As competition in the low-cost carrier (LCC) space increases, many of them have doubled their advertising spending, increased promotional offers and even gone in for a completely new look and feel, as they take on growing competition from the likes of Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Air India.

Michigan’S tourism industry is holding its own in an economic downturn that’s forcing many travelers to cut back on discretionary spending.

COX and Kings has more than doubled the size of its initial public of fearing .In its refilling of the draft red herring prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India on Friday, the tour and travel operator said it would be offering 1.8 crore shares proposed in January 2008.

Capitalizing on the increasing interest from Indian tourists towards its destination and to arrest the current downturn, Malaysia has rolled out a new tourism package – One Malaysia, Endless Experience – to achieve an ambitious target of Rs 6, 00,000 visitors from India in 2009 as compared with 5, 59,000 visitors in 2008.The Malaysian tourism board is in talks with number of air carriers in India to increase their services per week/annually.

Cathay Pacific would consolidate its services between Hong Kong and Indian cities, offering attractive fares and packages, and high-quality products as leisure travel in the sector is growing.

The tourism ministry is betting big on adventure tourism, buoyed by the customs duty waiver on the import of adventure sports equipment announced in the budget.

As Indian carriers continued to press for reduction in airport charges, the government has come under attack from global airline body international Air Transport Association for approving unjustified hikes in the levies by private airports and allowing introduction of airport development fees.

AMR corp.’s American Airlines said it would charge a $50 fee to check a second bag on flights between some cities in Europe. India and the United States.

Positioning Malaysia as a “premier holiday destination”, the Malaysian Government is now targeting the large potential base of first-time travellers from tier-II and tier-III cities in India.

Jet star Asia said on Friday that it hopes to launch services from its Singapore base to China and India before the end of 2009 .The Airline Chief Executive, Mr.Chong Phit Lian, said the flights to China and India are subject to regulatory approval.