Category Archives: Associations

With Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in the Asia-Pacific market, PATA signalled readiness to support the kingdom with market intelligence and regional insights. While acknowledging Saudi’s robust in-house expertise, PATA highlighted its value as a connector offering knowledge from decades of Asia-focused tourism development. The collaboration could involve joint projects, knowledge sharing, and practical guidance to help Saudi adapt its tourism products for Asian travellers.

Peter Semone, Chair, PATA, used the platform of the PATA Annual Summit 2025 in Istanbul to call for a radical industry reset. Destination management must now take priority over destination marketing, he suggested. Noting decades of marketing-first approaches, he emphasised the risks of unchecked tourism growth. “If we do not manage tourism better, we risk eroding the very places we promote,” he added, pointing to global pressures on ecosystems and communities.

Peter Semone, Chair, PATA, announced that the 2026 PATA Annual Summit will be held in Gyeongju and Andong, South Korea, for the first time across two cities. This special edition marks PATA’s 75th anniversary, with a focus on heritage, innovation, and resilience. The event will unveil the new PATA Index, designed to measure the visible and invisible impacts of tourism, moving beyond outdated metrics like arrivals and spend.

FHRAI will host its 55th Annual Convention in Bengaluru from 12–14 September 2025, bringing together over 1,200 hospitality leaders. FHRAI President K. Syama Raju said, “The Convention is an opportunity to build a roadmap for resilient, inclusive and eco-conscious hospitality growth in India,” highlighting Bengaluru’s global appeal and focus on innovation.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has launched a new vision and mission to redefine its role in shaping the region’s tourism landscape. The refreshed vision, “A meaningful Pacific Asia tourism economy”, emphasises purpose-driven growth. PATA’s mission focuses on sharing knowledge, enabling networking and protecting tourism assets through innovation, collaboration and adaptability. With this strategic shift, PATA aims to equip the travel trade with tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving global environment, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, resilience and industry unity across Asia and the Pacific.

Calling on Agoda to immediately reverse the recent changes to its commission structure, K Syama Raju, President, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), said, “We strongly urge Agoda to uphold equitable business practices and maintain complete transparency in their engagements with Indian hotel partners.”

According to WTTC, today, only 1–2% of Indian tourism is sustainable compared to 10% globally. Deep Kalra, Founder and Chairman, MakeMyTrip, said, “India’s sustainable tourism market is modest, about $37 million or roughly ₹320 crore, but projected to grow to $216 million in 10 years.” Based on a MakeMyTrip survey, he said that 79% of travellers care about sustainability but lack access, affordability and trust. “They just need better tools,” he emphasised.

In a landmark move to boost small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the global travel industry, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched its Together in Travel SME initiative, with VFS Global proudly joining as a Founding Partner. WTTC is the only global body representing the travel and tourism private sector and its numerous industries. Over 200 companies are now represented on the Council, accounting for two-thirds of a trillion US dollars in turnover, equivalent to 30% of the entire sector Drawing on more than two decades of experience in technological innovation and market expansion, VFS Global is uniquely placed to share its expertise with a broader network of travel businesses. This new programme enables the empowerment of even more SMEs, helping them thrive in an ever-evolving travel ecosystem. VFS Global will actively support SMEs across its network spanning over 150 countries, recognising their pivotal role in driving innovation, fostering cost-effective growth, and promoting sustainable development within the travel and tourism sector. VFS Global remains committed to empowering SMEs to scale their operations and achieve significant progress, forging new opportunities for sustainable success. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said, “We are delighted to welcome VFS Global as a Founding Partner of Together in Travel. Their invaluable expertise, global network and industry leadership will play a crucial role in shaping this platform, empowering SMEs around the world with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to thrive. By joining forces, we are creating a more resilient and inclusive Travel & Tourism sector, ensuring businesses of all sizes can flourish in the global marketplace. Additionally, we are excited to welcome Andrea Grisdale as Vice Chair—her vast experience and leadership …

The vibrant city of Surat witnessed a landmark moment as the Installation and Inauguration Ceremony of the newly formed Skål International Surat – South Gujarat club took place at Emerald 1, Orange Megastructure LLP (formerly TGB) at 1900 hrs. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Skål International India board members and was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and commitment from all participants. This newest addition to the Skål India family marks a significant step in the organization’s mission to establish active clubs in every state and union territory of the country. The event was characterized by valuable discussions, forward-thinking suggestions, and a shared vision for collaborative growth in the tourism and hospitality sector. “It is heartening to see the spirit with which Surat has embraced the Skål movement. This club is set to become a beacon of positive change for the region’s tourism community. Our mission remains to be the unified voice of progress and cooperation in Indian travel and hospitality,” said Sanjeev Mehra, President, Skål International India. The Skål International Surat – South Gujarat team also expressed their eagerness to contribute actively to the network. “We are honored to become part of this global movement. With passion, purpose, and partnership, we aim to elevate Surat’s presence in the international tourism map,” said Rajiv Shah, President, Skål International Surat – South Gujarat. The Office Bearers of the newly inaugurated Club Are Rajiv Shah – President, Vikas Gupta – Vice President, Sumit Bansal – Secretary, Vimal Vaghani – Treasurer, Sumit Saluja – Director-PR, Communication& CSR, Nitin Gupta – Membership Development Officer. Skål India continues its journey with renewed zeal to foster professional camaraderie, build bridges across borders, and create opportunities that …

Himanshu Patil, President, OTOAI, “6th convention of OTOAI will take place in the magnificent city of Moscow from 10-13 July 2025.” He added, “Post-pandemic, Russia has made a very positive move by simplifying the visa process for Indians. This clearly reflects their intention to welcome us and strengthen tourism ties between our countries. We are confident this convention will help boost mutual tourism opening new avenues for cooperation.”