Category Archives: Associations

Outlining his vision to expand the association’s global footprint by forging partnerships with international tourism boards and organisations, Ravi Gosain, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), said, “We want IATO to grow into a truly international organisation. Whenever anyone is looking to do business with India, they should consider our members as their first choice.”

Amid the India-Pakistan tensions, to restore confidence and trust in tourism once again, MP Bezbaurah, Secretary General, HAI, suggested that for tourism to flourish in future as an instrument creating employment for the people and wealth for the country, trust and confidence needed to be restored in the law enforcing agencies to provide safety and security.

The Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI in association with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, have announced Yogotsav, a special Yoga programme as part of the 100-day countdown to International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025. The event will take place on 10th May 2025 at the Radisson Blu Resort in Goa Cavelossim Beach, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The initiative is a part of a nationwide effort to promote the principles of holistic wellness, mental well-being and mindfulness in the hospitality sector and beyond. The session will be guided by experienced yoga practitioners appointed by MDNIY and is open to all hospitality professionals and wellness enthusiasts. “We cordially invite hospitality establishments to nominate participants for this enriching experience and look forward to enthusiastic participation from the fraternity to make the event a grand success,” says Mr Jimmy Shaw, President, HRAWI.

Reacting to the recent Indian air strike on Pakistan following the Palghar attack, IATO President Rajiv Mehra said, “This was expected and tourism is always the first to be hit. However, I don’t think the impact will last long. Today is May 7 and by this weekend, things should normalise.” He added that sightseeing tours continue as usual, barring disruptions near closed airports in a few border states.

Federation of Associations in Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) is set to hold the National Tourism Conclave on 4 – 5 June in New Delhi. Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman, FAITH, said, “The two-day conclave will discuss the tourism roadmap for 2030, which will serve as the building block for a $3 trillion tourism economy by 2047, aligned to the vision of Viksit Bharat, as envisaged by the Prime Minister of India.”

Federation of Associations in Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) is set to hold its National Tourism Conclave ‘Tourism 2030 – India on Mission Mode.’ Bringing together industry and government to define the roadmap for the sector to become a USD 3 trillion tourism economy by 2047, contributing 10 per cent to India’s GDP. Puneet Chhatwal, Chairman, FAITH, said “India will continue to be among the fastest growing major economies on its path to becoming the world’s third largest global economy. This coupled with limited supply addition in the country’s top ten lodging markets, foreign tourist arrivals set to exceed pre-covid levels, and the permanent shift in consumer behaviour with travel becoming a non-discretionary spend will continue the demand buoyancy in the tourism sector.” He added, “The National Tourism Conclave will focus on enabling a transformation in the policy framework and facilitate the creation of a favourable investment environment to unlock India’s tourism potential. This roadmap to 2030 will serve as the building block for USD 3 trillion tourism economy in 2047, aligned to the vision of Viksit Bharat, as envisaged by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.” The conclave will feature a series of panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on enhancing India’s global positioning by deliberating on issues such as Development of a Holistic Travel Eco-Systems, World Class Infrastructure & Connectivity, Sustainability & Inclusivity in Tourism, Preserving Culture & Heritage, Promotion of Destinations and Leveraging India’s Demographic Dividend – Building the Talent Pool. According to Ajeet Bajaj, Vice Chairman, FAITH, “The conclave will witness participation of senior leaders from both the Government and the Travel & Tourism industry.  The recommendations emerging from the conclave will be presented to the …

As per IATA’s global passenger demand report of March 2025, international demand rose to 4.9 per cent compared to March 2024. Additionally, capacity was up by 7 per cent year-on-year, and the load factor was recorded 79.9 per cent. Domestic passenger demand rose 0.9 per cent compared to March 2024.

To enhance bilateral cooperation in promoting tourism between India and the Maldives, IATO and The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 in Dubai. It marks a significant step towards strengthening tourism ties between the two countries. The MOU provides for joint promotional activities facilitating closer collaboration between the travel industries of both the nations. The MoU underscores the shared commitment of MMPRC and IATO to boost visitor exchanges, improve travel connectivity, and create new opportunities for sustainable tourism development in the region. According to Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO “There is a huge scope for boosting tourism flow between India and Maldives. Such pacts I believe would significantly help us improve tourism ties thus contributing to employment generation and boosting local economies.”  

In its continued efforts to position Rajasthan as a premier global destination, the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, in collaboration with the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR), is making an exclusive and vibrant appearance at the prestigious “Colors of the World Fair” being held from 18 April to 20 April, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. The Rajasthan Pavilion is an immersive celebration of the State’s rich cultural heritage, tourism potential and warm hospitality. On day one, the Pavilion witnessed a grand opening ceremony and quickly became a hub of activity and attraction. Visitors were welcomed by senior officials from the Department of Tourism, along with the Presidents of FHTR and Hotel and Restaurant Association of Rajasthan (HRAR), and prominent members of Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) and Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO). The delegation also includes renowned hoteliers, travel agents, destination management companies, event professionals, folk artists, and culinary experts. It is to be noted that Rajasthan’s presence stood out with vibrant traditional attire, including saris and turbans, soulful folk music, live culinary experiences, and engaging cultural activities and giveaways. The Pavilion received an overwhelming response from international guests, who were particularly enchanted by the live music performances and the unique opportunity to sample Rajasthani culture firsthand. President of FHTR, Kuldeep Singh Chandela delivered a heartfelt welcome address, setting the tone for Rajasthan’s participation. He, along with Joint Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Dr. Punita Singh, also joined an insightful panel discussion on the future of global tourism, engaging with high-ranking tourism officials from across the world. The fair has also highlighted the tremendous tourism potential between Turkiye and Rajasthan, with cultural similarities and …

Ved Khanna, President, ADTOI, expresses confidence in Kashmir’s resilience as a destination. Acknowledging the immediate fallout with a spike in cancellations, he says, “My members in Kashmir have informed me their original bookings stand with people still showing interest in travelling to Kashmir, especially for the Amarnath Yatra in July. We have seen such situations before and Kashmir has always bounced back.”