The Singapore Tourism Board has entered into a year-long partnership with Changi Airport Group, and Sentosa Development Corporation to amplify Singapore’s brand visibility in the India travel market.
This is the first-ever tripartite collaboration between the three businesses and will also involve engagement with India’s travel trade.
The partnership places a special emphasis on higher-yield Indian travellers, Singapore Tourism Board said in a statement. As part of the collaboration, 30 Indian digital content creators will also be invited to Singapore to showcase experiences across Singapore, including Sentosa Island and Changi Airport.
According to Juliana Kua, assistant chief executive, International Group at Singapore Tourism Board, the collaboration builds on the roadshows held in India and the “strong interest” that they have witnessed from the market.
Capturing the Growing Market: Last year, 1.2 million Indians visited Singapore, an increase of nearly 12% as compared to 2023. This year the country expects to capture a bigger share of India’s outbound tourism market.
For Changi Airport, India is an important market, said Lim Ching Kiat, executive vice president for Air Hub and Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group. “With as many as 17 city links between Singapore and India, Changi Airport is the most connected hub to India within Southeast Asia. Through this partnership, we aim to provide travelers with exceptional experiences from their first touchpoint at Changi Airport to places of interest in our city.”
Sentosa Island, meanwhile, is set to open a range of new experiences this year to further increase its appeal to Indian travelers, Sentosa Development Corporation’s assistant chief executive Michael Ma said.
Oyo’s Aggressive Push in Premium Hotel Segment With Sunday Brand
Oyo is making an aggressive push into the premium hotel segment through its Sunday Hotels brand. The hospitality company has set a target of 100 Sunday hotels by next fiscal year’s end. It currently has 30 operational Sunday-branded properties in 10 countries.
This move is part of a broader shift towards “premiumization,” driven by rising incomes and evolving traveler preferences. Sunday Hotels represent Oyo’s foray into the four-star and five-star hospitality segment. Conceptualized for modern travelers seeking immersive experiences, these properties focus on personalized hospitality.
Sunday Hotels had debuted 15 months ago in Jaipur and since then, it has expanded to Indian cities such as Vadodara, Chandigarh, and Gurugram. Internationally, the brand is also making inroads into the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe, with its latest addition: Sunday Luxury Downtown Al Qudaybiyah in Bahrain’s capital Manama.
Airlines to Share Passenger Rights Link Via SMS, WhatsApp
All airlines in India are required to share the online link to passenger rights and passenger-centric regulations with travelers through SMS or WhatsApp, according to a directive by Indian aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The move is aimed to ensure that passengers are well informed about their rights.
Airlines have also been asked to prominently display this information on tickets and their websites. The directive comes as several incidents of airline mismanagement have been reported, including by prominent personalities such as Australian cricketer David Warner and Indian cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle.
While Warner complained against full-service airline Air India for making passengers board a flight that had no pilots, Bhogle criticized IndiGo for poor service.
Couples Continue to Spend on Weddings Even As Venue Costs Rise
The cost of wedding venues have risen significantly, according to wedding planning platform WeddingWire India. The average cost of a wedding venue is now around INR 600,000 ($7,000), while 40% of couples allocate INR 750,000 ($8,750) for the venue. Over 30% of the couples are willing to pay as high as INR 1 million ($11,700), indicating a growing focus on venue selection.
According to the platform’s survey, while cost is an important consideration for 53% of the couples, it is no longer the top priority. Food, drinks, and guest experience are quickly becoming the focus for couples, leading to a growing demand for high-quality catering, entertainment, and memorable guest experiences.
On average, couples are spending about 21% of their annual household income on their wedding, the survey revealed.
Last year, brokerage firm Jefferies revealed that weddings are the second-largest consumption category in India, coming only after food and groceries. The average Indian spends twice as much on a marriage ceremony than on education from pre-primary to postgraduation levels, it added.
An earlier Skift feature had mentioned how Indian weddings is a multi-million-dollar extravaganza.
Airports Authority of India’s $190 Million Push to Ayodhya Airport
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced a INR 16.25 billion ($190 million) project to expand capacity at the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya. According to the expansion plan, the annual capacity at the airport will be increased from 160,000 passengers currently to 6 million over the next 28 months.
A new passenger terminal will also be constructed as part of the plans. The number of aircraft bays will increase from eight to 18.
The airport has been witnessing a rise in passenger traffic after the consecration of the Ram Temple in January last year. Last year, the airport managed around 150 flights per week, this has now increased to 174.
Marriott Opens Resort in Jim Corbett
Marriott has opened Jim Corbett Marriott Resort & Spa in Uttarakhand. The 99-key resort is the company’s 13th hotel under the Marriott brand in India.
Jim Corbett is a popular national park in India, and has one of the densest tiger populations in the country. In the 2023-24 financial year, 335,000 Indian tourists and 9,000 foreign travelers visited the national park, according to Indian newspaper Garhwal Post.
