Travel

Yatra, a leading online travel platform, has launched DIYA, an artificial intelligence-powered travel assistant designed to streamline trip planning for users. Leveraging advanced AI algorithms, DIYA offers personalized recommendations for flights, accommodations, and itineraries based on individual preferences and travel history. The tool integrates natural language processing to interact seamlessly with users, making travel planning more intuitive and efficient.

EaseMyTrip posted robust growth in the first quarter of 2025, propelled by rising demand in hotel bookings and holiday packages. The company’s strategic focus on expanding its accommodation portfolio and bundling travel services has resonated with Indian travelers seeking convenience and value. Domestic tourism, coupled with an uptick in short-haul leisure trips, has contributed to higher revenues across key segments. Analysts note that the platform’s agile pricing strategies and targeted promotions have strengthened customer retention and acquisition.

Google has unveiled a new AI-powered flight search tool designed to streamline travel planning and enhance user experience. Leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics, the tool allows users to find flights, compare prices, and access personalized recommendations efficiently. The platform integrates real-time pricing, predictive insights on fare trends, and flexible itinerary options, enabling travelers to make informed decisions with ease.

In a strategic push toward intelligent travel personalization, MakeMyTrip has launched a generative AI-powered trip planning assistant that promises to transform the way Indians plan their vacations. Integrated into the platform’s mobile and web interfaces, the new tool uses natural language processing to deliver customized, real-time travel itineraries based on user preferences, budgets, and timing. This move not only signals MakeMyTrip’s ambition to lead India’s digital travel evolution but also reflects a broader industry trend toward AI-led convenience and efficiency.

India's civil aviation sector continued its upward trajectory in June 2024, registering a robust 1.36 crore domestic air passengers—a significant increase from the previous year. The growth reflects strong demand for both business and leisure travel, driven by improved connectivity, aggressive airline pricing, and a buoyant economy. With load factors rising and airlines expanding capacity, India remains one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally.

A recent report has highlighted a clear preference among Indian travellers for international destinations, with Dubai and Bali emerging as the top choices in 2024. The findings, based on booking trends and customer behavior, reveal that Indian tourists are increasingly seeking exotic, luxury-friendly locations that offer both cultural richness and leisure value. The study also underscores a notable surge in outbound tourism from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, indicating a broadening of India’s global travel footprint.

SOTC Travel is targeting robust double-digit growth for the fiscal year ending March 2026, driven by an aggressive expansion into regional India and evolving travel preferences, according to Managing Director and CEO Vishal Suri. Emphasizing the growing significance of pilgrimage tourism, particularly during the Shravan season with a focus on the 12 Jyotirlingas, SOTC is strategically enhancing its omnichannel presence and investing in technology and partnerships.

Travel Food Services (TFS), a dominant player in the travel-centric food and beverage (F&B) sector, has announced its Rs. 2,000-crore initial public offering (IPO), slated to open between July 7 and July 9, 2025. Priced between Rs. 1,045 and Rs. 1,100 per share, the offering is entirely an offer-for-sale (OFS) by the promoter entity, Kapur Family Trust, with no fresh capital being infused into the company. Backed by SSP Group plc and operating across 14 Indian and 3 Malaysian airports, TFS commands a robust portfolio of over 390 outlets and 117 brands.

MakeMyTrip has announced a USD 2.5 billion fundraising effort through a dual offering of ordinary shares and convertible bonds, aimed at significantly curtailing the influence of Chinese travel giant Trip.com Group within the company. The capital will be deployed primarily for a strategic share repurchase, bringing Trip.com’s voting rights down from 45.34% to 19.99% and reducing its board representation from five to two.

In a strategic move to strengthen its presence in high-growth regions, Thomas Cook (India) has inaugurated its first franchise outlet in Mohali, Punjab. The city, part of the prominent Tricity region alongside Chandigarh and Panchkula, is witnessing a surge in both residential and commercial development. The company identified Mohali as a key source market due to robust demand for travel services. Backed by positive consumer trends—such as rising holiday frequency and larger travel budgets—Thomas Cook aims to capitalize on this momentum.