Category Archives: Associations

TAAI, along with DDP Group has launched a new avenue and stream for women called Women in TAAI and Travel (WITT). Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, says that the reason behind this initiative is to empower the women in the industry, and make sure they are represented well. Mayal believes that travel and tourism can provide women with a plethora of opportunities. “We have already tied up with the MOT and FICCI FLO, to see how we can encourage more women to come in front, and at all levels,” she said.

After being completely ignored in the latest Union Budget 2021, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) has written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing disappointment and has sought his meeting. The apex hospitality association has conveyed dismay and disappointment on the gross neglect shown to the hospitality sector in the Budget. The FHRAI has stated its disbelief on the 19 per cent retrenchment in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Tourism at a time when the sector is facing the worst crisis for tourism. In the absence of a sector-specific stimulus package, at least 30 to 40 per cent restaurants and 20 to 30 per cent hotels in the country are facing imminent shut down of business, resulting into millions of job losses. “We are really disheartened to see that tourism and hospitality – the biggest casualty of the COVID19 pandemic have been continuously ignored by the Government ever since the pandemic hit the country. It did not even find a mention in the Budget presented by the Finance Minister. The FHRAI has been vociferously advocating for some real relief measures to help the sector come out of the biggest crisis. Despite our numerous representations over the last ten months and multiple meetings with the highest echelons in the Government, the Hospitality sector has been blatantly ignored. The Prime Minister has always been a strong proponent of India’s tourism potential. We are hoping that he will understand and offer a remedy for the industry’s concerns for which we have sought a meeting with him,” says Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, FHRAI.

With a special package of Rs 300 crore received from Centre to celebrate its independence from Portuguese rule, Goa government now may have to part with some of it for tourism. Nilesh Shah, President of Travel & Tourism Association of Goa, says “We hope 50 per cent of this fund is allocated to tourism.” There is no clarity on when the funds would be disbursed and if they would come for any specific purpose.

According to the ‘Asia Pacific Visitor Forecast 2021-2023’ report released by PATA, growth prospect for international visitors arrivals reveal that the Asia Pacific region is expected to return to 96% of the volume of foreign arrivals received in 2019. Of immediate concern, for all of the Asia Pacific destination sub-regions, 2021 is likely to be another difficult year for international travel movements.

Sharing the aim and vision of the team Moving Forward for the upcoming IATO Elections scheduled on 6th March in Delhi, Rajiv Mehra, the current Vice President and the candidate for President for the next term said that his aim is to think big and not lure our members with small petty benefits.” We are going to work for revival of business for our esteemed membership. The need of the hour is to think lateral & logical with paramount aim focus on the revival of our businesses and ignore the petty issues. We are confident that our members are intelligent enough to choose the best team,” he said in a meet and greet event organised for travel trade media in Delhi. The short term and long-term Agenda of the team is as under:- To continue to follow up with Ministry of Finance/Commerce/DGFT regarding the release of SEIS Scrips for 2019-20. To get SEIS for the tour operators for the next 5 years by getting it included in Foreign Trade Policy 2021-25 with the easy terms and conditions suitable to our members. To remove the requirement of minimum Rs. 2 crores turnover of foreign exchange earnings in MDA Guidelines for overseas promotion so that all our members can be benefited. To get relaxation in qualification for MoT Recognition by adding diploma/certificate of Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council To request Ministry of Tourism to start marketing and promotions by organising roadshows, participation in international travel marts, organise fam trips for FTOs etc., as soon as the restriction on e-Visa is removed and international flights start operating, To get the IATO website linked with the MOT website so that members can receive queries/leads. …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is calling for governments to abandon the concept of ‘high-risk countries’ and instead focus on how individual ‘high-risk travellers’ are treated at borders. It urges governments around the world to redefine their whole approach to risk assessment, to revive international business and leisure travel.

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is doing its bit to encourage the youth to join the industry. TAAI’s UP Chapter recently signed an MoU with the Department of Business Management, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University in Ayodhya to offer training, placements and even internship to students of MBA in Tourism Management. The MoU has been signed for three years.

 A delegation of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), led by association President Pronab Sarkar, recently met Arvind Singh, the new Secretary – Tourism, Government of India. IATO welcomed him and took the opportunity to discuss some of the issues that have been plaguing the tourism sector, such as SEIS, MDA, etc. Secretary Singh assured the delegation of his intervention and positive action.

Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) along with YCCI Supported by India Tourism,Portblair has launched the AATO Hotels and Resorts Standardisation Programme. 68 Hotels from Port Blair,37 from Swaraj Dweep Islands,21 from Shaheed Dweep Islands,and one hotel each from Baratang and Diglipur islands were Standardised . The occasion was graced by Shri S.K.Singh,IAS,Secretary Tourism as Chief Guest and Ms/ Moutoshi Naskar,Assistant Director,India Tourism,Portblair was Guest of honour.

In an event held in Mumbai yesterday, the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) along with its western India regional association HRAWI felicitated State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray for making Maharashtra the first and the only state to award its hospitality sector the industry status. Also present at the occasion were Valsa Nair, Principal Secretary, Tourism & Excise, Government of Maharashtra. Thackeray also spoke about the reduction of licences and enabling ease of doing business in the state. At the function, he said quite a few reforms are being rolled out. “Post COVID Maha Govt intends to allow restaurants 24/7 operations in Mumbai,” announced the Minister. Referring to the Union Budget, he had earlier tweeted that there is nothing for tourism “Neither in the budget, nor in the ₹20 lakh crore package announced earlier”.