As India’s travel and tourism sector anticipates budgetary revelations, Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder & Group CEO of ixigo, highlights expectations for continued growth, infrastructure development, and sustainability.

The past year witnessed remarkable transformations in India’s travel and tourism sector, and as the 2024 budget approaches, Aloke Bajpai, Co-founder & Group CEO of ixigo, shares insightful expectations for the industry’s future. With a focus on boosting domestic and inbound travel, Bajpai emphasizes the government’s commitment to making India the fastest-growing aviation market globally in the next decade.

Bajpai highlights the encouraging rise in domestic air travel from tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, urging the budget to allocate resources for the development of infrastructure, technology, and safety measures under the UDAN scheme. Spiritual tourism emerges as a key focus, with expectations for increased measures to enhance infrastructure, accessibility, and last-mile connectivity in spiritual and cultural hubs across India.

The PRASAD Scheme has played a pivotal role in transforming Varanasi’s tourism sector, evident in the unprecedented footfall of 100 million visitors at Kashi Vishwanath Dham since its opening in December 2021. The recent inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the new Ayodhya airport are anticipated to replicate this success, improving connectivity in regions where alternative modes of transportation predominate.

Aviation sector considerations form a crucial part of Bajpai’s expectations, with a call for waivers or support to alleviate the impact of high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs. Reducing ATF costs to pre-pandemic levels could significantly enhance air travel accessibility and benefit the industry.

Additionally, Bajpai emphasizes the importance of simplifying visa requirements to encourage hassle-free and convenient international travel experiences, aligning with the observed trend of travelers opting for visa-free destinations in 2023.

In conclusion, the travel and hospitality sector anticipates budgetary measures that foster growth, innovation, and sustainability, aiming to solidify India’s position as a premier travel destination.

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