·
First global airline
to partner with the Ministry
of Tourism
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Partnership to showcase India to the world through
joint marketing, destination promotion, transit tourism initiatives, and enhanced traveller
experiences
GURUGRAM : Air India,
India's leading global
airline, and the Ministry of Tourism
(MoT), Government of India, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote India as a premier global tourism
destination and strengthening India’s position as a key aviation and transit hub.
The MoU
establishes a framework for coordinated initiatives across tourism marketing,
destination storytelling, trade engagement, transit tourism, and visitor
experience enhancement.
By leveraging Air India's expanding global network and
the MoT’s flagship Incredible India initiative, the collaboration aims to boost inbound tourism,
strengthen India's global visibility, and encourage more international travellers to discover
the country's diverse cultural, heritage, natural, and experiential offerings.
Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer,
Air India, said: "As the airline that proudly carries
India in its name, Air India
has a unique responsibility to showcase the country to the world and serve as an ambassador for the “new India” that
is confident, vibrant, warm, and welcoming.
As Air India expands its
global network that already spans five continents and welcomes more visitors to
India, this partnership with the Ministry of Tourism will help us to
meaningfully put the spotlight on a nation that truly is uniquely remarkable.”
P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs,
Air India, said: "This MoU reflects
months of close collaboration between
Air India and the Ministry
of Tourism and a shared belief that aviation and tourism
can be powerful partners in advancing India's global profile. The framework
creates a meaningful platform that combines the Government’s nation-branding
strengths with Air India's growing
global footprint. We are excited to work with the Ministry of Tourism to create
new pathways for international travellers to discover the richness, diversity,
and dynamism of India."
With Air India
serving 40 international destinations across five continents and welcoming
millions of visitors to India each year, the airline's new world-class
aircraft, digital platforms, inflight experiences, and global commercial presence will become
powerful channels for taking the Incredible India story to travellers around the world.
Air India's
network today spans North America, UK
& Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia - regions that together are home to nearly 95% of the
world's population. Beyond the destinations it serves directly, Air India's 25
codeshare partnerships and more than 120 interline partnerships with leading
airlines around the world today connect India to over 1,000 destinations
worldwide. This vast global footprint, combined with Air India's uniquely
Indian identity, makes the airline a natural partner for showcasing India's
heritage, culture, landscapes, and tourism experiences to audiences worldwide.
Driving inbound
tourism and trade engagement
Under the
agreement, Air India and the Ministry of Tourism will collaborate on co-branded
global marketing campaigns and tourism promotion across digital, social media,
inflight branding, and other consumer-facing platforms. The partnership will
also explore opportunities to extend Incredible India branding
across Air India's touchpoints.
Recognising the critical role of aviation
in tourism growth,
the two organisations will jointly
engage with tour operators,
travel trade partners, and industry stakeholders across key international
markets.
The
collaboration will include participation in tourism exhibitions, roadshows,
familiarisation trips, and other market development activities designed to
boost interest in India among international travellers.
Air India and
the Ministry will also work with State Tourism
Boards and other stakeholders to highlight destinations across the country and
support tourism-led initiatives.
Strengthening India's position as a global transit hub and developing new offerings for travellers
As Air India continues to build its hubs at
Delhi and Mumbai as into major international gateways, the MoU provides
for collaboration on initiatives aimed at encouraging transit and stopover
tourism in India, including the development of
stopover programmes.
Additionally, both organisations will explore opportunities to align with Air India's
Maharaja Club loyalty programme and develop customer
incentives linked to tourism experiences across India.
The Ministry of
Tourism will also facilitate engagement with relevant stakeholders to explore
special offers and benefits for Air India customers, including access to
cultural attractions, heritage sites, museums, and other visitor experiences.