Category Archives: Agents

New German Passenger Tax increase to weaken German economy and hamper decarbonization: IATA

On 1 May, German taxes on flying increased by 19% to between EUR 15.53 and EUR 70.83 per passenger, depending on the route. The tax will make Germany less competitive in key economic areas such as exports, tourism, and jobs. It will further affect Germany’s air transport recovery from the pandemic, which is one of the slowest in the EU. Germany’s international passenger numbers, for example, are still 20% below pre-pandemic levels.

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TCS has not impacted business, but it has complicated it: Harmandeep Singh Anand

Speaking about how TCS has affected bookings, Harmandeep Singh Anand, MD, Jagsons Travels, says, “Indians in tiered cities are taking frequent holidays now – often twice a year – and they are travelling not just within India but also taking international trips. Therefore, I would say that the much-dreaded TCS has not impacted business, but it has complicated it.” He added that the recovery he was expecting by 2025 was fast-tracked and happened by 2023, and most agencies in these smaller cities have seen this growth. Jagsons has also seen a four-fold jump in FY 2023-2024 in its sales turnover as compared to 2019. One of the reasons is that the number of players in the market have gone down, more people are travelling, plus the overall travel expense has increased by about 40-50%. That also added to its turnover.

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Employment to surge in travel and tourism sectors with 58 million new jobs expected by 2033: NLB Services

According to data by NLB Services, with the continued growth momentum, the tourism sector is all set to add 58.2 million jobs by 2033 throughout the country. Post the pandemic recovery tenure, this was one of the sectors that saw the quickest recovery. Talent demand in tourism recorded a 44% spike in August 2023, and 1.6 million additional jobs were expected to be added within CY 2023. The growing synergy of the sector has led to steadfast employment generation across the country both in Tier I and Tier II locations.

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Mumbai agents struggle with tourist guide rates for their cruise passengers

NS Rathor, Chairman, IATO Western Region, says, “We are facing a lot of problems with the cruise guide rates. We have a lot of international cruise liners coming into Mumbai. For cruise passengers we have to negotiate rates locally with Tourist Guides Association (TOGA). They are asking us to pay 15-20% more than the current rate negotiated with TGFI! We have not yet agreed on that. We have offered them 10%. We will discuss this issue with our members and offer TOGA this rate. We hope they will agree with this.”

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New ‘Cascade’ regime should have been done immediately post Covid but better late than never: Mahendra Vakharia

Feeling relieved, Mahendra Vakharia, Executive Committee Member, Immediate Past President – OTOAI & MD, Pathfinders Holidays, says, “Finally a long pending wish list of both the Indian travel trade as well as the Indian traveller is becoming a reality! This should have been done immediately post Covid to take full advantage of the upsurge in holiday demand to Schengen countries. But as we say, better late than never’! Indian Nationals can now apply for a multiple entry Schengen visa with longer validity.”

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Sigmund launches AI generated RFP Hub for tourism professionals

Sigmund introduces “Travel & Tourism RFP HUB” its latest innovative solution to revolutionise the way tourism professionals find new business. It has streamlined the process of wading through government, NGO, aid and tourism board websites in search of various RFPs for business and made it function as “Tinder for Tenders!” The new hub consists of opportunities for professionals who offer Consulting (sustainability, accessibility, development), Marketing (web, social, app, advertising, PR) and Research (branding, surveys, data analytics). Speaking with Tourism breaking news, Ally Stoltz Labriola, Director Sigmund shared more details on this exciting new platform. Labriola shared, “Sigmund’s new A.I.-powered RFP Hub makes finding travel and tourism contracts more efficient and affordable than ever before–at just $129 per year. Any tourism professional who signs up can access the hub. It caters to those offering consulting, marketing, or research services to entities like governments and NGOs that issue RFPs.” Among its unique features is that, “the hub is affordable, powered by A.I, and is tailored specifically for the travel and tourism industry, eliminating the need to sift through unrelated RFPs from other industries.” She reiterated how it helps in marketing, research, and analytics from a tourism marketing perspective, and how it can generate new business. “The RFP Hub provides marketing, research, and analytics consultants with specialized access to relevant RFPs in the tourism sector, helping them identify opportunities that match their expertise and utilize their skills to win contracts and expand their business. The annual subscription is $129 USD. A special rate for TravTalk readers of $99 USD for the first year is available with the code TravTalk99 at checkout.” In conclusion, she shared that, “a minimal investment can yield significant returns. Winning …

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Europamundo’s new routes for 2024

Europamundo, a JTB Group company, now introduces new and exciting programmes that you can promote to your clients. From new routes in Europe and river cruises, and more than 60 itineraries in USA and Canada, the company has created distinct and immersive itineraries that will take travellers through memorable journeys across three continents.   Scandinavia including Norwegian fjords This nine-day series offers a more extended itinerary in Norway including stay in Trondheim, scenic drive of Great Atlantic Road and the spectacular Geiranger Fjord which is a UNESCO world Heritage site. It covers Copenhagen leading onwards to Odense where is scenery is attractive woodlands and mountains in Norway with the first view of the fjords. It also includes some time to explore Flekkefjord – a town on a fjord, with wooden houses and tiny restaurants – as well as Oslo and Stockholm city tours.   North America & Mexico The USA and Canada Panorama offers more than 60 itineraries starting from four days up to 16 days covering the East and West coasts. The new series introduces new routes including Yosemite and the Great Sequoia National Park in West and Detroit and Chicago in East. A combination of Canada and USA is also available. For those who want an extended trip can choose the 19-day tour that includes USA, Canada with Chicago.   New regions in Europe This year will see new circuits in the South of France and Alsace, which is a historical region in northeastern France on the Rhine River plain and borders Germany and Switzerland. Europamundo has also introduced a combination itinerary with Germany’s Black Forest and Luxembourg. Travel agents can also sell its new routes in Italy, …

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Vistara allows agents to use specific TMC credit cards, more banks to be added to list on TAAI’s request: Jay Bhatia, VP, TAAI

Speaking about the latest update from Vistara, Jay Bhatia, TAAI VP, says, “The airline has said that the agents can use the credit cards on the list they have circulated to the travel agents as a payment option on the GDS. However, other cards were not listed. Therefore, TAAI had taken this issue up with them and now the airline has added multiple cards on this list that agents can use to book.”

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