Category Archives: Agents

In a novel initiative aimed at making Assam’s vibrant tourism industry more inclusive, the Tour Operators Association of Assam (TOAA) and Shishu Sarothi, a leading non-profit organization working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote accessible tourism in Assam. The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Jayanta Malla Baruah, Hon’ble Minister, Tourism and Shri Rituparna Baruah, Chairman, Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (ATDCL) on the occasion of the World Tourism Day celebrations of the Govt. of Assam on 27th September with a marathon “Run for heritage” in Sivasagar. This collaboration reflects the commitment of both organizations to create an environment where everyone, including persons with disabilities, can enjoy the natural beauty, cultural heritage, and diverse experiences that Assam has to offer. Under the MoU, TOAA and Shishu Sarothi will work closely together to develop and implement strategies that enhance accessibility and inclusivity in the tourism sector. Key components of this partnership include sensitization and awareness trainings for tourism professionals to raise awareness about the needs and preferences of travelers with disabilities, ensuring a welcoming and accommodating environment; promotion and providing support for the development of accessible infrastructure and amenities at various tourist destinations across Assam; promotion of employment opportunities of persons with disabilities in the tourism sector; and undertaking collaborative activities to highlight Assam as an inclusive and accessible tourist destination, attracting a wider range of visitors. Debajit Borah, President of TOAA expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We believe that Accessible tourism is an integral part of the broader themes of tourism and green investment due to its alignment with inclusivity, sustainability, economic benefits, environmental considerations, legal compliance, positive …

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board is organizing two new mega festivals in the coming two months for the tourists of the country and the state.  Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture and Managing Director Tourism Board Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla said that Kuno Forest Festival is being organized for the first time from December 1 to celebrate the rich culture and diverse wildlife of the state.  Before this, the second edition of Gandhi Sagar Floating Festival will be organized from 27th October.  There will be cultural programs and an unmatched experience of exciting activities in the festivals being organized by the Tourism Department and Forest Department in collaboration with Lalluji & Sons.  The tent city has been developed to provide a luxury glamping experience, along with various activities to promote local art and culture.  On this occasion, Chief Wildlife Warden Aseem Shrivastava said that the message of wildlife conservation will be spread through these festivals.  The message of wildlife conservation will make more and more people aware through a chain reaction.  Through these festivals, people will get to know the wildlife closely and understand their important role in the eco system of nature.

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is researching to identify unique niche experiences India can offer. Pastoral tourism has been identified as an emerging trend, especially in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. A Camel Product Processing Utilisation centre was recently inaugurated in Bikaner.

Switzerland Tourism invites the trade to attend a webinar that will highlight SWISS, BLS Interlaken, Swissminatur, and FoxTown on October 12 at 3pm. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2024! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532, or click here to register. The ‘Swiss’ experience for travellers begins as soon as they board their flight, especially if they are flying directly from India to Switzerland! Once they land, they are greeted with a variety of amazing activities and experiences. This webinar will showcase multiple products and include Swiss International Air Lines, the scenic cruise on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz by BLS Interlaken, Swissminiatur which is a popular park in Ticino housing miniature replicas of popular Swiss attractions, and FoxTown – Ticini’s shopping paradise.  

Trip to Mexico appoints Global Destinations as the sales and marketing representative in India market. Trip to Mexico is a tour operator in Mexico, specialising in unique trips. It has high-level transportation, direct contracts with hotels and special rates, reliable partners, highly trained personnel, and personalised attention for each client. Ksenia Tarasova (Vice Director) and Ramon Delgado (Director) have over 20 years of experience in the luxury and VIP agency markets of Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and Europe. Trip to Mexico is a proudly family-owned business committed to providing VIP-level care to our agency partners. Their proficiency extends to crafting exceptional experiences in Cuba. Ksenia Tarasova and Ramón Delgado – Spokespersons for Trip to Mexico commented on the partnership. “Understanding the importance of the Indian outbound market, we are excited to appoint Global Destinations as our representation company.” Pranav Kapadia, Founder, of Global Destinations comments “With our expertise in Latin America, re-entering Mexico was a key priority for us. We are indeed very excited to partner with Trip2Mexico and once again open our doors to Mexico.”

With the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup – one of the world’s most notable cricket tournaments – around the corner, the excitement amongst fans is palpable as sports tourism soars. Booking.com, the Official Accommodation Partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, launched its integrated campaign ‘Howzat for your perfect stay’, integrating the world of travel, cricket and its passionate fans that make it happen. A press event was hosted in Mumbai with former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan, Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan and Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com Unlocking the potential of sports tourism Sports and travel go hand in hand. Mega sporting events such as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 attract travellers to the host destination, which can have a positive impact on domestic and international travel. According to the most-recent Booking.com APAC Travel Confidence Index, 56% of Indians are looking forward to attending a live or major event, including sports tournaments, this year. Search data from Booking.com also reveals a surge in inbound travel with fans across the globe heading to India for the tournament between October 5 to November 19, 2023 with travellers from the UK, USA, UAE, Germany and Australia topping the chart for inbound searches. “The impact of major sporting events on travel desire and demand is a phenomenon we are observing globally and in India as well. As the Official Accommodation Partner for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, we help fans make their cricket-inspired travel as seamless as possible by offering them flights, rental cars, taxi, attractions and of course all kinds of unique places to stay. We are delighted to …

Fausto Zaina, Head of Market Management, Swiss Travel System, was in India recently to meet key travel partners. Sharing some insights, he said, “India is the number two market for us in terms of revenue, only after the US market. But this could change soon dramatically with India coming close to the US in the coming years.”

Switzerland Tourism invites the travel trade to attend an exclusive webinar highlighting the city of Lucerne today at 3pm. Sited on Lake Lucerne and surrounded by a gorgeous alpine landscape, Lucerne is a perfect gateway Into Central Switzerland. Attend all webinars for a chance to win a trip to Switzerland in 2024! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. for registrations, click here.

CRISIL has upgraded its rating on the bank facilities of Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL), at ‘CRISIL AA- / Stable / CRISIL A1+’. The upgrade of the long term to ‘AA- / Stable’ from ‘CRISIL A+/ Stable’ and short term rating to ‘CRISIL A1+’ from ‘CRISIL A1’ reflects the Thomas Cook India Group’s strong scale up in revenue across businesses and expectations of sustained momentum driven by brisk revival in demand post pandemic induced disruptions. The ratings are indicative of TCIL’s strong business risk profile with leadership position in travel and foreign exchange segments and healthy presence in hospitality (Sterling Holiday Resorts) and digi-photo imaging (DEI) segments. The Company has also improved its financial risk profile following sharp revival in business activity. The upgraded ratings factor in the strong parental support from Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.

Cordelia Cruises, India’s premium cruise line, has made a triumphant return to Mumbai this month, after a successful four-month posting in Chennai. Cordelia Cruises returned to the esteemed Mumbai port on the 23rd of September and it will homeport here till June 2024. After a series of successful sailings to Sri Lanka in June 2023, Cordelia became the first Indian cruise to set sail internationally. This represents a monumental stride in the Indian cruise operations and marks an achievement for the country. Cordelia Cruises embarked on an incredible journey, introducing a perfect blend of Indian hospitality and world-class amenities to more than 400,000 passengers since its inception. With a vision of transforming India’s vast coastline, which spans over 7,500 square kilometres, into a bustling hub for coastal tourism, Cordelia Cruises aims to propel the nation into the global cruise tourism industry spotlight.