Category Archives: Agents

India has resumed e-visa services for tourists of Canadian nationals after a pause of almost two months. The resumption of services for all categories of visas comes hours ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s participation in the virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit. Earlier in September, the Indian Mission in Canada suspended visa services for Canadian nationals until further notice, citing operational reasons.

Sharing his views on the resumption of e-tourist visa for Canadian nationals, Rajiv Mehra, President of IATO, says, “We are happy and pleased with this development as opening of visas for Canada which is one of the largest source market for India, will be a big booster shot for our inbound tourism. Hopefully, the tourist flow from Canada will begin by January. Also, we will urge the government to allow e-visa for Chinese visitors. While other visas are open for the Chinese travellers, the absence of e-visa is still an impediment for them. Hopefully, the government will consider this as well.”

After Sri Lanka and Thailand, Vietnam may be the next destination to allow entry of Indian travellers without the need for a visa. Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism, Nguyen Van Hung has called for short-term visa waivers for major markets like India to drive tourism recovery. In the first ten months of this year, Vietnam received nearly 10 million international visitors, marking a 4.6-fold rise compared to the corresponding period in 2022 and surpassing the targeted goal for 2023.

Sharing his views on the current startup landscape, Nishant Pitti, CEO & Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip says, “Over the years, we’ve seen a startling paradox. Loss-making companies often receive astronomical valuations, while bootstrapped, profitable ventures garner relatively modest market caps. In a world enamored with valuations, profitability often doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves.”

According to the latest McKinsey & Company report, prior to the pandemic, India’s outbound market was among the fastest growing markets in Asia. It has already recovered 61% of its pre-pandemic market, with 13 million outbound tourists in 2022. This represents a much quicker recovery than most Asian countries.

Ovolo Hotels Hong Kong is organising an exclusive webinar for the travel trade. Join the webinar to explore the offerings of the property on Friday, 24 November 2023 at 3pm (IST). Get ready for a blast! Kindly register to attend the webinar. Contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532 for more info.

Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, has revealed that in the months to come, the company plans to add new travel-related business verticals inorganically which are asset-light, tech-based and synergistic. It’s Q2-FY24 results shows highest-ever quarterly PAT of 47.2 Cr (YoY growth of 67.2%) with Profit Before Tax of INR 64.7 Cr.

The ninth edition of the annual Travel M!CE and Corporate Show organised by DDP will be held in January 20-21, 2024 at Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre. The two-day show will offer exhibitors and attendees a chance to network with experts, forge business connections and be a part of the niche fraternity. For more information, contact ritul.malhotra@ddppl.com or 9810191852.    

VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions appointed Jose Manuel Aisa Mancho as its Chief Financial Officer effective 01 November 2023. He reports to Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and is based in Dubai, the organisation’s global headquarters. Jose joins VFS Global from Cellnex Telecom. He has over two decades of experience across the suite of finance sub-functions, including mergers & acquisitions, financial planning, investor relations, management control, treasury, and tax. He has previously worked in organisations that include Abertis Infrastructures, CriteriaCaixa and Cellnex. He was also a Non-Executive Officer in infrastructure companies such as Hispasat, Sanef or TBI Limited. Jose will be responsible for the overall Finance function at VFS Global, and will also be responsible for Legal, Data Privacy and Corporate Risk functions. Jose will leverage his rich experience in strengthening VFS Global’s finance function and developing strategies to support further growth and development of the company. As a member of the company’s Executive Board, he will also play a pivotal role in the overall strategic decision-making at VFS Global.

Etihad Airways has experienced substantial growth over the years. Starting with 1,761 employees in 2004, the workforce has since expanded to over 9,250 as of September 2023. The loyalty programme, Etihad Guest, has seen significant development, growing from 65,000 members in 2006 to an impressive figure of over 9 million in 2023. The aircraft fleet has undergone substantial expansion, increasing from just two in its early stages to an impressive total of 79. Etihad’s global presence has flourished, serving more than 70 destinations, a significant leap from the 4 destinations served in 2003. In terms of operations, the airline now offers 1,350 weekly departures, a substantial increase from the 128 departures provided in 2004. The longest flight in the network connects Abu Dhabi to Sydney, spanning a distance of 12,060km. Commenting on Etihad Airways 20th anniversary, His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of Etihad Airways, said: “Two decades ago, the visionary leaders of the UAE, along with Etihad’s founder, embarked on a journey with a profound vision for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. This vision required a key player, an international airline that would serve as a bridge for trade, investment, and tourism. It was to foster international relationships and place Abu Dhabi firmly on the global map. The birth of Etihad Airways marked the realisation of that wise vision. “Etihad Airways represents much more than an airline, it embodies a symbol of our nation’s shared aspirations, unity, and limitless ambitions. Over the course of two decades, Etihad has played a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Its steadfast growth has been a driving force behind the …