Latest news with #FederationofAssociationsinIndianTourismandHospitality
Mint
25-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Polo horses, exotic animals kept out of India-UK free-trade pact
NEW DELHI : Horse lovers expecting cheaper thoroughbreds for polo after India's free-trade pact with the UK, a country known for its equine breeds, will be disappointed. The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has kept polo horses, mules, and other exotic livestock out of the duty concession list under the pact, according to documents. This means the existing 33% import duty stays. By excluding these animals from the pact, India has shielded military and sporting institutions and domestic breeders, as well as prevented the trade in wildlife and luxury animals that could face ethical scrutiny, said trade analysts. The exclusion list also covers animals used in remote logistics, such as mules and hinnies, the FTA documents showed. Hinnies and mules are widely used in India's hilly terrains and logistics in remote areas, and the high duty is seen as a protective measure to support domestic breeders and avoid incentives for luxury or low-utility imports. Also Read: India opens up autos, services, liquor to UK; gains access in goods United Nations Comtrade data show that India purchased live horses, asses, mules and hinnies worth $9.19 million from the UK in 2024. The list of excluded species also includes several marine and land mammals, such as whales, dolphins, porpoises, manatees and dugongs, seals, sea lions and walruses, as well as rabbits, hares, and reptiles, including turtles and snakes. Imports of turkeys, ducks, geese, and goat or sheep meat will also continue to face the 33% duty. In contrast, India has agreed to gradually reduce import duties on some agricultural and livestock categories. The current 5.5% duty on bulls, cows, and goats will be halved over a period of 10 years, paving the way for greater imports of British livestock, which may benefit India's dairy and meat processing industries in the long run. British seafood to get cheaper Similarly, the agreement has slashed duties from 33% to zero on a wide range of British seafood and temperate fruits. Products such as Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tuna, hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), swordfish, salmon, Norway lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and prawns will now enter India duty-free. The duty elimination is expected to improve sourcing options for India's hotel, retail, and processing sectors, especially in metro markets where demand for imported temperate fruits and premium seafood is growing. "It is expected to give greater access and lower prices to Indian products in the UK, while British goods such as shrimp, tuna, salmon, lobster, and whisky would enter India at reduced tariffs, helping premium hotels enhance their guest offerings and providing greater value and choice for tourists visiting the country," said Aashish Gupta, consulting chief executive officer, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH). Also Read: India, UK sign landmark free trade agreement after years of negotiation The CETA is among the most wide-ranging deals ever concluded by India, and the most expansive trade pact signed by the UK in the Indo-Pacific after it left the European Union. The deal takes effect once both parliaments ratify it, which may take six months or more. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer described the deal as a win for their nations. Indian seafood traders expect the FTA to open up a new market for Indian seafood by offering a level-playing field with other exporting countries. This, they say, is particularly timely as the sector is currently facing headwinds in its largest market — the US. Seafood exports to the UK were valued at around $100 million in the last fiscal, with frozen shrimp and prawns being the main export items, according to K.N. Raghavan, secretary general of the Seafood Export Association of India. 'With the FTA in place, there is clear scope for growth, and we estimate that exports to the UK could rise to $180–200 million in the coming year." On the potential impact of duty-free access for British seafood, Raghavan said, 'Not much. UK seafood does not have much of a market here." With the FTA now in place, nearly 99% of India's agricultural exports will enter the UK market duty-free once it comes into force after six months or more. Although agriculture accounts for only around 6% of India's total merchandise exports to the UK, the sector contributed $784.57 million in 2024–25 out of the total bilateral trade of $14.5 billion during the year. Also Read: India, UK set wide-ranging strategic course with Vision 2035 roadmap India's merchandise exports to the UK rose 12.6% to $14.5 billion in 2024-25, while imports grew marginally by 2.3% to $8.6 billion. The total bilateral trade stood at $21.34 billion in 2023-24, up from $20.36 billion in the previous year.
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Business Standard
15-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Travel industry in turbulence amid worsening West Asia situation
With the Iran-Israel conflict escalating, travel planning is becoming more complex as airspace closures over Pakistan, Iran, and Israel are leading to longer flight routes, especially for Europe-bound travellers. Schedules could be altered at short notice depending on the Notices to Airmen or NOTAMs issued by the governments of Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. Industry executives said closure of airspaces leading to longer routes and flight times has already led to a hike in air fares on some routes, which will impact travel demand for West bound flights as airlines will have to take more circuitous routes to avoid conflict zones. Schedules overall could be impacted on account of deployment or redeployment of aircraft. 'The Iran-Israel hostilities and the closure of airspaces leading to longer routes/flight times is bound to impact fares. One can already see a 12-15 per cent hike on some sectors,' said Ajay Prakash, vice-president at Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality. Temporary airspace restrictions due to the ongoing tensions in West Asia have led to longer flight routes by nearly 2-4 hours and leading to an excess in airline operational cost, said Sabina Chopra, chief operating officer and cofounder, at Yatra Online Ltd. 'Flight fares are shaped by several factors; fuel prices, demand, operational shifts among them. Rerouted paths have led to an increase of 15-20 per cent in some of these routes,' she said. IndiGo Airlines issued a travel advisory on Sunday, 'Due to the ongoing airspace restrictions, flight routes to and from the Gulf are experiencing congestion, which may result in delays on certain sectors. As we continue to operate via alternate paths, extended travel times may be expected.' Air India had issued a similar advisory on Friday where it diverted more than a dozen flights en route to London, New York, Sharjah, Delhi, Frankfurt, Chicago, Washington and Toronto, while several flights returned to their origin ports. Airlines are already avoiding Pakistan's airspace following the India - Pakistan conflict last month. 'Flight fares to Western destinations have increased by 15–25 per cent on key routes due to the Pakistan airspace closure. If similar restrictions continue in Iranian and Israeli airspace, a comparable rise is expected due to longer detours and higher fuel consumption,' said Ravi Gosain, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators. Flight disruptions from geopolitical situations and the recent crash of the Air India flight have created anxiety among flyers. Industry executives noted that while some rescheduling requests were coming in, flyers were also keen to know the kind of aircraft being used for their travel. 'After the Air India accident, safety is a growing concern. Travelers are increasingly inquiring about aircraft types after the Dreamliner incident. While we don't currently display aircraft type during booking, we're evaluating this feature to support transparency and peace of mind for our clients,' Gosain said. Travel portals and tour operators are also evaluating ways to disclose the type of aircraft in use for consumers while they make their bookings for international travel. 'Safety is understandably top-of-mind for travellers. Incidents like the recent Dreamliner crash have raised awareness about aircraft types and airline safety records. already displays detailed flight information, including aircraft model and carrier (where available) and we are working on making this data even more prominent in the booking flow,' Chopra said.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Turkey out, central Asia In: Where Indian tourists are headed instead this summer
The recent cancellations of holidays to Turkey and Azerbaijan are now leading to increased interest in countries like Kazakhstan, Egypt, Jordan, Georgia, and Armenia, as per industry experts. Meanwhile, there are also more enquiries for Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia — many of which are visa-free for Indian citizens — even though some may find the hot weather unsuitable, they say. Despite offering cooler climes, other European countries are not able to gain much traction since Schengen visa dates remain a problem, adds another industry expert. Presently, Indian nationals have to wait several months to get a visa appointment for the most popular Schengen countries — Germany, France, Italy, and Spain — making it practically impossible to travel ahead of the summer holiday season. Over the last 10 days, ever since Turkey and Azerbaijan came out in support of Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor, there has been a sharp decline in visa applications to these two countries, as per Atlys, a visa processing platform. 'We have reported a sharp 42% decline in visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan following recent geopolitical developments that shifted Indian traveller sentiment dramatically. As both countries publicly expressed support for Pakistan, within just 36 hours, the number of users exiting the visa application process midway surged by 60%,' said a spokesperson for Atlys. This reversal came after a strong start to the year. In the first quarter of 2025, visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan had risen nearly 64% compared to the same period in 2024, they added. Destinations like Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Baku (Azerbaijan) were emerging as go-to options for Indian travellers seeking a balance of affordability, ease, and short-haul flights. Group visa requests, including family trips, fell by nearly 49%, while solo and couple applications declined more gradually at 27%, said the Atlys spokesperson. The data also revealed early signals for the coming season. As Turkey and Azerbaijan lost favour, in the subsequent days, applications to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt rose by up to 31%. These countries, seen as affordable, accessible, and politically neutral, are now drawing attention. Echoing the trend, Ajay Prakash, Chief Executive of Mumbai-based Nomad Travels and Vice Chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality, said, 'The eastern countries and the UAE have seen more enquiries, but the next couple of months are going to be hot months there, so that would play a role.' However, he added that even as demand grows stronger for Europe, the visa situation is a stumbling block. 'This is an opportunity for the Schengen states to invest in processing more visas speedily and increase footfalls from India,' said Prakash. Subhash Goel, Chairman of STIC Travel Group and President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), says that they have even seen tourists seeking more 'geopolitically aligned and friendly countries,' with Egypt and Jordan replacing Turkey, while Armenia and Georgia are being preferred over Azerbaijan. In 2024, Armenia received approximately 43,672 visitors, whereas 1.24 lakh Indian nationals visited Georgia. Egypt and Jordan are also gaining popularity among Indian travellers, with official statistics showing 1.5 lakh Indians visiting Egypt in 2024 and 70,000 visiting Jordan last year. On the other hand, while Turkey registered 3 lakh Indian tourists in 2024, Azerbaijan got 2.44 lakh. It is expected that a chunk of this number will now be diverted towards Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well, industry sources say. Goel says some are also opting for the comfort of familiar Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia — even Thailand and Malaysia — despite the hot weather, since their bookings are non-refundable and they have to find a quick, familiar alternative. 'Those who had open travel plans or refundable bookings are either cancelling their holidays for now or looking for Schengen countries with faster visa appointment dates,' he adds. Recently, travel booking portals have reported a notable drop in bookings from Indians for these countries — and a jump in cancellations. Some Indian travel service providers have also stopped offering flight and hotel bookings for the two countries, while a few others are dissuading Indians from travelling there. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Travel bodies join hands to revive Kashmir tourism post-terror attack
Tourism associations express solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir after Pahalgam terror attack; hoteliers offer discounts as confidence-building begins Mumbai Listen to This Article Major associations in the travel and hospitality sector have joined hands in an effort to revive the tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack in April. This comes after the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) recently launched a 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign to encourage travel to the region. 'All the major associations have expressed solidarity with Kashmir and the entire tourism industry of the state, and the effect of this (the terror attack) will take some time to wear off,' Ajay Prakash, vice-chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), told Business Standard.
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Business Standard
06-05-2025
- Business Standard
Indians likely to hit pause on US travel plans amid visa worries
Tourists hesitant to visit America due to frequent policy changes there Akshara Srivastava Deepak Patel New Delhi Listen to This Article Travel to the United States (US), especially leisure, by Indians is likely to take a hit in the coming months due to frequent policy changes by the US administration and visa cancellations. According to tour operators, Indians are becoming cautious of travel to the US, with some even rethinking their travel plans to visit the country. 'There has been a marginal dip in bookings for travel to the US. However, what is evident is a certain hesitancy, especially among senior citizens and not-so-frequent travellers,' said Ajay Prakash, vice-chairman, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality. 'It is likely that
