Category Archives: Agents

Thomas Cook India leads travel recovery with its latest initiative TravShield – a definitive Travel Safety Commitment, India’s only Safe Travel programme which promises their customers the confidence to travel safely. TravShield commits to protecting their customers in every possible aspect of Personal, Mental and Financial Safety.  Thomas Cook India has also addressed the apprehension/concerns of people on committing their money on travel by launching ‘Holiday First, Pay When You Return’. Inviting the trade to attend this, Romil Pant, Senior Vice President – Holidays, Thomas Cook India, says, “We look forward to each one of you joining us on the occasion as we talk about ‘TravShield’ and ‘Travel Now Pay Later’ idea and assist the trade in re-inventing travel. We promise you a lot of interaction and fun during the webinar as we give all participants.” To participate, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call 9650196532, or register directly at https://event.webinarjam.com/register/264/wy0z2bk8

Rakesh Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, has shared that the MOT is currently working on NIDHI+ platform. “We are consolidating on what we had built as a platform and also building SAATHI framework for other quality certifications also. NIDHI+ looks at four elements. One is the registration of units, which could be hospitality units, tour operators, travel agents, and all kinds of tourism service providers. Second is consolidation of quality certification, including sustainability certification and adventure tourism certification. We are also working with OTAs for integrating database and trying to build a unified database, as well as to help our tourism service providers get listed on OTAs and Incredible India website. The 4th pillar is working with the ministries of MSME and FRRO offices, because they also have database of hospitality units and MSME units, which would allow us to remove duplicacies and help build one unified database,” he added.  

Two more international airports will be added in North Eastern states, at Imphal and Agartala, with the aim of increasing connectivity in the region, said Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region. The airport at Itanagar will be functional by the end of the year and that a facility is also coming up at Kohima. At present, there is an international airport in Guwahati.  

Gujarat Tourism recently organised a familiarisation tour for members of IATO and ADTOI associations in Ahmedabad city. Titled ‘Dekho Ahmedabad’ the agents toured the city on a double decker Bus. The tourism board will conduct another fam this month for 24 members to Velavadar that has the Blackbuck National Park.

Uzbekistan Airways, the national flag carrier of the Republic of Uzbekistan has appointed Wingspan Group, the Airline Management Services Company & Specialist in Russia and CIS Countries for over two decades, as its new Passenger Sales Agent (PSA) for the Indian market. Abzal R Akramov, Uzbekistan Airway’s General Manager India stated that “We are pleased to appoint Wingspan Group to position our brand, create awareness of our products and sell our services in an important market – the Western & Southern India.” The new PSA, Wingspan Group will use its vast experience and will be the immediate liaison for the airline’s sales development in India, including ticketing and direct support services to the travel trade. “Wingspan Group is happy to be associated with Uzbekistan Airways as their Passenger Sales Agent (PSA) in India. Uzbekistan Airways is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the CIS Countries and has aggressive plans to connect India and Uzbekistan through their hub in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. We look forward to a great working association with Uzbekistan Airways and are optimistic of making their online operations a success & also resume flight ex-Mumbai once the pandemic is over,” commented Tasneem Udaipurwala, Director, Wingspan Group. About Uzbekistan Airways Uzbekistan Airways currently operates weekly flights to Delhi with increased capacity on The Dreamliner B787-800 & B757-200, a state of the art twin class 270 seater equipped with full-flat beds in business class and unmatched legroom in the economy, with in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi onboard. From Tashkent as its hub, Uzbekistan Airways reaches out to several cities in Russia, CIS Countries, Western Europe, the Middle East and the United States of America. Uzbekistan Airways operates one of the largest fleets …

Aviareps India successfully concluded its first 3D digital roadshow in India with 12 partners on board representing destinations namely Brussels, Miami, Moscow and St. Petersburg, hotel brands namely Radisson Hotels and Rocco Forte Hotels, tourism products offering in Brussels namely Choco Story and the biggest tourism attractions – Atomium and Mini Europe, car rentals services of Budget Rent a Car and finally important suppliers namely MP Benelux and Get to Belgium. Held from 23-24 June 2021, the virtual roadshow saw presence of industry visitors from all corners of India. Over the two days of the virtual fair, a total of 250+ attendees from the vibrant Indian outbound travel fraternity ensured 350+ pre-scheduled meetings and 1,710 contacts exchanged via booth visitations as well as allowing agents to interact amongst themselves thus making this a highly interactive platform. “The maiden virtual edition of Aviareps India Travel Connect is a clear indication that it is time for us to shift gears and focus on development and continuity of business. And, while it is the first of its kind in India, I hope all the attendees benefit from the interesting discussions and virtual connections during these two days which we will soon transform into face-to-face encounters in the near immediate future”, stated Ellona Pereira, Head, Aviareps India.

Displaying keen appetite in India’s high growth international education segment, Thomas Cook (India), has announced its ‘Study Buddy’ program – with special offers on all student remittances made until September 30, 2021. The offers are available across the company’s omnichannel touch points – over 1100 retail outlets (both owned and FX Mate B2B partner outlets), toll free contact centre # 1800 2099 100, and portal www.thomascook.in With Indian students having lost out on their academic year due to the pandemic, 2021 has witnessed a significant resurgence in the overseas study opportunity. The increasing uptick in admissions for the upcoming semester commencing July-August 2021, offers Thomas Cook India strong potential. To maximise on this opportunity, the company’s Foreign Exchange business has launched its special ‘Study Buddy’ program to benefit students on every education remittance made until September 30, 2021. Highlights of the Study Buddy offer include a Grand Prize – One Free* Air Ticket to study destination per month (for travel up to Sept 2022), daily prize to be won – a bluetooth headphone, and assured gifts including a Lenskart Gold membership, P&G vouchers. Deepesh Varma, Senior Vice President, Foreign Exchange, Thomas Cook (India) said, “The international study segment is a highly opportune one and we are already witnessing growth of over 20%. Our Study Buddy program with attractive offers has hence been specially designed to benefit our students and thereby increase our share of the education remittances business.”

Imaginative nature play is the order of the day at the Koala Conservation Reserve, Phillip Island Nature Parks, with a new nature play area opening on Saturday 26 June, just in time for the school holidays. The play area is designed so that kids will create their own fun and be imaginative as they jump, run, sit, crawl and climb throughout the different areas that showcase some of the island’s native species – an Eastern barred bandicoot burrow, a honeyeater nest and a koala deck. Recycled timbers were sourced from the plantation at the Koala Conservation Reserve, as well as Churchill Island, to allow for a sustainable and aesthetic design that complemented the surrounding woodland. The new nature play area is located at the front of the Koala Conservation Reserve, so paid entry is not required. It’s the perfect place for families to bring along a picnic and spend some time getting back to nature with the kids. Nature will also be a feature of a new mural artwork being created by renowned contemporary artist Jimmy Dvate. Wildlife will be celebrated in this mural that is set to feature native species including a honeyeater, a curlew and more. Work will be starting on the walls of the old Chisholm centre on Wednesday 30 June, and Jimmy is expecting the project to take approximately ten days to complete.

Reacting on the Finance Minister’s relief measures announcements announcement for the tourism industry, Subhash Goyal, President, Confederation of Tourism Professionals of India said the announcement is ‘too late and too little’. “Already 10 million people in the industry have become jobless and thousands of companies have become bankrupt,” he said.

Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook India Group, welcomes the announcement by the honourable Finance Minister, Sitharaman, saying, “This is a much needed step towards the revival of tourism – a sector  that is a significant contributor to the GDP, foreign exchange receipts and employment generation – with a cascading force multiplier effect on allied sectors. The three-pronged approach for the sector covers 100% guarantee for loans up to Rs 10 lakhs per government recognised Travel & Tourism stakeholder (TTS), up to Rs 1 Lakh financial support to over 11000 licensed guides at a state/regional level, and 5 lakh gratis visas that will serve to catalyse much needed inbound inflows.  The stimulus announcements reflect the government’s focus on the travel and tourism sector and augurs well for the industry, while simultaneously building consumer confidence in travel.”