Category Archives: Associations

According to Prof Haiyang Song, Associate Dean at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, South Asia, including India, is going to be a powerhouse of tourism in the next 4-5 years. “Tourism will fully recover to per-pandemic level in 2024 and exceed the pre-pandemic level in 2026 by 58.5% and 20.5% in mild and medium scenarios, respectively. The Union Budget 2023 will improve tourism infrastructures to accommodate potential demand surge, and possibly launch Incredible India! 3.0,” he said.

To boost domestic tourism and inbound arrivals, India needs to frame policies that could introduce uniformity in the sector. Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, believes that it is high time that India should come up with a National Tourism Policy, which will escalate investments and augment tourism’s share in the economy.

FHRAI is set to host the Tourism Sustainability Summit 2024 in March. It will propose a framework for sustainable tourism stating that Goa Roadmap could be a beacon for sustainable global tourism with 5 key priorities: Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management to achieve SDGs.

As per the PATA forecast, the inbound arrival will surge between 2024-2026 in the Asia Pacific region. The top 10 source markets will contribute 59% of all IVAs in 2024. India will account for 1.9% of the relative share of IVAs by 2026 in comparison to 1.7% in 2024 in the Pacific region.

Speaking at the 6th HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave, Puneet Chhatwal, President, Hotel’s Association of India (HAI), shared that tourism sector is likely to create 50 million direct and indirect jobs in next 5-7 years, but the government must support tourism members to achieve full industry status, which will help in generating employment.

As India stepped into the “Amrit Kaal” on the country’s 75th Republic Dayand embarked upon the journey of realising the vision 2047 for a ‘New India’, the Hotel Association of India (HAI) has geared up to host the 6th edition of its signature event, the HAI Hoteliers’ Conclave on 12 February 2024 at The Taj Palace New Delhi. Titled “Hospitality – The Engine for GDP Growth and Employment”, the daylong conference will be attended by hospitality professionals, including hotel owners and CEOs, policymakers and professionals from all aross the country. The conclave will be addresses in different sessions by Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of India; lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena; Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, former CEO Niti Aayog; V. Vidyavathi, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The event will be led by Puneet Chhatwal, President, HAI and Managing Director & CEO, IHCL, and KB Kachru, Vice President, HAI and Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor (South Asia), Radisson Hotel Group. Rohit Khosla, Conclave Convenor and Executive Vice President – Operations, North and West India, IHCL said, “The programme has been curated with the objective of bringing key decision makers in the hospitality sector together on a single platform to debate lessons learnt, assess future problems and opportunities, and determine a progressive growth path for the industry. The year has started well mostly on account of Events and domestic and we are really excited to discuss and grow together.” The inaugural address will be delivered by Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, former CEO Niti Aayog and the architect of the brands God’s Own Country and Incredible India. In addition to delivering a keynote address, …

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) elects PATA India Chapter to its board to represent 28 Chapters around the globe. The Ministry of Tourism has also been elected to the PATA board. PATA will officially announce the same after their general meeting to be held in May 2024 at Macau.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO said, “Every nook and corner in India is covered with foreign tourists; they bring in more foreign exchange and employment. One foreign tourist, directly or indirectly, generates 9 jobs. With the current allocation for overseas promotion, we will lose all that. IATO has written to the Ministry of Tourism to take up this matter with the Finance Minister, highlighting the issue in the overseas budget allocation that needs rectification.” 

Appreciating an increase in budget allocation to the Tourism Ministry in Interim Budget 2024, Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said, “Though we welcome the increase in budgetary allocation to  ₹2,000cr from last financial year’s  ₹1600cr and mention of branding in the budget speech of the FM, we must remember that unless we don’t do roadshows overseas, familiarisation trips and publicity campaigns abroad till then we would not be able to draw tourist to our country.”

The Ministry of Culture & Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), in collaboration with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), have successfully concluded the first leg of their mega six-city India Roadshow 2024, in New Delhi. The event held on 30 January at The Oberoi Hotel, marked the commencement of the roadshow with a grand kick-off in the National Capital. In attendance at the roadshow were 30 key stakeholders from Türkiye, including Tour operators, Hoteliers, and MCs.   The attendees witnessed an immersive exploration of Türkiye’s stunning landscapes, historical landmarks, and vibrant cities. The B2B sessions facilitated fruitful exchanges, fostering partnerships between the Indian travel industry leaders and Türkiye‘s esteemed suppliers. Prominent Indian travel brands such as MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip actively participated in this event, underscoring the industry’s enthusiasm for Türkiye as a premier destination. The presence of influential dignitaries, including Mr. Onur Gözet from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, along with Türkiye‘s Ambassador to India, H.E. Mr. Fırat Sunel, further emphasized the significance of the growing tourism relations between the two nations.   Addressing the gathering, Onur Gözet, Deputy Director General for Promotion, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Republic of Türkiye said, “Our shared histories, deeply rooted in ancient civilizations, have woven a narrative that resonates through both Türkiye and India. It is remarkable to witness the cultural commonalities that bind the two countries, fostering a unique connection that extends beyond geographical borders. It’s no wonder that Türkiye has emerged as a country of choice for Indian tourists, with iconic destinations like İstanbul, Antalya, and Cappadocia capturing the hearts of travellers. The foundation laid with the commencement of the six-city roadshow goes beyond tourism. It signifies the beginning of a collaborative journey towards enduring …