Kenya Joins Algeria, Fiji, Uruguay, Armenia, and More as India Enhances its e-Tourist Visa Programme, Simplifying Travel for Citizens Worldwide – What You Need to Know

Kenya, along with Algeria, Fiji, Uruguay, Armenia, and other nations, has been added to India’s expanded e-Tourist Visa programme, streamlining the visa application process and making travel more accessible for citizens worldwide.

On February 8, 2026, the Ministry of Tourism in India issued an important late-night update confirming that the country’s e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) programme now includes 166 countries, up from 157 just one year ago. This expansion is part of India’s broader digital transformation and aims to make it easier for international visitors to travel to India. The newly added countries include emerging markets such as Kenya, Algeria, Fiji, Uruguay, Armenia, and North Macedonia, marking a significant step towards simplifying the visa process for citizens from these regions.

The e-TV programme has long been a key component of India’s digital strategy, designed to streamline the visa process for tourists and business visitors. The e-TV allows travellers to apply for their visa online, pay through an electronic payment system, and receive their travel authorisation within 72 hours. This convenience has drastically reduced the traditional waiting times for consular services, enhancing the ease of travel to India.

For business travellers, the standard e-TV is a 30-day double-entry visa. However, the programme also offers the option to upgrade to a 90-day business e-visa, which is a popular choice for professionals coming to India for short-term projects, business meetings, after-sales support, and other business-related activities. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for companies seeking to streamline the process for their employees traveling on work assignments.

The e-TV programme has become increasingly popular for both tourism and business travel, offering a user-friendly and time-efficient process. Travellers can submit their applications from anywhere in the world, allowing them to bypass the traditional in-person consular visa application process. With the e-TV, applicants can submit their documents, make payments, and receive approval without ever having to leave their homes, creating a smooth and seamless experience.

For businesses looking to streamline and manage their e-TV applications, VisaHQ has launched an online platform that simplifies the entire process. This platform helps businesses and individual travellers upload necessary documents, track their application status, and receive dedicated support for troubleshooting common problems such as photo rejections, payment issues, or technical glitches. This service is fully integrated into corporate travel workflows, enabling organizations to maintain compliance, reduce administrative overhead, and manage travel plans more efficiently.

The expansion of the e-TV programme has been well-received by several trade bodies. NASSCOM, the industry association for the IT sector, and the Indo-Africa Chamber of Commerce have both praised the move, noting that many of the newly added countries are emerging as important sources of specialized talent, such as technicians, engineers, and mid-level managers. These professionals are often in high demand in India, but the traditional consular visa process has often been cumbersome, with long waiting times and complex documentation requirements. The e-TV offers a simpler, faster solution for bringing skilled workers into the country, enabling Indian businesses to fill critical positions with ease.

For human resources (HR) and global mobility teams within companies, this expansion of the e-TV programme offers an opportunity to update internal procedures to better accommodate the new eligibility requirements. Global mobility teams are encouraged to update their invitation-letter templates and ensure that their travel-booking tools can automatically flag e-TV eligibility. This will help businesses avoid confusion and speed up the process for employees needing to travel to India. By leveraging the simpler and more efficient e-TV process, companies can reduce lead times, lower administrative costs, and improve overall cost control, as the e-TV fee is usually significantly lower than that of traditional paper visas.

In addition to streamlining the application process, the e-TV programme also allows businesses to host foreign trainees or employees more efficiently. The reduced processing times and lower costs associated with the e-TV make it an attractive option for organizations looking to bring in talent from abroad quickly. The ease of use and speed of approval are expected to have a positive impact on industries such as technology, education, and research, where the demand for specialized skills is growing rapidly.

While the e-TV simplifies the application process, travellers must still take care to adhere to certain requirements before departure. The electronic authorisation received through the e-TV must be printed out and carried with the traveller during their journey to India. In addition, passengers must present proof of onward travel when entering the country, as overstays under the new Immigration & Foreigners Act can result in hefty fines or penalties. Airlines have also been instructed to ensure that passengers complete India’s e-Arrival Card online before departure, with gate checks at airports now being strictly enforced to ensure compliance.

The introduction of the e-Arrival Card is part of India’s broader push for digitization and increased security, allowing authorities to gather critical passenger data before arrival. This process is designed to further streamline the arrival experience for travellers and enhance security measures in line with modern international travel standards.

The expansion of the e-TV programme to include 166 countries is a major milestone in India’s efforts to modernize its visa system and facilitate easier travel for both tourists and business professionals. The programme offers a more accessible and efficient way to visit the country, and its growth is expected to have a positive impact on tourism numbers, business travel, and the broader Indian economy. With India continuing to embrace digitalization, the e-TV programme is likely to be expanded even further in the coming years, bringing even more countries into the fold.

This development marks a significant step towards India’s goal of being a more globally connected destination, where international visitors and business professionals can easily access the country without the hassle of traditional visa processing. It is also expected to drive further growth in tourism, education, and cross-border business, contributing to India’s broader economic ambitions in the post-pandemic world.

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Morocco Joins Egypt and Tunisia in 2025 Tourism Surge, Achieving Historic Growth and Record-Breaking Revenue Across North Africa

Morocco, alongside Egypt and Tunisia, has emerged as a key player in North Africa’s tourism surge, achieving historic growth and record-breaking revenue in 2025 due to rising visitor numbers, diversified offerings, and higher spending per tourist.

The global travel industry closed 2025 on a powerful note, confirming that tourism has not only recovered but entered a new phase of sustained growth. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals climbed to an estimated one billion five hundred twenty million, marking a four percent rise compared with the previous year. Even more striking was the financial impact. International tourism receipts reached a preliminary one trillion nine hundred billion dollars, up five percent year on year, while total export revenues from tourism, including passenger transport, hit a record two trillion two hundred billion dollars.

These figures underline a clear shift: travelers are moving in greater numbers and spending more per trip. Longer stays, higher accommodation rates, and stronger demand for experiences have reshaped tourism economics across regions. Among the standout performers in this global rebound, North Africa emerged as one of the most compelling success stories of 2025.

Across Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, tourism revenue surged to a combined thirty-five billion two hundred fifty million dollars, up sharply from roughly twenty-eight billion dollars the year before. This performance placed North Africa well above the global average for both arrivals growth and earnings. Rising visitor volumes played a role, but the real driver was value. Higher hotel rates, upgraded tourism products, improved air connectivity, and favorable currency movements against the dollar helped push revenues to new highs.

While these three destinations shared regional momentum, their results reveal three very different tourism models, each offering lessons on how volume, value, and strategy intersect in a competitive global market.

Egypt stood out as the regional leader in revenue generation and spending per visitor. In 2025, the country generated approximately seventeen billion eight hundred million dollars in tourism receipts, a robust seventeen percent increase from the previous year. This placed Egypt among the fastest-growing destinations worldwide in tourism earnings. The surge was powered by a strong rebound in arrivals, which rose by around twenty-one percent to reach nineteen million visitors.

High occupancy rates across Red Sea resorts played a central role, supported by year-round demand and expanded flight capacity. At the same time, Egypt’s cultural tourism continued to anchor its appeal. Ancient heritage sites, combined with upgraded visitor facilities and improved crowd management, attracted travelers seeking immersive historical experiences. Demand from high-spending markets, including parts of Europe, the Gulf region, and Eastern Europe, further lifted revenue performance.

What truly set Egypt apart was yield. Average spending per tourist climbed to approximately nine hundred thirty-seven dollars, the highest in North Africa. This reflects a deliberate move toward premium positioning, with growth in upscale resorts, curated cultural tours, and longer stays. The country is now leveraging this momentum with ambitious medium-term goals, including major investments in airports, expanded route networks, streamlined entry procedures, and a push to diversify beyond traditional beach and heritage tourism into wellness, desert experiences, and niche cultural offerings.

Morocco delivered what many analysts described as one of the most impressive tourism performances anywhere in the world in 2025. The country welcomed nearly nineteen million eight hundred thousand visitors, a jump of roughly fourteen percent, allowing it to retain its position as Africa’s most visited destination by arrivals. Tourism revenue reached about fourteen billion seven hundred million dollars, with partial-year figures already surpassing thirteen billion dollars well before year-end.

What made Morocco’s performance exceptional was the pace of revenue growth. In dollar terms, tourism earnings rose by around nineteen percent, the strongest growth rate globally according to international benchmarks. Revenue expanded faster than arrivals, signaling a clear rise in value per visitor. Average spending per tourist approached seven hundred forty dollars, driven by higher accommodation prices, longer stays, and a broader mix of experiences.

Morocco’s diversified tourism portfolio proved to be a major strength. Coastal resorts, historic cities, desert landscapes, mountain escapes, and vibrant urban centers all contributed to spreading demand throughout the year. This diversification also helped tourism receipts surpass remittances from citizens abroad, making tourism the second-largest source of foreign currency for the national economy. The sector’s growing role has reinforced its importance in regional development, job creation, and infrastructure investment, positioning Morocco for further expansion in the coming years.

Tunisia presented a different picture, one defined by strong volume recovery but ongoing value challenges. In 2025, the country welcomed more than eleven million tourists for the first time, surpassing previous records and signaling a full return of international demand. Tourism revenue reached approximately two billion seven hundred fifty million dollars, reflecting a moderate increase of around six to seven percent compared with the prior year.

While the rebound in arrivals was significant, average spending per visitor remained low, at roughly two hundred fifty dollars. This gap highlights Tunisia’s continued reliance on mass tourism and all-inclusive packages, where much of the value is captured by foreign operators rather than retained within the local economy. Despite this limitation, tourism remains a critical source of foreign exchange and employment, especially during peak seasons.

The challenge ahead for Tunisia is clear: converting high visitor volumes into greater and more sustainable economic value. Efforts are increasingly focused on diversifying into higher-yield segments such as ecological tourism, cultural experiences, health and wellness travel, and medical tourism. Upgrading accommodation standards, enhancing local supply chains, and promoting longer stays will be essential to closing the value gap with regional peers.

Taken together, the 2025 results confirm North Africa’s emergence as a global tourism powerhouse. Egypt demonstrates how strong yield and premium positioning can drive revenue leadership. Morocco shows the power of diversification and rapid value growth. Tunisia illustrates the importance of rebalancing volume with sustainability and local economic impact.

With global travel demand remaining steady and consumer confidence improving, the region is well placed to capture a larger share of international tourism in the years ahead. Continued investment in infrastructure, digital services, and environmentally responsible projects will be critical. Equally important will be the shift toward higher value experiences that benefit local communities. As 2025 has shown, North Africa is no longer just recovering. It is redefining its role in the global tourism economy.

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Saudi Arabia’s Ramadan Campaign Brings Luxury Travel Offers to Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, Jordan and More with Unprecedented Discounts in AlUla and The Red Sea

Saudi Arabia’s Ramadan campaign offers unprecedented discounts on luxury travel to AlUla and The Red Sea, attracting visitors from Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, Jordan, and beyond, making it the perfect time to explore the Kingdom’s cultural and coastal gems.

As Saudi Arabia continues to captivate travelers with its growing tourism offerings, the country has launched a new global campaign in celebration of Ramadan 2026. Under the banner “Embrace the Radiance of Ramadan Lights,” Saudi Tourism Authority’s consumer brand, Welcome to Arabia, presents more than 35 exclusive travel deals across the Kingdom’s most iconic destinations. These offers, available for a limited time during the holy month, offer substantial discounts and an opportunity for travelers to experience Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, stunning natural beauty, and wellness-focused escapes at highly attractive prices.

The campaign focuses on two of Saudi Arabia’s flagship destinations—AlUla and The Red Sea—showcasing more than 12 premium properties that highlight the Kingdom’s unique charm. These curated packages aim to make luxury travel more accessible while offering visitors a chance to enjoy a rejuvenating Ramadan experience in some of the most scenic and culturally rich parts of the country.

Ramadan Deals in AlUla: A Gateway to History and Heritage

AlUla, famous for its dramatic desert landscapes and ancient archaeological sites, offers some of the most unique travel experiences in Saudi Arabia. As part of the Ramadan campaign, visitors can enjoy special discounts of up to 45% at luxury resorts like Banyan Tree AlUla, Our Habitas AlUla, Ashar Tented Resort, Chedi Hegra, and Shaden Resort. These resorts offer not only a luxurious escape but also a chance to immerse oneself in the rich history of the area, with ancient rock formations and centuries-old tombs waiting to be explored. The tranquil desert environment provides the perfect backdrop for reflection and rejuvenation during Ramadan, inviting visitors to embrace the spirit of serenity.

The Red Sea: An Oasis of Wellness and Coastal Luxury

For those seeking coastal relaxation, the Red Sea provides an unparalleled setting. The Ramadan campaign offers discounts of up to 20% at standout properties like Desert Rock and Shebara, where contemporary architecture meets pristine beaches and restorative wellness experiences. With its breathtaking coastline and serene environment, The Red Sea is an ideal destination for travelers looking to enjoy the peaceful Ramadan season by the water. Whether it’s lounging on the beach or indulging in spa treatments, the Red Sea region offers an oasis of tranquility.

A Tourism Boom Driven by Regional Partnerships

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has seen remarkable growth in recent years, welcoming over 122 million visitors in 2025. A key factor behind this growth is the strategic relationships the Kingdom has cultivated with neighboring countries. Regional partners like Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, India, and Jordan have played pivotal roles in fueling the surge of inbound tourists.

• Morocco: With its expanding outbound tourism market, Morocco has become a significant contributor to Saudi Arabia’s growing visitor numbers. The Kingdom’s rich cultural and leisure offerings resonate with Moroccan travelers, who are increasingly drawn to Saudi Arabia’s luxury resorts and historical destinations like AlUla.
• Egypt: Egypt has emerged as the largest source of visitors to Saudi Arabia in 2025, driven by relaxed visa policies and digital innovations such as the e-visa system. This has made travel more efficient for Egyptian tourists, who are now more inclined to visit Saudi Arabia for its diverse tourism experiences.
• Jordan: The strong cultural and religious ties between Jordan and Saudi Arabia have also facilitated a steady flow of Jordanian tourists to the Kingdom. As travel becomes easier and more attractive, Saudi Arabia’s wide array of cultural and historical offerings continues to appeal to Jordanian travelers.
• Bahrain & Kuwait: Both Bahrain and Kuwait, being close neighbors, remain major contributors to Saudi Arabia’s tourism boom. The ease of travel between these countries and Saudi Arabia has led to an increase in regional visitors, especially during key times like Ramadan.
• India: Saudi Arabia has also witnessed a rise in visitors from India, a country with a growing middle class and increasing connectivity to Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s welcoming visa policies and robust tourism infrastructure are key factors in attracting Indian travelers.

Unprecedented Growth and Ambition

Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth is a central pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, with a goal to position the country as one of the world’s top ten travel destinations. In line with this ambition, the Ramadan campaign seeks to further boost international interest by offering exclusive deals that encourage longer and more immersive stays. The goal is not only to attract visitors during Ramadan but to encourage repeat visits and foster deeper engagement with Saudi Arabia’s diverse regions.

As Ramadan unfolds across the Kingdom, cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Diriyah transform into hubs of vibrant activity. Streets are illuminated with beautiful lights, and night markets come alive with local crafts, traditional foods, and Ramadan-themed events. Visitors can indulge in exquisite Iftar and Suhoor experiences, enjoy cultural performances, and embrace the warmth of Saudi hospitality. The Kingdom’s renowned generosity shines through, as visitors are welcomed to experience a truly unique Ramadan celebration that blends tradition with modernity.

A Future of Inclusive and Immersive Travel

As Saudi Arabia continues to make strides in tourism, the “Embrace the Radiance of Ramadan Lights” campaign serves as an invitation to explore the Kingdom’s hidden gems at exceptional value. With luxury offerings, cultural experiences, and wellness escapes, this campaign promises to deliver an unforgettable Ramadan experience. Whether you’re looking to explore the desert wonders of AlUla or unwind by the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia has something special waiting for you during this sacred month.

With its forward-thinking approach, expanded visa policies, and world-class destination developments, Saudi Arabia is set to continue growing as a premier travel destination for tourists from around the world. The Kingdom’s commitment to offering accessible luxury, unparalleled experiences, and a rich cultural heritage makes it an unmissable destination for any traveler in 2026.

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Sabre Sets New Standard for Flight Shopping Performance with Advanced AI and Predictive Algorithms

Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), a global leader in travel technology, has unveiled a groundbreaking solution for the travel industry: SabreMosaic Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping. This new AI-driven technology integrates traditional flight content, NDC (New Distribution Capability), low-cost carriers (LCC), and private agency offers through a unified system. With an emphasis on agent-friendly APIs and predictive cache technology, this solution promises faster, more accurate booking results while helping travel agencies manage costs and operational risks, particularly for high-volume flight searches.

Enhanced Shopping Performance with Predictive Algorithms

The unique aspect of Sabre’s new solution lies in its ability to dynamically decide when to query live airline data and when to pull results from a cache. Unlike traditional systems that rely on either live polling or static cache, Sabre’s use of its proprietary Sabre IQ predictive algorithms allows for a more efficient approach. The result is that travel agencies are provided with accurate, bookable offers without the risk of outdated fare information or inflated look-to-book (L2B) ratios. Early testing of the solution has shown impressive results, including a 28% reduction in L2B ratios and up to 95% accuracy compared to traditional live polling methods. Furthermore, the system ensures that agencies receive responses in less than 500 milliseconds, which is a game-changer for traditional flight content.

Efficiency and Speed for Travel Agencies

The improvements extend far beyond just speed. Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping provides travel agencies with a streamlined experience, significantly reducing operational costs and improving developer productivity. Traditionally, developers have had to handle multiple content sources, each with its own set of rules, timeouts, and failover mechanisms. With Sabre’s new solution, developers can work within a single, unified framework, making it easier to integrate various airline and content sources into the shopping experience. This standardization simplifies workflows, including sorting, ranking, and personalization. The outcome is quicker development times, reduced maintenance expenses, and a consistent, high-quality experience across all types of airline content, including NDC.

Staying Strong During High Traffic Periods

One of the most notable features of the solution is its ability to perform under pressure. During times of high traffic, irregular operations, or promotional periods, the system’s intelligent fallback logic ensures that agencies continue to receive relevant and reliable offers. This means that even when supplier response times fluctuate, the system remains robust and responsive, ensuring that travel agents can still convert inquiries into bookings without disruptions. This stability is crucial for maintaining agency productivity and ensuring that customer demands are met without delays.

More Control and Greater Efficiency for Travel Sellers

Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping offers more than just faster results—it also brings greater efficiency and control to sellers. By minimizing discrepancies between the offers displayed and the final booking results, this solution reduces failed bookings and the need for manual fare checks. This results in fewer re-shopping cycles, which translates to cleaner downstream data and a more predictable shopping experience for agencies. The increased efficiency is also reflected in agent productivity and lower call-center volumes, allowing agencies to operate more smoothly and cost-effectively, regardless of market conditions or seasonal changes.

Real-World Impact for Partners

Wego, a leading travel platform, was one of the first pilot partners to test the Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping system. The company has already reported impressive results, including faster flight search performance and notable improvements in search accuracy. This real-world success underscores the potential of the new solution to reshape flight shopping for travel agencies and their customers, further establishing Sabre as a leader in travel technology innovation.

Part of SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace

The launch of Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping is a significant addition to the SabreMosaic Travel Marketplace, Sabre’s modular platform for multi-source retailing. The platform integrates distribution, intelligence, and agent-friendly APIs to help travel brands modernize the shopping experience. As part of this broader ecosystem, the new solution will play a key role in helping travel brands accelerate growth while improving the efficiency of their operations and enhancing the customer experience.

In a world where speed, accuracy, and efficiency are crucial, Sabre’s Cache-powered Intelligent Shopping solution represents a major step forward in the evolution of flight shopping. By leveraging AI, predictive algorithms, and scalable cache technology, Sabre is not only addressing current challenges faced by travel agencies but is also setting the stage for a more streamlined and dynamic future for the travel industry.

With its ability to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the shopping experience, Sabre’s latest innovation is poised to become an essential tool for travel agencies seeking to remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.

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