Category Archives: Associations

Upset by the recent proposal by the IT department to impose 5% TCS on overseas remittance as well as sale of overseas tour package, the travel trade has united to file online petitions on the PMO website urging the government to withdraw the same, claims Pradeep Saboo, Partner, Guideline Travels LLP. He said that he realised there was an urgent need to represent the travel trade to the government on this issue. “Even though I am not part of any trade association, I wanted to bring the industry together in some small way. I have started encouraging travel agents and tour operators like me to go on the PMO grievance website and post their contact details along with the message for withdrawing TCS.” The link for this is https://pmopg.gov.in/pmocitizen/Grievancepmo.aspx where the agent will need to fill in the contact details and put in their suggestion. To help with this, Saboo has also created a ready message that they can copy-paste in the feedback box. He started this on Friday, February 14, 2020 and more than 5,000 individuals signed up for this within the first 48 hours. Saboo pleads, “Please spare two minutes to make a difference to our trade which is facing a very difficult time. This will also affect those who sell cruises.” Saboo adds that he will arrange a meeting between the various trade associations and the travel agents and tour operators soon, post which they will look to send a delegation to meet the PMO or the Finance Ministry.

The Association of Domestic Tour Operators (ADTOI) has launched its Tamil Nadu Chapter at Hotel Ambassador Pallava in Chennai recently. PP Khanna, President, ADTOI, revealed that it is the 11th chapter of the association, which is aimed to bring more tourist traffic to the state. Kalaimamani VKT Balan of Madura Travel Service is the Chairman of ADTOI Tamil Nadu Chapter, while P. Ashok Kumar from Maanas Sarover Tours & Travels has been named as the Secretary. Vishnu Vasanth Kumar from Emperor Traveline is the Treasurer and R. Saraswathi is named as the Lady Entrepreneur Officer (LEO) of the Chapter. The Chief Guest at the launch was K. Pandia Rajan, Minister of Tamil Development, Culture, Archaeology, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and Guest of Honour was V. Krishnamoorthy, Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Thiru. Saravanan Karathihayan, Consulate General of Malaysia; V Irai Anbu IAS, Addl Chief Secretary, Director – Anna Institute of Management, Government of Tamil Nadu; and Officials from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, officials from national Associations of TAAI & TAFI, invitees from local Travel, Tourism & Hospitality fraternity including ADTOI members. ADTOI delegation of 11 Managing committee members was led by PP Khanna, President from Delhi participated in the launching ceremony.

The Association of Domestic Tour Operators Of India (ADTOI) has announced its next convention dates, 10-12 April 2020, which will take place in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh with the support of MP Tourism. The venue of the convention will be Minto Hall, Bhopal. The last ADTOI Convention was held from 16-18 August in Ahmedabad, Gujarat which concluded successfully with over 500 registrations. PP Khanna, President, ADTOI, revealed that the convention will be inaugurated by Kamal Nath, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh and the Guest of Honour will be Surendra Singh Baghel, Tourism Minister, MP in the presence of Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Secretary, Tourism, MP.

The venue of the Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) to be held in Antalya, Turkey has been confirmed and announcing this is Himanshu Patil, Convention Chairman, OTOAI, who reveals, “Our convention will be held at the luxurious, five-star Titanic Mardan Palace hotel located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. All the members will also be staying in this hotel. For now, we have received around 120 registrations and we expect more to come in now that we have announced the hotel. We are looking to close it at 200 or 220 registrations, so members need to book promptly.” He added that the destination is offering gratis visa for the convention. The Titanic Mardan Palace Convention Center boasts a 5448 m² area of 17 halls and two ballrooms designed for meetings, conferences, workshops, administrative seminars, gala dinners and weddings. It has two column-free ballrooms, each of which can be adapted to accommodate events of nearly any size.  

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has estimated that there could be losses up to $500 million because of cancellations from tourists from China and other countries due to the coronavirus outbreak. According to an estimate, more than 50,000 Chinese tourists were expected to visit during January-February and most of these bookings have now been cancelled, as India has blocked the entry of people from China and Hong Kong apart from many other countries. “We fear an immediate loss of up to $500 million as the coronavirus outbreak has hit the arrival of tourists from China, Hong Kong and neighbouring countries,” said Pronab Sarkar, President, IATO. He said losses for domestic tour operators would be much higher, as many outgoing local tourists to China and other countries were also cancelling bookings after the outbreak. “There is a panic in the tourism sector as thousands of bookings have been cancelled,” said E.M. Najeeb, Senior Vice President, IATO. He said foreign as well as domestic tourists were cancelling travel to Kerala.

India is among the top 11 destinations in terms of International Visitor Arrivals (IVAs) in Asia Pacific, and will record an Average Annual Growth Rates (AAGR) of 11.5 per cent between 2019-24, reveals the Executive Summary of the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2020-2024, by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The other destinations in top 11 include Cambodia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Japan, Northern Marianas, Vietnam, Maldives and Korea. The report has predicted that nine out of 10 of these destinations will have  AAGRs of over 10 per cent between 2019-2024.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has informed that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Government of India has extended the validity of Airport Entry Passes for tour operators till March 31, 2020. Earlier, the Bureau had extended the validity till January 31, which initially expired on December 31, 2019. “We are pleased to inform you that with our regular follow up with Ministry of Civil Aviation/Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Director-General- Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has extended the validity of Commercial Airport Entry Passes up to 31st March 2020. Necessary directives have been issued to All Regional Directors of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security to take necessary action accordingly,” said an IATO circular. The extension has been given only to the tour operators, till the time new mechanism for passes is finalized by the Bureau of Civil Aviation, Security.

PATA’s CEO Mario Hardy has resigned after serving the association for six years. He will leave in December when his current contract expires. He is on a fix-term contract and simply decided not to extend to another term. By the end of the year, it will be 7 years spent at PATA (1 year as COO and 6 years as CEO) for him. Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.

Amaresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman, Indian Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), says, “The Finance Minister has focused on the  importance of tourism and announced following measures to boost tourism in India which is an inclusive growth indicator. She acknowledges the contribution of tourism in the development of India. 2500 cr have been allocated for tourism in 2021. 100 more Airports will be built by 2024 under Udaan and doubling of aircraft fleet has been announced. More trains like TEJAS to connect tourism sites will be initiated. Tribal museum is to be set up in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Five archaeological sites are to be developed to iconic sites with on –site museums.”

Capt. Swadesh Kumar, President, ATOAI, has said that they are disappointed since there has not been a significant increase in the budget allocated for tourism promotion. “Nevertheless, we are very delighted that 100 new airports will be developed under UDAN scheme. I hope these new airports should be in the far-flung areas of Himalayas as well, so that adventure tourism could also rise. We are also happy that Majuli Island in Assam has been added to the iconic sites list. I hope more such sites are included. I expected some announcement on natural heritage of the country for generating more employment opportunities, but would like the state governments to take it forward,” he said.