Category Archives: Associations

Pradeep Shetty, FHRAI’s Joint Honorary Secretary, has said that while they are happy the disastrous state of affairs of the sector and the plight of millions of workforce employed in the sector have been recognised by the government, the promotion of domestic tourism is the need of the hour. “Therefore, we request the government to incentivise domestic tourism as well,” he says.

The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a 16-member-committee to come up with a revival plan for the tourism sector and suggest COVID-19 SOPs for tourists in the state. Director- Tourism will be the Chairperson of the panel which also includes representatives from TAAI, IATO, TTM, SIHRA, TTTHA, FICCI, CII and South India MICE Association (SIMA).

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.

Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has requested Arun Singhal, CEO, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) to extend the timeline to implement the mentioning of FSSAI License number on bills for FBOs on the backdrop of the pandemic’s impact to Hospitality businesses. The association says that it is in favour of the FSSAI’s latest order, which will help set up a robust customer grievance system in the country. “FHRAI appreciates the FSSAI’s endeavour to set up a robust customer grievance system in the country. This will also improve the overall awareness of FSSAI and its underlying objectives of creating a safe and hygienic ecosystem for FBOs. While this is a great initiative, it has to be taken into account that at present, the tourism and hospitality is the most impacted sector by the COVID19 pandemic. In all probabilities, it will be the last one to recover as well. During such times of deep crisis, the implementation of this order would entail a lot of additional expenses on businesses. Printing new receipts, invoices, bills, cash memos as well as updating software and PMS, among other ancillary activities will only burden the cash-strapped industry even more. Hence, we request the FSSAI to extend the timeline for implementation of the order until such time that some normalcy returns to the sector,” says Mr Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI.

MP Bezbaruah, Secretary-General, Hotel Association of India (HAI), has said that the FM’s announcement on free visas has a very strong symbolic message that we have the confidence to welcome visitors and that tourism and hospitality is a strong pillar of post-Covid economic recovery strategy. “We sincerely hope that such measures will be logically followed by measures to make the industry recover and be ready to welcome tourists. Measures like liquidity support and exemption from statutory taxes. HAI would like to compliment the FM on this initiative and look forward to some more pragmatic initiatives to create jobs and livelihoods through a rejuvenated Tourism and Hospitality industry. As always HAI will be there for a committed role to be played by the Tourism and Hospitality industry in the national economic development programme,” he added.

Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, has said that it’s a welcome move by the Finance Minister to announce package or relief for the travel agents and the tourism people, especially the tourist guides, who are registered on the MOT website. “However, I still feel that more should have come for the tourism sector, which is really suffering a huge cash flow crunch, seeing low business and are not even looking at any business coming and reviving quickly. I think more needs to be done, as the 10% which will be useful to some of the smallest players, will not go far for the majority. Hence, the industry in general, has not been helped. However, it’s a small light at the end of the tunnel. We are also looking at the ECLGS scheme and we hope that something more will be added to it. In addition, SEIS would be another perspective that would be looked at. Hence, let’s hope there is some more coming and we keep our fingers crossed that whatever they have announced will be distributed easily and doesn’t just remain on paper. We need ease of getting that amount also. Overall it’s a good move and we are looking for more and I hope it’s the beginning to get more respite,” she added.

Pointing out the key role of vaccinations on the road to recovery, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UNWTO said, “There is significant pent-up demand and we see confidence slowly returning.” He also urged governments to ‘improve coordination and communication while making testing easier and more affordable in order to facilitate a travel rebound this summer.

Introducing the ATOAI Women’s Collective, the association has announced the team of Women’s Task Force. Arshdeep Anand CEO, HMA Spectrum Handcrafted Holidays will be the Chairwoman of the committee while other members include, Guneet Puri, Tejaswini Gopalswamy, Dilshad Master and Akansha Garg. Instituted on International Women’s Day 2021, the Women’s Task Force has been formed with the purpose to inspire, nurture and celebrate women in adventure travel.

The Yaas relief and health check-up camp organised by ETAA Eastern India Chapter in association with CAS, NatureMates and The Rotary Club of Calcutta (South Central) was completed smoothly in June 2021 in Mousuni Islands, Sunderbans despite the challenges of the bad weather, flooded roads, partial lockdown, and unavailability of public transport. Koushik Banerjee, Chapter Chairman (East India), says, “This couldn’t have happened without the co-operation of the forest department. The local people of Mousuni islands amazed us with their hospitality, humility and discipline.”

IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) National Committee & Kerala State Committee, in their online meetings held on 15th June 2021, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Kerala for taking a step to form Welfare Board for the employees working in tourism industry. The formation of a Welfare Board for Travel and Tourism Industry employees was one of the essential demands submitted by IAAI to CM & Tourism Minister on 31st May 2021.