Category Archives: Agents

The Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) Mumbai Chapter, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, successfully kicked off its first Knowledge Session at the Tourism Malaysia office in Mumbai. The session saw the participation of ETAA members, who gained valuable insights into Malaysia’s latest attractions, destinations, and unique travel experiences. ETAA has announced that the next Knowledge Session will be held on 7th October 2025. ETAA Members are encouraged to participate and benefit from these exclusive learning and networking opportunities. Members also had the opportunity to interact directly with the Tourism Malaysia leadership team: Noriah Jaafar – Director, Tourism Malaysia T. Ediwanto Eddie – Deputy Director, Tourism Malaysia Jane D’Cruz – Marketing Manager Speaking about the initiative, ETAA highlighted that such knowledge sessions are designed to keep members updated with evolving tourism offerings, while also strengthening industry relationships. The program was hosted and organized by Tourism Malaysia, with coordination support from the ETAA Mumbai BOD team – Mr Jagat Mehta – National Board Member, Mr Abhijit Khadilkar – National Board Member & Membership head, Mrs Dipti Pradhan Thakoor- National Board Member & Event head, Mr Dharmesh Advani – National Board Member Sivadas, CEO, Sivadas Travel “This is the best training program about Malayasia conducted by ETAA committee and Malaysian Tourism. Very informative. Well done” Ajinkya Dhumma, CEO, Classis Travel and Tours “The session was highly informative and provided valuable insights into Malaysia’s diverse tourism offerings luxurious properties at the island-hopping destination i.e. Sabah and Sarawak.”

As the travel industry faces rising legal, financial, and cyber risks, Asego introduces Travel Business Protect — a pioneering solution designed exclusively for travel agencies and tour operators. The product offers wide-ranging coverage, including legal defence, compensation support, third-party liability, staff errors, document protection, and safeguards against cybercrime, fraud, and supplier defaults. Commenting on the launch, Dev Karvat, Founder & CEO, Asego, said, “Travel partners today carry immense responsibility. Travel Business Protect is about securing their operations and reputation, so they can focus on delivering exceptional experiences without fear of unforeseen risks.” With Asego Travel Business Protect, agencies gain more than insurance — they gain a business sustainability shield for today’s demanding travel landscape.

Destination DC welcomed 13 top Indian travel trade partners for their first-ever Reverse India Sales Mission, held in Washington, DC from August 23 to August 28. Over six days, the Indian trade professionals engaged in programs that created opportunities for business development and cultural immersion. Seventeen local partners, including hotels, museums, restaurants, city tours and experiences, participated in one-on-one meetings and roundtable discussions with the trade. The agents also explored some of DC’s best offerings, including the tour of the iconic National Mall with Capitol Express Tours, Smithsonian museums, The People’s House: A White House Experience, and more. The group was in town just in time for the DC Jazz Festival and enjoyed a private jazz dinner with live music at the rooftop of the Kimpton Banneker Hotel. The greatest highlight of this trip was the Destination DC’s Marketing Outlook Meeting held at Capital Turnaround—a unique meeting space inside Navy Yard’s historic streetcar barn. The DDC team announced the latest visitation data, industry updates and travel forecasts for 2026 in this annual meeting. The attendees enjoyed breakfast and networking with 500+ industry leaders and professionals, followed by a presentation by Destination DC’s President & CEO, Elliott L. Ferguson, II, Didio Pequeno, Director of Hospitality Market Analytics at CoStar Group; and Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics. Reflecting on the success of the mission, Ferguson said, “It was a pleasure hosting the Indian travel trade in Washington, DC, where they were able to experience the District’s unique and diverse cultural and culinary offerings. The growth of visitation numbers from India has been exciting for us, and the market has been, and continues to be, a top focus globally.”

As per MakeMyTrip’s latest findings, pilgrimage travel trends highlight broad-based momentum with 34 destinations recording double-digit growth and 15 destinations growing by over 25%. The strong growth in pilgrimage demand is also driving an aggressive expansion of accommodation supply across key destinations. The breadth of growth across pilgrimage destinations can be seen in centres such as Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Puri (Odisha), Amritsar (Punjab) and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), which continue to grow.

For the first time, the Directorate of Tourism, Uttar Pradesh, has invited proposals from investors to develop and operate farm stay accommodations across the state. Jaiveer Singh, Tourism Minister, UP, said that the state is taking rural tourism to the next level with a vision that is entirely new. “This initiative is not just about creating farm accommodations — it is about turning our villages into vibrant centres of culture, livelihood, and learning. Tourists today are eager to escape concrete jungles and experience authentic farm life — from milking cows at dawn to sharing meals in rural kitchens. We are ready to provide that warmth, simplicity, and authenticity,” he said.

Sharing his views on the revised GST, Amitabh Kant, former G20 Sherpa and ex-CEO, NITI Aayog, says, “India needs to be ahead of the curve in cutting edge areas of sustainable growth. This will enable tech innovation.” He agrees that India, the fourth-largest economy, can’t wait till 2027 for CAFE-III. If Net Zero and Viksit Bharat 2047 are the goal, stricter fuel-efficiency norms must be achieved sooner.

RX, organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), World Travel Market (WTM), and WTM events in Cape Town and Sao Paulo, has announced the launch of WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia. The inaugural event is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Centre (RFECC). WTM Spotlight is a new brand and launch within the WTM portfolio, designed to focus on a specific market and create invaluable opportunities for regional and international exhibitors and visitors. Participants can engage in a mix of inbound and outbound conversations, forging meaningful connections with industry leaders and travel professionals while immersing themselves in the destination’s culture. Commenting on the announcement, Vasyl Zhygalo, Managing Director, Middle East and Emerging Markets, RX, said: “WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia represents an exciting new chapter for the WTM portfolio. By creating events that delve deeper into a specific market, we offer regional and international stakeholders, as well as travel professionals, an unparalleled opportunity to build essential relationships, gain richer insights, uncover future travel trends and discover innovative new ways to connect the world. Ultimately, these shared experiences and cultural insights lay the foundation for long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships. “Saudi Arabia is the perfect location to launch this concept – its tourism sector is one of the most ambitious and fastest-growing in the world, and WTM Spotlight will play a pivotal role in supporting its development as a destination by connecting the world to Saudi, and Saudi to the world.” Saudi Arabia has undergone a significant transformation in tourism under Vision 2030, demonstrating the Kingdom’s ambitious plan to diversify its economy and position itself as a …

Chitra Gurnani Daga, CEO, Thrillophilia, bagged the DDP Face of the Future Award. Walking out of ISB with an idea to make the discovery of the world effortless, Daga co-founded Thrillophilia in 2011. Within a few years, she transformed the two-person startup into a global travel platform, trusted by more than 100 million users and serving a million travellers annually. Her leadership shone during the pandemic when she safeguarded jobs and accelerated tech adoption.

Arjun Sharma, Chairman, Select Group, has joined the Gallery of Legends at the prestigious India Travel Awards. Son of the late Padma Shri Inder Sharma, he began his journey at SITA World Travel, later steering Kuoni and Le Passage to India into India’s top inbound tourism companies. Beyond tourism, he co-created Select CITYWALK, still known for the highest sales per sq ft in India. He continues to shape hospitality as Chief Vision Officer of Heritage Village Resorts & Spa.

The India Travel Awards 2025, held on September 9 at Le Méridien New Delhi, brought together leading voices from the travel and hospitality industry for an evening of recognition and celebration. The presence of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister, Tourism & Culture, graced the prestigious event. Honouring achievers who have driven growth, innovation, and excellence in India’s tourism sector, the event sets new benchmarks for the industry. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, GoI, was the Honoured Guest at the event. A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the India Travel Awards coffee table book. The event also saw the presence of eminent industry leaders, including Ashwani Lohani, Director, Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library, and Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India.