Category Archives: Associations

In an era marked by geopolitical uncertainty, regulatory changes and shifting traveller expectations, the tourism industry stands at a pivotal crossroads. The ongoing Indo Pak conflict has understandably raised fresh concerns and cast a shadow over the tourism sector. Yet, time and again, history has proven that our industry is built not just on destinations, but on determination. Recognising the need for collective insight and decisive action, the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) is stepping up with a timely and thought-provoking virtual event ‘Turning Tides: Navigating Upcoming Tourism Trends.’ Scheduled for Tuesday, 20 May 2025, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM (IST), this one-hour online dialogue will bring together some of the most respected voices in the Indian travel and tourism landscape. The session is designed as a dialogue to spark ideas, encourage collaboration and offer strategic insights for the road ahead. The panel will feature: Ajeet Bajaj, President, ATOAI – an industry veteran known for his leadership in Tourism, Adventure Tourism and advocacy for sustainable travel; Dhruv Shringi, Co-Founder & CEO, Yatra Online, Inc. – a pioneer in digital travel platforms, offering a sharp perspective on evolving consumer behaviour and tech trends; Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI – a respected voice for travel agents and tour operators with deep knowledge of global travel dynamics. Together, these thought leaders will explore how the sector can embrace change—through innovation, sustainability and resilience—while addressing some of the most pressing questions facing the travel industry today. “The tourism industry has weathered many storms—and every time, we have emerged stronger. We are at another such inflection point, offering us the chance to pause, reset and reimagine,” said Ajeet Bajaj. This session is open …

PATA Annual Summit is set to be held at Gyeongju and Pohang in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Korea (ROK) from 11-13 May next year. This is the first time in PATA’s history that two cities will co-host the Summit. Kim Namil, President, GCTO, said, “Our goal is to make PAS 2026 more than just a tourism event — it will be a platform for sustainability, innovation, and human connections.”

The report ‘Scaling Up Sustainable Fuel’ by WTTC warns that unless the travel and tourism sector acts collectively, SAF mandates introduced by governments, requiring a 5% to 10% blend by 2030, could increase travel costs and limit consumer choice. With Travel and tourism forecast to generate $16.5 trillion and support over 460 million jobs by 2035, scaling up sustainable fuel is an economic imperative.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has expressed its solidarity for the Indian Armed Forces in fighting against the terrorism and the countries those who are supporting terrorism. Ravi Gosain, its President, says, “We as responsible citizens of our country stand with our commitment for the national integrity, peace, and responsible tourism. During recent conflict between India and Pakistan, the two countries Turkey and Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan who promotes terrorism. Turkey provided military assistance to Pakistan against India. We urge the Government of India to take firm diplomatic steps, including issuing travel advisories against nations that continue to support or aid Pakistan either directly or indirectly.” He added that travel is not just an economic activity but reflects the values and ethics of a nation. “As responsible stakeholders in the tourism sector, we believe that India must send a strong message to the global community that any form of support to terrorism, masked as financial aid or humanitarian assistance is unacceptable. IATO stands united with the nation and supports decisions that uphold India’s sovereignty and honor. We urge our members to give careful thought to the destinations they promote and align their efforts with the broader national sentiment and demonstrate solidarity with our armed forces and the values they protect,” Gosain says.

Highlighting policy measures by the Civil Aviation Ministry supporting future success, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, adds, “While we can truly celebrate these achievements, we must not take for granted the continued success of India’s aviation future. There is more work to be done. In particular, I would highlight three areas: costs, airspace and sustainability.”

Underscoring the importance of choosing partners wisely and advocated for an industry-wide roundtable involving all major travel associations to redefine bilateral travel strategies, Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI, said, “Tourism is more than revenue; it builds visibility, partnerships, and diplomacy. Ensure that India’s tourism strategy aligns with national sentiment and global positioning.”

In light of India’s firm response to terrorism and the recent terror attack targeting Indian tourists in Kashmir, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, through its Tourism Committee, stands in firm solidarity with the Government of India and the Indian Armed Forces in their calibrated and resolute response. Dr. Subhash Goyal, Chairman, Tourism Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce, says, “We salute our Armed Forces, and various other agencies within the Government, working under the strong leadership of our PM  Narendra Modi, on the success of Operation Sindoor.  We also salute the citizens of the border areas for showing bravery and cooperation. With  great pride we proved to the world that we are a strong, undivided country and will not tolerate any kind of terrorism on our soil. We all are together in our fight against terrorism of all kinds.” He adds that the Indian Chamber of Commerce joins the tourism associations and industry bodies in demanding a boycott of countries like Turkiye and Azerbaijan, following their stand against India’s response to terrorism. “Tourism is a force for good and a driver of peace, global harmony and international understanding. The safety and integrity of our citizens has to be prioritised above all else. There is so much beauty in the world, we appeal to Indians traveling overseas to choose destinations that are safe, promote peace and are aligned with India’s commitment against terrorism and separatist activities,” Dr Goyal says.  

Talking about the upcoming Air Transport Summit that will be held in Delhi in June, Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said, “Those gathering for the event will be impressed. India’s place in global aviation has changed dramatically over the last decade. With record aircraft orders, impressive growth, and world-class infrastructure developments, India is firmly established as the fourth largest market (domestic & international) for aviation in the world. And within this decade IATA’s own projections point to India rising to be the third largest.”

Sunil Kumar, President, TAAI, said, “We are planning to do our convention in the Q3 or Q4 of this year.” Speaking about the travel and tourism situation of Jammu and Kashmir, he noted that they invested so much in promoting the UT in Kashmir during 2018, which gave it a premier tourism status. He regretted that the current developments have diluted the returns that came in as a result of years of effort.

IATO team led by Ravi Gosain, President met Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Odisha, to invite her for the 40th IATO Annual Convention scheduled to be held from 22nd to 25th August 2025 at Swosti Premium Spa & Resorts, Puri. Odisha. IATO delegation included Sanjay Razdan – Vice President, Rajiv Mehra – Immediate Past President, J.K. Mohanty – Chairman, IATO Eastern Region and Gagan Sarangi – Chairman, IATO Odisha Chapter and met the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister. Gosain informed that the Deputy Chief Minister gave her consent to join for the convention and assured her full support and also from the Directorate of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha and OTDC. She also mentioned that special arrangements with seamless entry will be made for the IATO delegates to visit Lord Jagannath Temple and beautification of Puri Beach during the convention. She also agreed to our request to host IATO Delegates at Odisha Tourism Development Corporation properties for the post- convention tours. After the meeting, IATO delegation met Mansi Nimbhal, Director (Tourism), Govt. of Odisha to invite for the convention and to seek her support, who assured her full support for the convention. With the support from Odisha Tourism, the 40th IATO Annual Convention is going to be held from 22nd to 25th August 2025 in Puri, Odisha. Odisha is the host state of the convention and besides the host state, we expect Ministry of Tourism and Government of India and 15-18 states presence in the convention. Swosti Premium Beach Resort, Puri will be the venue hotel and all the activities on all the three days i.e. registration for the convention, inaugural function, business sessions and evening programme will …