From January to Could this 12 months, about 142,400 Indians visited Japan. In Could alone, 43,000 Indian vacationers visited the nation. In accordance with Japan Nationwide Tourism Group (JNTO), that is the first-time ever that Indian vacationers in a single month have crossed the 40,000 mark.
This has come after Japan recorded the very best variety of Indian vacationers in 2024 – 233,100. “The momentum has solely accelerated in 2025,” JNTO mentioned in a press release. The January to Could arrivals of this 12 months represented a development of practically 40% as in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months.
JNTO famous that Could is taken into account a win-win journey season for Indians visiting Japan. It coincides with Indian summer time holidays and the conclusion of Japan’s home vacation season. This enables Indian vacationers entry to extra lodging and different vacationer companies.
That is in keeping with the rising recognition of shoulder season amongst Indian vacationers. A report by journey search platform Skyscanner earlier this month revealed that to keep away from crowds and excessive costs, 1 in 2 Indians are open to touring throughout off-peak instances.
What’s Driving This Growth to Japan? Indian arrivals into Japan are additionally boosted by the elevated air connectivity between the 2 nations. The winter 2024-2025 schedule featured 26 weekly direct flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to Japan.
Earlier this 12 months, Ryo Bunno, govt director at JNTO, Delhi workplace, advised Skift, “Improved connectivity by elevated flight frequencies and promotional fares has considerably improved the journey expertise for Indian vacationers, making Japan extra accessible and inexpensive.”
Japan can be ramping up its India technique. In accordance with Bunno, Japan has been actively partaking with the journey trade in India and it has been one of many greatest development drivers.
Indian Aviation Regulator Audit Flags Security Gaps
Indian aviation watchdog Directorate Normal of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carried out particular audits at main airports within the nation and on Tuesday, launched its findings. DGCA discovered a number of security lapses, lots of which replicate recurring points, prompting questions across the enforcement of primary requirements in India’s aviation ecosystem, Skift Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia reported.
The audits had been carried out lower than two weeks after the Air India AI171 flight to London Gatwick crashed moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad on June 12. DGCA lined essential areas like plane upkeep, airport operations, air visitors companies, and coaching simulators within the audits. Whereas not naming particular airways or airports, the findings launched on Tuesday level to a broader failure to catch and repair identified issues.
The aviation watchdog mentioned its inspection groups visited main airports, together with Delhi and Mumbai, and located repeated technical faults on plane that airways had beforehand claimed to have already mounted. They famous “a number of circumstances whereby the reported defects reappeared many instances on the plane,” which prompt that airways both didn’t restore the problems correctly or skipped them altogether.
Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban for Indian Airways
Pakistan has prolonged its airspace ban for Indian plane and airways by one other month. This ban will now stay in pressure until the early hours of July 24. The extension has been notified by Pakistan’s aviation authorities by a recent Discover to Airmen (NOTAM).
The nation had first restricted its airspace for all Indian airways within the final week of April after the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the 2 nations following a terrorist assault within the Jammu and Kashmir area killed 26 individuals, most of them vacationers.
Pakistan then prolonged the closure for an additional month on Could 23 after an armed battle broke out between India and Pakistan at first of Could.
The airspace closure has pressured Indian airways to reroute dozens of worldwide flights certain for Europe, North America, and the Center East, resulting in longer journey instances, larger gas prices, and important operational disruptions. The plight of Indian carriers has been additional exacerbated by the tensions within the Center East area.
Simpler Visa Norms Drive Indians to Southeast Asia
With the easing of visa restrictions for Indian vacationers in Southeast Asia, journey curiosity has surged, famous on-line journey platform Agoda.
The platform mentioned, “Evaluating lodging searches made on Agoda between July to December 2024 for check-ins between January to Could 2025, towards the identical timeframe a 12 months earlier, Malaysia, Palau, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka — nations with eased visa necessities — have seen a transparent rise in curiosity.”
Agoda famous a 47% year-on-year enhance in lodging searches for Malaysia, with locations akin to Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, and Highlands rising as favorites. Palau reported a 49% enhance in curiosity.
In the meantime, the Philippines, which granted visa-free entry to Indian vacationers simply final month, recorded a 26% enhance in lodging searches.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains Not But Cleared for Operations
The Vande Bharat sleeper trains haven’t but obtained clearance for operation, even because the prototype for this practice was dispatched for trials and testing greater than six months in the past.
The 16-coach prototype for the practice has been constructed at a value of INR 1.2 billion ($13.9 million). In accordance with media stories, the Analysis Designs and Requirements Organisation (RDSO) accomplished the pace trials for the practice at 160 km/hour.
There have reportedly been objections relating to the design of the practice and among the security options integrated into its system.
Pickyourtrail Companions With Miral Locations in Yas Island
Journey platform Pickyoutrail has collaborated with Miral Locations, the commerce and promotion arm for Yas Island and Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi. The partnership goals to extend Indian vacationers to Yas Island “by partaking high-intent vacationers by dynamic digital engagement,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.
Yas Island has been witnessing a rise in vacationers from India over the previous few years resulting from proximity and demand for leisure. The vacation spot has additionally labored to extend its visibility, partnering with actors Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, and Abhay Deol for its “Zindagi Ko Yas Bol” marketing campaign earlier this 12 months.
