Category Archives: Agents

For the first time in India, an agency representative chaired the Airline Passenger Joint Council of IATA (APJC) which was held virtually on May 25 and attended by the airline representatives and agency representatives of TAAI and TAFI. In a historic move, TAAI President Jyoti Mayal was unanimously selected to the chair the meeting. TAAI was represented by Vice President – Jay Bhatia, Hon. Secretary General – Bettaiah Lokesh, Hon. Treasurer – Shreeram Patel and UFTAA President and Past President – TAAI, Sunil Kumar Rumalla. The agency representatives took up all the important points of concern and have made recommendations through APJC to PAPGJC / PSG which shall be taken up at PAconf also.

A breath test designed to detect Covid-19 and give accurate results within a minute has been approved for use in Singapore. The test, developed by National University of Singapore spin-off startup Breathonix, works like a standard breathalyzer test. A person blows into a one-way valve mouthpiece, and compounds in the person’s breath are compared by machine learning software against the sort of breath signature that would be expected from someone who is Covid-positive.

Urging the government for relief measures in a letter, TAAI has stated, ‘We do not seek grants as alms, but seek support in terms of repayable loans. This shall be repaid back to the Government post the 5-year period after the crisis ends. This shall only be an interim working capital for survival and revival along with ease of doing business. Contribution from this ministry and the trade especially in the last five years, deserves a Cabinet berth in your Government. TAAI’s letter said.

Tourism department started a special vaccination drive for the people associated with travel and hospitality sector in the age group of 18 to 45 years at TRC Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg. Dedicated vaccination centres have been established for centralised and fast-tracked coverage of all identified beneficiaries after proper verification. It has also allocated nodal officers and help desks at each centre.

In a recent notice to members of trade and industry, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has announced the introduction of an online e-EPCG Committee module on their website https://dgft.gov.in/ wherein members of trade can file applications for seeking relaxation in policy/ procedure in terms of para 2.58 of FTP 2015-20.

With the country reeling under the havoc caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, tour operators in Kerala have come to the rescue. Amidst shortage of oxygen, ambulances and other medical supplies, these tour operators in the state are now converting their buses and vans into ambulances fitted with oxygen cylinders, many offering the service free of charge.

Speaking at the International Conference on Agri-Tourism 2021, Aditya Thackeray, Minister for Tourism & Environment, Government of Maharashtra, said, “More than 60% of the country’s population engage in agriculture and it therefore crucial to link agriculture to tourism. Agri-tourism is instrumental for employment generation and economic improvement especially in these pandemic times when people have lost jobs.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the 3-day networking platform Virtual ATB 2021, Petra Stolba, CEO, Austrian National Tourist Office, said, ““Right now tourism faces many questions. Short-term ones, such as what Covid means for the coming summer season as well as long-term about the future of travel and opportunities through digitalisation. With the Austrian Tourism Days right at the restart of tourism in Austria, we are giving the industry valuable assistance and orientation.” The programme will focus on sales, innovation, safe holidays and the future of travel.

Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has made an appeal to all its members and all the tourism professionals to get themselves, staff and their families to register on for Covid-19 for vaccination. While requesting the members and others, he mentioned that it is very important for all of us in the tourism and hospitality industry to get ourselves and staff vaccinated at the earliest possible and once the vaccinations is done, same should be conveyed to all your counterparts/foreign tour operators to create confidence amongst them that vaccination programme in India is going on in full swing and all our staff and the frontline workers  i.e., airport representatives, drivers, guides, escorts and tourist felicitators, hotel front office, reception and restaurant staff, etc. have been vaccinated.    

A total of 71 deals (comprising M&A, private equity, and venture financing) were announced in the global tourism sector during April, which is a decline of 34.3% over 108 deals announced in March, according to data and analytics company GlobalData. Aurojyoti Bose, its Lead Analyst, says, “Although the rebound in deal activity in March brought in some cheer, it could not be sustained for long with April again reversing the trend.”