniversary is a pivotal moment where we not only celebrate the airline’s achievements to date but, more importantly, set a strong foundation and path for growth into the future.” We already have big aspirations to grow our fleet and connect more guests more conveniently to more places, and these additional aircraft will be essential to achieving those goals. We will surpass our passengers’ expectations by delivering an exceptional in-flight experience as we go with this. Source- Travel daily

As part of an agreement to expand to include codeshare flying, the national flag airlines of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air and Saudia, inked a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding. This marked a crucial milestone moment of collaborative strength in the KSA aviation ecosystem. The first significant agreement between the two airlines, the Memorandum of Understanding, is anticipated to lay the foundation for further collaboration. The partnership intends to offer a comprehensive set of incentives for visitors from Saudi Arabia and those traveling within the Kingdom, in addition to enhancing the whole Saudi aviation ecosystem. As part of the partnership, passengers of both airlines will have full access to each airline’s global network, with a comprehensive interline and codeshare agreement enabling smooth travel between sectors operated by Saudia or Riyadh Air. Utilizing codeshare services offered by one carrier can allow members of their loyalty programs to accrue points or credits. A more extensive loyalty program will thereafter be introduced, enabling visitors to accrue or spend points and receive elite-level advantages throughout the worldwide networks of both carriers. As the primary airlines of the Kingdom, Saudia and Riyadh Air are committed to this strategic partnership, which calls for joint efforts to achieve wider synergies and efficiencies across the value chain in sectors including commercial, digital development, aviation support services, and cargo/logistics. In order to eventually offer visitors a wider choice of places and services, the strategic agreement also aims to optimize routes and resources. Saudia CEO Capt. Ibrahim Koshy stated, “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Riyadh Air and look forward to seeing another Saudi carrier support the national aviation strategy and the Kingdom’s tourism objectives.” We are combining our efforts to accommodate visitors arriving in and departing from the Kingdom on this historic occasion. The sector will be pleasantly disrupted by Saudia and Riyadh Air, and we are pleased to sign this MOU expressing our intent to work together. Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas stated, “The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for this strategic collaboration shows a solid statement of intent from both airlines.” The ideal approach to manage and accelerate this growth is for Saudia and Riyadh Air, the national carriers, to collaborate on this project as they will be crucial to the Kingdom’s travel and tourist industry’s progress. As we get ready to start in 2025, we are confident that Riyadh Air will increase the standard in air travel, and we think that collaborating with Saudia will help us achieve this. Benefits and other information will be made available to customers who book flights on Saudia or Riyadh Air after the latter company launches in 2025. Source- Travel daily

What self-care routine do you follow today? What about tomorrow and the day after that, not just today? The creator of MINDFUL NATION, a music-meets-meditation platform, Niamh McCarthy, offers her advice on how to approach the Christmas season thoughtfully and intentionally so you may arm yourself with all the self-care resources you need to get through the winter and beyond. 1) Invent fresh ideas and activate your mental light. Repetitive thoughts account for up to 95% of daily thoughts, 80% of which are unpleasant. Taking power of your mind first thing in the morning in the moments after waking up has the opportunity to completely reframe your day and create new thought processes for a more positive outset. Of the 5% of new thoughts you have in the day, make sure there are good ones. The most powerful way of doing this is by repeating an affirmation or set of new affirmations each morning. These could be “Today is a good day” “I’m healthy” “I’m happy” “I’m safe”. Turning the light on in your mind is a process that only needs to take a couple of minutes each day with the Affirmations playlist on the MINDFUL NATION app. 2) Include a short meditation in your routine Meditation is often thought of as something “if I only had time for” but a meditation practice only needs to take three minutes during the day, as an individual practice or as part of a series throughout the day – one in the morning, a pick-me-up in the afternoon and one before going to sleep. MINDFUL NATION works on the philosophy that implementing a tiny lifestyle change will change your life. A suggested starting point is trying one of the Daily Meditations on the app that you can choose according to what feeling you want to bring in at that moment in time from a choice of Powerful, Calm, Grounded, Focused, Positive and Elevated. 3) Get good quality sleep As mammals, we crave hibernation during the winter months to rest and recuperate, copying the patterns of nature around us. However, modern lifestyle makes this very hard to do. One of the things that makes a massive difference to sleep patterns is minimising our exposure to the blue light from screens (television, computer, mobile phones). The problem with blue light is that it tricks the body into thinking that it’s daytime and prevents the release of melatonin, the body’s natural sleep hormone, which in turn affects our sleep patterns and natural circadian rhythm. In the hour or two before going to bed, try to minimise all blue light and try a binaural beat sleep meditation before switching off your phone. Binaural beat technology is used in the MINDFUL NATION Sleep Meditations and uses drones and deeply ambient sounds to encourage the body to subconsciously go into a calm and relaxed parasympathetic state which directly correlates with better sleep quality. 4) Mindful movement Release blocked energy in the body by implementing gentle movement each day to encourage deep breathing and a feeling of overall wellbeing. Walk and breathe in fresh air during the daylight hours to feel connected to the natural rhythm of the winter days. Try yoga to get the body moving and increase energy and vitality in your life while also reducing stress and helping sleep. 5) Essential oils The use of essential oils are an age-old alternative wellness practice to encourage connection to the present moment with each essential oil having their own distinctive benefits. Lavender can be used for relaxation or sleep, either by rubbing onto soles of the feet, putting into an air diffuser or spritzing onto a pillow. Eucalyptus is another fantastic oil for the winter months, originally used by Aborigines in Australia for fevers and for healing wounds. Try it for clearing stuffy noses and alleviating colds by placing a couple of drops in hot water and inhaling it with a towel over your head, or trying a few drops in a hot bath. Essential oils used in harmony with a meditation practice by rubbing a few drops onto your chest help connect you to your breath and are a powerful way of improving your practice. “Prioritising wellbeing and peacefulness during the holiday season can often fall to the bottom of the list of things to do. It has never been more important to prioritise self-care to show up each day and find the ways of being the best versions of ourselves and shine that light to all those who cross our paths,” say Niamh McCarthy, founder of MINDFUL NATION. Source-Travel daily

The world’s top payments and financial services provider, One97 Communications Limited (OCL), which created the Paytm brand and is credited with pioneering mobile and QR code payments, has partnered with Amadeus, a leading provider of travel technology worldwide. As part of this partnership, the business will incorporate Amadeus’s broad travel platform over the course of the following three years, improving the traveler experience from search to booking to payment. Through this partnership, travelers will benefit from a more seamless and effective booking experience thanks to the combined strength of Paytm’s large user base and Amadeus’s expertise. One of the top online travel aggregators in the nation, Paytm will become even more dominant in the travel industry in India as a result of this partnership with Amadeus. By utilizing Amadeus’s cutting-edge automation and New Distribution Capability (NDC) technologies, Paytm will be able to guarantee exact outcomes and create a reliable and strong travel marketplace. Paytm will deliver hyper-personalized recommendations and dynamic pricing to offer a world-class experience to its users powered by Amadeus.With Amadeus APIs, Paytm users will gain access to a vast inventory of global flight options, making it easier for them to find the best deals and book flights to destinations around the world, all within the Paytm app. This single API will provide the users with seamless access to diverse travel content, including Global Distribution Systems (GDS), Low-Cost Carriers (LCC), hotels, and more. This collaboration also paves the way for Paytm to offer a unified PNR solution in partnership with Indian national carriers. Paytm’s integration with Amadeus APIs ensures that travellers have access to a diverse range of payment options, including the convenience of UPI, the flexibility of the Paytm Wallet and Postpaid, and the assurance of a safe and secure payment gateway. This comprehensive suite of payment choices guarantees that users can complete their transactions with ease and confidence, all within the trusted Paytm ecosystem. Vikash Jaln, Chief Business Officer, Paytm Travel said, “As India’s leading travel platforms, we have been constantly bringing innovations to ensure the best travel experience for our users. Our brand reach and simplified product has empowered users with best travel solutions. The synergy between Paytm and Amadeus aligns perfectly with our vision to further upgrade the customer experience. It will automate travel operations for users by enhancing efficiency and scalability by leveraging cutting-edge technology.” Ramona Bohwongprasert, Senior Vice President-India Subcontinent & Southeast Asia, APAC Inside Sales & Startups, Amadeus, said, ” At Amadeus, we understand that in today’s ever-changing landscape, travellers expect more than just technological solutions; they demand reliable access to travel systems and simplified processes like ticketing and rebooking. In a world where disruptions can impact travelers at any moment, maintaining consistent and reliable access to these systems is paramount. Our deep understanding of these unique requirements has led us to collaborate with Paytm and provide them with next-generation, industry-specific, and fully integrated solutions. These solutions are designed to address their operational needs, instill confidence in travellers, and empower them to expand their businesses across geographies.” Source- Travel daily

The City Break Cost Index for 2023 has been reviewed by the travel specialists at Bounce. In order to determine the most reasonably priced locations for your city break in 2023, the team examined 75 of the most well-liked city break destinations from this year, taking into account variables like hotel prices, the cost of a bottle of wine, and one-way transportation rates. Timisoara has an affordability score of 8.63, making it the most economical city break destination in the world for 2023. In the city, a hotel room runs $105 a night. The average cab fare per kilometer in the city is $0.88, making transportation another incredibly affordable option. It’s understandable why the city was chosen as the 2021 European Capital of Culture. After falling to second place since 2021, Buenos Aires now stands as the second most cheap city break destination. The city continues to be the lowest place to buy a bottle of wine ($3.35) and the lowest place to buy a one-way local transportation ticket ($0.15). Buenos Aires is not just very inexpensive, but it’s a big, vibrant city with lots to see and do. Source- Travel daily