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Washington DC aims to drive visitation beyond its Federal legacy

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Washington DC aims to drive visitation beyond its Federal legacy


Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO, Destination DC,

As Washington DC clocks a successful year of trade milestones, Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO, Destination DC, highlights India’s key role in its post-pandemic resurgence. He emphasises the significance of adapting trade strategies and making crucial market investments to capitalise on evolving travel demands.

– Prativa Vaidya Bhalla

India has solidified its position as the fourth-largest market for Washington, DC, with 147,562 Indian visitors in 2023, reflecting a 54 per cent surge compared to 2022. Surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 11 per cent, Indian visits have been instrumental in DC’s recovery, with similar growth anticipated in 2024. Key source Indian cities include Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat, and Bengaluru, with growing interest observed from tier-two Indian cities.

Leisure and business travellers, alongside students, form the largest segment from India. To encourage an increase in the average length of stay for business travellers, Elliott states, “We want to ensure that they spend more nights, bring their families along to enjoy the city, and include Washington in their itineraries for more than just a day trip.” For the MICE sector, DC offers expansive exhibition spaces hosting up to 60,000 people and easy connectivity to other major cities. Most Indian MICE travellers to DC are drawn to larger US-based congresses, especially in the medical and technology sectors.

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Ease of Access

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) welcomed 9.3 million international passengers, leveraging a 26.9 per cent increase from 2022, and is the fastest-growing international gateway airport in the United States. Elliott points out, “The non-stop flight via Air India to Washington encourages Indian travellers looking to come to the U.S. by flying into Washington and then travelling to other US cities.” As a destination, visitors are drawn to DC’s iconic historic sites, such as monuments, memorials, and the Capitol. However, the focus is now shifting towards a more culturally diverse array of attractions available in Washington.

The U.S. processed over 1.4 million visas in India in 2023, reducing wait times by 75 per cent, despite India’s sheer size and demand volume. The goal is to leverage this visitation momentum and highlight the abundance of experiences beyond the well-known landmarks to attract a larger and evolving demographic. Despite geopolitical shifts, Europe remains the largest market, though pre-Covid China was the number one. India’s trajectory remains positive, with concentrated expansion efforts now reaching out to cities like Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad.

Unique DC

Laid out in the 1700s by the French, DC is a green city with only 700,000 inhabitants. It is small but has a large international presence with 185 embassies. Speaking on the ‘There is Only One DC’ campaign unveiled in November 2023, Elliott highlights the unique experiences people can have only in DC. He says, “We have the largest Cherry Blossom Festival in America in the spring, while ‘Passport DC’ is a one-of-a-kind event held in May. Embassies open their doors to the public each weekend for free, and visitors can enjoy that country’s food, music, and dress.” As travel demographics grow younger and more informed, there is a growing interest in immersive experiences that extend beyond traditional attractions to include more unique offerings. He adds, “Our goal is to make sure our markets understand the dynamics of our city versus the federal experience as we look at expanding opportunities and competing with great destinations around the world.”

Cultural Investment

Washington, DC, continually enhances its attractions and features over 100 free activities for visitors. An impressive $8.8 billion investment is dedicated to upgrading Union Station. Efforts are underway to promote the entire region, including historic sites in Maryland, Old Town in Virginia, and the picturesque horse and wine country.

The DC event calendar is brimming with upcoming events and museum openings. The reopening of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in October 2023 marks a significant milestone as the world’s first museum dedicated to women in the arts. The Go-go Museum, inaugurated in February 2024, adds to the fervour. Exciting museum anniversaries are also on the horizon, including the 20th anniversary of the DC Jazz Fest in 2024, World Pride in 2025, and America 250 in 2026. These celebrations promise citywide festivities throughout the year, making Washington, DC, a vibrant destination for visitors from around the globe.

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Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

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Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return


Community members gathered on Tuesday night to review redevelopment plans for the RFK Stadium site and offer feedback as the Washington Commanders prepare for a return to the District.

The steel structure of the old stadium has now been removed, and officials say comments on the project’s environmental impact statement are due at the end of April. The final master plan is taking shape with input from residents.

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Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

FOX 5’s Melanie Alnwick said a strong crowd gathered in D.C. Tuesday to speak with developers and city planners. The RFK site is divided into six districts, including the Plaza District, Riverfront District and Stadium District, each with proposed features for residents to evaluate. Members of the community viewed design concepts, asked questions and used green and red stickers to mark what they supported or opposed.

In the Kingman Park District, a primarily residential area, residents raised concerns about preserving green space and the placement of parking garages.

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Groundbreaking for the Plaza District is scheduled for 2029, with the stadium targeted to open in 2030. The Commanders are investing $2.7 billion in the project, the largest private investment in city history, with another $1 billion coming from D.C. taxpayers.

City leaders say the redevelopment could create up to 6,500 housing units, 30,000 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs and generate an estimated $5.1 billion in tax revenue.

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Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

Another community meeting is set for Saturday at St. Coletta Church, with a site walk planned in April.  More online.

St. Coletta Meeting Details

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  • When: Saturday, March 28, 10 am to 12 pm 
  • Where: St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue SE (Closest Metro: Stadium-Armory) 

Online Survey

For those unable to attend an in-person event, the District will offer an online survey where residents can provide feedback on the master plan. The survey will request input on topics similar to those discussed at the events. The Office of Planning will combine this feedback with comments received at the in-person events, via email, and at the community visioning meetings that were held from October 2025 through February 2026.

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  • The survey link will be available from March 30-April 10 at OurRFK.dc.gov.

Community Site Walk

On Saturday, April 18, neighbors of the RFK Stadium campus are invited to join a walking tour led by staff from the Office of Planning. The walk will include visits to areas that are important to the redevelopment and stopping points for discussion. This interactive outdoor workshop will allow stakeholders to step into the shoes of a planner and share their ideas for the site’s future. 

  • When: Saturday, April 18, 10 am 
  • Where: Stadium-Armory Metro Station, 192 19th Street SE 
  • RSVP: A registration link will be available soon at OurRFK.dc.gov.

Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

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The Source: Information in this article comes from The Office of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and previous FOX 5 reporting.

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What to know about the ‘No Kings’ protest in DC this weekend

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What to know about the ‘No Kings’ protest in DC this weekend


Washington, D.C., and the surrounding DMV area are set to host the third major “No Kings” march and rally this Saturday, March 28, 2026, as part of a wave of nationwide demonstrations planned for the same day.

Event details:

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Organized locally by area chapters of Indivisible and allied grassroots groups, the event aims to draw protesters to downtown Washington and surrounding counties to oppose policies of the Trump administration and to voice broader concerns about civil rights and democratic norms.

The march will kick off at 10 a.m., with participants gathering at Memorial Circle near Arlington Cemetery, with additional access from the Blue Line or nearby parking at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, according to the event organizers. There is no public parking in the immediate area, but participants can be dropped off at the circle.

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People take part in a “No Kings” protest in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)

From there, the procession will head across the Memorial Bridge into Washington, D.C., passing the Lincoln Memorial and continuing on to the Washington Monument.

At the conclusion of the march, participants can walk to a downtown rally, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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A broader movement

Big picture view:

A nationwide series of “No Kings” protests is set for March 28—over 3,000 events are scheduled. 

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These protests are organized by groups including Indivisible and the broader 50501 Movement, which have coordinated previous actions in June and October 2025 that drew millions of participants nationwide, including in Washington, D.C. 

Other ‘No Kings’ rallies in the DMV 

Dig deeper:

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In addition to the main rally in downtown D.C., several other demonstrations tied to “No Kings 3” are scheduled around the DMV this Saturday.

In Arlington, Virginia, activists are organizing a march across the Memorial Bridge beginning at 10 a.m., with protesters expected to continue into West Potomac Park before joining larger crowds in the District proper, for example. 

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There are hundreds of “No Kings” events scheduled to take place this Saturday throughout the DMV. You can click here to find a list of all of them. 

The Source: Information from “No Kings” organizers, Indivisible, Mobilize and previous FOX 5 DC reporting. 

Washington, D.C.NewsD.C. PoliticsMaryland PoliticsVirginia PoliticsMarylandVirginiaPolitics
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Great Mother March sets out on 500-mile pilgrimage from Asheville to Washington

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Great Mother March sets out on 500-mile pilgrimage from Asheville to Washington


ASHEVILLE, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Great Mother March has begun a 500-mile pilgrimage from Asheville, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C.

Organizers said the 32-day journey is a women’s empowerment pilgrimage inspired by the Buddhist monks’ Walk for Peace.

Great Mother March(Great Mother March)

“This is a universal movement,” founder Whitney Freya, an artist, author and sacred activist, said. “Everyone has a mother. Every tradition reveres a Great Mother. And we all depend on Mother Earth. This march is a call to honor those truths while reminding us what is possible when we move together, with intention, hope, and love.”

The march is expected to end April 22, Earth Day, when participants reach the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

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Great Mother March
Great Mother March(Great Mother March)

Here’s a look at the group’s route:

Great Mother March route
Great Mother March route(Google Maps/Great Mother March)

Organizers said the group will walk alongside the Appalachian Mountains through rural communities in North Carolina and Virginia, with planned stops including Black Mountain, Old Fort, Marion, Linville and Boone, North Carolina.

From there, the group plans to travel via Todd and West Jefferson, North Carolina, and the River Country Campground along the New River, to the Peace Pentagon near Independence, Virginia.

The marchers are expected to arrive in Galax, Virginia, on April 1, then continue to Hillsville, Floyd, Ferrum and Rocky Mount, arriving in Rocky Mount on April 5.

The group is expected to reach Lynchburg on April 9 and travel up U.S. 29 to Waynesboro, arriving April 12.

Organizers said the marchers plan to arrive in Charlottesville on April 13 and spend April 14 at IX Art Park to rest and prepare for the final leg to Washington.

From Charlottesville, the group plans overnight stops in Barboursville, Orange, Culpeper and Warrenton, Virginia, before arriving in Manassas on April 19. Additional stops include the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, and Alexandria, Virginia, ahead of the group’s arrival in Washington on April 22.

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