Saudi Arabia has emerged as the most exciting global destination in the last couple of years, with concerted efforts towards presenting itself as an authentic and sustainable destination. Through this project, we assisted the Saudi Tourism Authority in advancing towards its goal of recognising immersive and experiential tourism products, while providing a structured framework for coordination within the ecosystem. Together with the prime consultant, we served as the Project Lead in designing a framework for the Saudi Tourism Authority for the evaluation and recognition of the country's experiential tourism products and stakeholders. 

More: https://www.roadswelltraveled.com/travel-and-tourism

Excited to join the EU ECO-TANDEM PROGRAMME as a member of its advisory board.

The program, co-funded by the COSME Program of the European Union, aims to infuse innovation into traditional tourism by helping connect tourism SMEs with innovative startups.

If we’ve talked about tourism in the last couple of years, you would know how strongly I believe that the traditional tourism industry is primed for disruption through tech and innovation. Through the course of this program over the next year+, I'm most excited to see how innovation in tourism can be put into practice, and to learn from programme participants, fellow advisors and consortium members.

Please consider applying if you are a tourism SME or startup in the EU. Applications open soon.

Domestic Tourism has played a pivotal role in the survival of several in the Indian tourism industry in the past year and a half. In this article I write about India as a destination for Indians — and why policy makers and the industry shouldn't again relegate it to the backburner as it was pre-pandemic.

https://www.roadswelltraveled.com/post/domestic-tourism-in-india

Developing tourism in rural India can be a path towards fostering sustainable and inclusive in economically disadvantaged rural sections.

As the world recovers from Covid, albeit in a less than straightforward manner, India has an opportunity to present itself as a renewed destination to domestic and international visitors, one that is sustainable, climate-conscious, community-oriented and innovative. Rural India could have a substantial role to play in presenting Incredible India anew.

https://www.roadswelltraveled.com/post/empowering-rural-india-tourismtourism

In the wake of Covid-19, the hesitation for air travel, and the emergence of tourism bubbles, the role of land border checkpoints becomes especially imperative. With the tourism industry nosediving across the world, regional tourism (following domestic tourism), could save several tourism-dependent economies from the death knell. Compounding this with the recognition of the climate crisis and an emergence of climate-conscious travel, many can be expected to shift travel styles to include more proximate and overland travel as opposed to air travel. The importance of land border management and infrastructure, especially in the near future, cannot be denied. 

https://www.roadswelltraveled.com/post/tourism-border-infrastructure

Part travelogue, part photo essay, part advocacy for train travel, I write about the trains in post-pandemic travel.

https://www.roadswelltraveled.com/post/will-trains-be-loved-again