Tag Archives: President

Sharing details of the business sessions during the upcoming TAFI convention in Kuching, Malaysia, Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, says, “We will explore the theme – Build Back Better – in detail during our knowledge sessions. We have invited speakers who have built back brands after Covid and who have re-invented their businesses so they can share their experience with everyone.”

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has said that India should do some kind of advertising that our country has the Presidency of G20 and that people should visit India during this period. Kit needs to be done to increase Forex earnings and to increase business.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has said that the 37th IATO Annual Convention, which was scheduled to be held in Bangalore from 15th to 18th September 2022 has been called off due to unavoidable circumstances arising out of the withdrawal of support by the Karnataka Tourism in spite of giving written confirmation for hosting the convention in Bangalore. Mehra informed that all arrangements made for the convention in Bangalore have been cancelled due to this development which are beyond our control. IATO had booked 400 rooms at Hotel Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn and the convention hall but had to release all bookings due to withdrawal of support from Karnataka Tourism in spite of announcing the same at the inaugural function of IATO 36th Annual Convention in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat and over 750 delegates. This development is very unfortunate which IATO never expected from Depart of Tourism, Govt. of Karnataka. The convention may now happen in December.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has shared that they know that SEIS will not be given by the government. Hence, they have requested the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce that at least for tour operators and travel agents, whatever they earn in foreign exchange, a 5-10% duty drawback should be given to them. “But nothing has happened. We have had no response or no further meetings on this with them. There has been no headway. So, it looks like the government doesn’t want to do that. We have told them that to support the industry, this is the minimum they can do.”

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has said, “With yoga day being celebrated worldwide, India will come to the mind of everyone and publicity will be in favour of India as a destination for the same. The message will be loud and clear for India.”

Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, has said, “Yoga is India’s gift to the world. Wellness Tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the industry and yoga occupies a very important place in the pursuit of wellness. The Covid pandemic brought mass tourism to a halt and as travel revives we can see a shift in the attitude of travellers – they are more focused and more discerning. India is uniquely placed as the home of three vital elements of wellness – yoga, Ayurveda and meditation, together they constitute a powerful magnet to attract the sensitive and ecologically aware tourist to our country.”

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO has requested the government to remove hurdles which are creating hindrances in revival of inbound tourism to our country and also has requested to help in in getting refund of travel agents from Jet Airways. He has requested to MoCA that directives should be issued to all domestic airlines, not to make it compulsory for the travelers to do web check-in.

MoT recently organised virtual roadshow titled ‘Incredible India Reconnect 2022’ from 26th April 2022 and IATO has written to them saying that virtual roadshows are no good and are not solving their problems, revealed Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO. They emphasised to have physical B2B meetings by organising roadshows which will be more meaningful and fruitful to revive business, he added.

Nilesh Shah, President, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), reveals that international charters – the main artery for travel business in Goa – restarted from December 2021 from Russia and Ukraine. “From Moscow we are welcoming almost 500 passengers every ten days and we expect this to increase. However, the charters from Ukraine have paused for the time being due to the third wave and the civil unrest there. Moreover, TUI was to send four flights per week from the UK – two from Manchester and two from Gatwick. This unfortunately got cancelled because of the third wave. They were to start from January 20, 2022. But we remain hopeful and with the new private airport in Mopa which will be operational by the next season, I think the charter movement will see a boom as there will be no restrictions,” he shares.

Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO, has thanked the MOT and MoCA for reinstating the Commercial Airport Entry Airport Pass (AEP) for recognized tour operators and hotels. “We have been trying for a long time and now the orders have finally come. Now, at least when the borders open, our members can apply for airports passes in the same manner as they used to earlier, except there has been some capping on the number of passes available, for which we were given indication two years back, when the airport passes were being suspended,” he said.