Category Archives: Associations

The TAAI Northern Region team celebrated its 73rd year of establishment in Delhi, marking a significant milestone for the travel industry. Gracing the occasion were RK Suman, Regional Director North, Ministry of Tourism, and Neeraj Malhotra, Chairman, TAAI-Northern Region. The event brought together TAAI members, travel agents, and key industry stakeholders, fostering dialogue on pressing issues and collaborative opportunities. Members leveraged the event to discuss the challenges being faced by them in diverse areas and activities to be conducted in the future. A presentation on how to use the NIDHI portal has also been held to guide members on registering as travel agents. NIDHI ID (NID) is a unique national identifier for relevant stakeholders in the tourism, which improves delivery of services. One can avail of the benefits and incentives through it. Apart from this, registered entities can apply for relevant Certification/Classification/Recognition on this portal. Emphasising his commitment to educate members and provide support to them, Neeraj Malhotra, said, “My priority is to empower our members through knowledge-sharing events like these. I am dedicated to resolving their issues, be it with IATA, VFS, hotels, or airlines”. Aligning with TAAI’s national leadership vision of ‘members first,’ he informed us he is taking multiple initiatives to resolve members’ concerns including staff insurance policies and regular feedback forums. He also revealed that the launch of the association’s new logo will be held in January, 2025. Looking ahead, Malhotra expressed excitement about future milestones. “January 2025 will see the launch of TAAI’s new logo, to be unveiled in Delhi and Mumbai, as we gear up for TAAI’s 75th year in 2026—our golden jubilee,” he shared. Highlighting a major concern, he called out the inefficiencies …

Himanshu Patil, Director, Kesari Tours Kesari Tours Private Limited , takes the charge as new OTOAI President. Speaking about the first steps in his new role, he shared, “The aim is to change the perception and to grow the association pan-India, especially in the Western region and the Southern side. The way OTOAI is working, we will do well in both these areas.”

The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) successfully concluded its elections on 5th December 2024, marking the end of the 2022-2024 term. The association introduced its new team for the term 2024-2026. Working committee members President: Himanshu Kesari Patil, Kesari Tours and Travels Vice President: Shravan Bhalla, High Flyer General Secretary: Sidharth Khanna, Khanna Enterprises (Regd.) Joint Secretary: Monia Kapoor, Travel O Holidays Treasurer: Gurdeep Singh Gujral, Gujral Tours and Travels The new leadership team is well-positioned to guide OTOAI with vision, dynamism, and a commitment to propelling growth in the outbound tourism sector. The election process was managed by Sanjay Datta, Managing Director, Airborne Holiday, who served as the Election Officer for the OTOAI elections. Executive Committee Members To strengthen the governance structure, the Executive Committee (EC) comprises both retained and nominated members. The EC members for the term 2024-2026 include: Riaz Munshi, N. Chirag Travels Adl Abdul Karim, Flycreative Online Ankush Nijhawan, Travel Boutique A Unit of Lap Travels Rohit Shorey, Destination Travel Services Vineet Gopal, Engee Holidays Vinayak Laud, Vinaayak Holidays The new team will officially commence their duties on 6 December, 2024. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and member engagement, the 2024-2026 team is dedicated to advancing OTOAI’s goals and promoting outbound tourism both domestically and internationally. OTOAI extended gratitude to the outgoing OTOAI team for their remarkable contributions, which included hosting impactful events, forming strategic collaborations, and signing numerous MOUs that enhanced the association’s footprint.  

At its 16th annual convention, ATOAI launched the Roadmap & Toolkit for Arunachal Pradesh, positioning it as a model for sustainable adventure tourism. Aimed at enhancing its identity as the “Last Shangri-La,” the initiative integrates ecological, cultural, and technological advancements, promising a balanced approach to promote pristine experiences while preserving local heritage.

TAAI, celebrating its journey from 1951 to 2026, will launch the ‘TAAI 75 Years’ initiative in early 2025. Sunil Kumar, President, said, “We’re starting early to ensure the initiative grows and transitions into a significant industry event. The celebrations will honour our legacy, foster partnerships, and highlight the evolution of India’s travel industry.”

Pradeep Shetty, Vice President, FHRAI, said, “Delinking F&B rates from accommodation tariffs will empower the industry to adjust pricing based on market dynamics and customer demand, fostering growth across all segments. It will also streamline tax compliance, ensuring a win-win for both the industry and government revenues.”

Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), said, “We will be launching a tax cell which would be a kind of a handholding for our members on matters in the areas of GST and TCS. A committee has been formed and is already working towards launching this cell. Our efforts to build bridges and deepen relations with the airlines are also underway.”

The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) has opened registrations for its upcoming TAFI Convention 2025 that will be held in the Ninh Binh province in Northern Vietnam from 17 to 20 January. The theme of the convention is ‘Tourism for Tomorrow: Protecting the Planet.’ Elaborating on the choice of destination and the theme, Ajay Prakash, TAFI President, said “Indian tourism is booming. While inbound numbers are still below pre-Covid levels, outbound and domestic tourism are breaking all records. But an industry that is totally people-centric and which thrives on the natural beauty and the amazing diversity in the world also has a duty to protect the Planet. Sustainability has gone beyond being a mere catchword, it is the single most important need today for the tourism industry and if we are to rethink our business models and think beyond profit, the move has to come from within the industry. As the leading travel association in the country TAFI will take the lead in sensitizing our members who in turn will guide their clients towards Responsible Tourism practices.” Anil Kalsi, Vice President added “The Provincial government of Ninh Binh has been extremely supportive, and the Department of Tourism has laid out the red carpet for TAFI delegates.” Speaking about the format of the convention, Abbas Moiz, National General Secretary, adds, “TAFI is offering members a three-night convention at an incredible price of Rs. 15,999/- per person on twin sharing. We have also negotiated great prices with DMCs for some exciting pre- and post-convention tours. Our members can contact them directly to take advantage of the special prices. Similarly, members are free to choose between the various airlines offering direct or …

Curtain Raiser Event for ATOAI’s 16th Annual Convention Concludes Successfully Co Hosted by the Department of Tourism Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) hosted an inspiring Curtain Raiser for its 16th Annual Convention at The Park Hotel, New Delhi, setting the stage for an extraordinary event scheduled to take place in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, from 3 to 8 December, 2024. This evening’s event highlighted Arunachal Pradesh’s vast potential as a global adventure tourism hub while emphasising ATOAI’s commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism practices. The event began with an engaging address by Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI, who emphasised the transformative potential of sustainable adventure tourism. “Arunachal Pradesh is India’s Last Shangri-La and our next big adventure destination. This convention will set the stage for responsible adventure tourism and showcase how sustainability is the future of our industry. This convention promises to be a milestone event, further positioning Arunachal Pradesh and North East India at the forefront of adventure tourism in India and the world,” he remarked. This sentiment was echoed by Oken Tayeng, MLA and Convention Chairperson, who called Arunachal “a playground of possibilities” and underlined the need for a sustainable roadmap to unlock its adventure tourism potential. Adding to the evening’s momentum, Arun Srivastava, Joint Director General, Ministry of Tourism, highlighted the importance of collaboration in developing adventure tourism in India. He noted, “India’s natural assets make it a top contender for global adventure tourism and Arunachal is a shining gem of the country.” Ranphoa Ngowa, Secretary of Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, further emphasised the state’s readiness to host global adventure seekers, pointing out its unique combination of untouched rivers, dense forests …

Peter Semone, Chair, PATA said, “To boost IVAs in Asia Pacific, we need to prioritise India & China as source markets as these markets offer greater potential than traditional Western sources. He identified South East Asia as a key emerging market. Meanwhile, PATA Travel Mart 2025 will be held from 26-28 August in Bangkok, Thailand.