Category Archives: Associations

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, said, “Tourism has become our blood stream. Led by our Hon’ble Prime Minister we the stakeholders breathe tourism. As the world opens up, India has positioned itself yet once again to be a vibrant destination with Ayodhya as the Spiritual Hub leading the pack. Ministry of Tourism synergizes our endeavour in both Domestic and International tourism, demand in diverse facets will grow in a geometric proportion, supply will rush to fill the gap catering to a sizable investment in tourism infrastructure.”

Lauding Maharashtra govt’s approach to boost tourism in Vidarbha, Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI, says, “Such initiatives not only showcase the natural beauty of the region but also create immense potential for growth in the hospitality sector. The Ambhora bridge development, coupled with innovative attractions like the light and sound show, aligns perfectly with our vision for Maharashtra as a nature-focused, holistic tourism destination.”

During the IATO Interactive Luncheon Meeting in Delhi, President Rajiv Mehra announced that the association has achieved a substantial increase in its membership, with a rise of over 300 new members. He attributed this growth to one of the reasons: the special rates for hotels that IATO provides to its members.

Commenting on the new MoU that HRAWI has signed with Ingram Micro India, Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI, said, “It reflects our commitment to harness new-age tech solutions and expertise for the betterment of our members. We aim to co-create and lead tech seminars that will empower our members with the latest advancements in the sector. It also aligns with our commitment to creating a global circular economy through responsible disposal and reverse logistics. It’s about shaping the future of the hospitality sector through innovation and sustainability.”  

Applauding the Atal Setu project, Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, says, “As the longest sea bridge in the country, it not only enhances Mumbai’s connectivity but also symbolizes the nation’s commitment to pushing boundaries in engineering excellence. It is poised to transform not only Mumbai’s landscape but also provide an unprecedented boost to tourism in Maharashtra. With improved connectivity, we foresee a significant surge in tourist footfall to Mumbai’s neighbouring tourism destinations like Lonavala, Matheran, Alibaug, Mahabaleshwar and other scenic locales across the state.”

According to latest analysis from WTTC and ForwardKeys, the leading travel data and analytics company, international arrivals in France for the first half of 2024 are at 93% of the same period in 2019, with France cementing its position as the world’s most popular destination. Olivier Ponti, Vice President Insights at ForwardKeys, added: “With flight bookings on the rise and air carriers set to introduce a record number of seats, France enters 2024 in a strong position. “Capitalising on the successful hosting of the Rugby World Cup 2023 and on the growing exposure provided by the upcoming Olympic Games, the country is set to be one of most thought-after destinations this year for both regional and long-haul markets.”

Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI said, “The more people can move freely, the better it is for the industry. I wish the Indian government would take a leaf out of their books and look at creating a visa on arrival for as many nationalities as possible. Even waiving it for some, if we want to attract inbound tourists. Inbound tourism to India has been slow in recovery; we are nowhere near our pre-COVID levels.” 

Pradeep Shetty, President, Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI & Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), said, “At present, Lakshadweep operates only one or two flights weekly with limited seat capacity using ATRs. There’s an urgent need to augment flight frequency and upgrade airport facilities, including larger runways for accommodating bigger aircraft. Simultaneously, augmenting room inventory is crucial.” 

Amidst ongoing controversial remarks by Maldive’s politician, a lot of agents and companies are cancelling Maldives bookings. Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, said, “Approximately, Maldives faces 40%-50% cancellation by Indian trade. Due to this comment, there is uproar in social media, impacting sentiment of people in India. Some outbound operators have also cancelled their bookings”.

Following the annual convention held in Nairobi, OTOAI has received 15-30 new applications for enrollment. The association is also stringent about accepting the applications and is not approving every application that comes in. “We are now working towards capitalizing on the convention,” said Riaz Munshi, President of OTOAI.