Association of Domestic Tour Operators (ADTOI) has started its preparations for elections. Jyoti Kapur, President, ADTOI, has revealed that the election process has been initiated and they have also appointed the Returning Officer (RO) for managing the voting process. He said that Harbans Singh, Retired Secretary, Election Commission of India, has been appointed as the RO. While he did not reveal the election date, he said that they will be sending the notice for the same to the General House next week.

Pawan Hans is all set to develop the first heliport in the country in Rohini, Delhi, and it will be done within a month, reveals B. P. Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director. Speaking at an event today, he said, “Under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, governance has taken a lead and we are bringing up the first heliport of the country in Rohini, Delhi. It will be ready in a month’s time for the use of people of the people in Delhi and its neighbouring states. And the policy also promotes to bring similar hubs.”

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Northern Region members are going to Colombo, Sri Lanka from July 8-11, 2016, for their monthly meeting, reveals Rajan Sehgal, President, TAAI-NR. “We are taking a total of 60 members from the Northern Region to Colombo, Sri Lanka, for our monthly meeting. We will be meeting the hotel associations as well as the Sri Lanka Tourism Board to educate our members about the destination. This will be followed by an excursion to casinos and other attractions in the city,” he said.

Vistara has announced the addition of Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, as its 18th destination, effective September 30, 2016. Port Blair will be served daily from Kolkata and from New Delhi (same aircraft service via Kolkata). With this new flight, frequency between Delhi and Kolkata will also increase to three flights daily. Twice daily service to Kolkata from Delhi had commenced on June 10 this year, and has seen very high demand for Vistara’s product. One way fares start from Rs 5,500 from Kolkata and Rs 9,850 from New Delhi. Tickets are now available for sale on all channels.

jüSTa Hotels and Resorts has launched Design Hotel Chennai, at Phoenix Market City, Chennai. A 26-room boutique hotel, the property aims to seamlessly connect past and present international design movements to the timeless local traditions of South India. Designed on the styles of four distinct contemporary art, each floor at Design Hotel is an infusion of traditional South Indian Art / Architecture, namely – Ati, Maya, Rooh and Nunya; and has been designed by renowned interior designer – Pronit Nath.

YC Deveshwar is all set to step down as the Executive Chairman & CEO of ITC in February 2017. He completes his term on Februrary 4, 2017. However, he will continue to function as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the company. Deveshwar is the longest serving Executive Chairman of ITC till date. The news has reportedly come in the form of the notice to the shareholders of the company, ahead of the AGM on July 22. Deveshwar joined ITC in 1968 and became the Executive Chairman in January 1996

The Lemon Tree Hotel Company is all set to launch its second upscale hotel in Gurgaon. Lemon Tree Premier, City Center will have 61 rooms and multiple room categories including Superior, Deluxe Room, Executive Room and Garden Room. The hotel will cater to both business and leisure travellers. The hotel is located in the heart of the millennium city and is close to NH 8 expressway and a short distance from Signature Towers, Unitech Business Park and Unitech Trade Centre.

The South African Department of Home Affairs has finally submitted to the demands of the travel agents and tour operators regarding visa issues for Indians. Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager – India, South Africa Tourism, who will be in India till December 2016, has revealed that Indians do not have to carry birth certificates while travelling with children anymore. “We are very happy that the visa process for Indians has been simplified. The processing days have been brought down under five days as well as the need for carrying birth certificates for children has been eliminated. The Department of Home Affairs has mapped out the seasons and they send us extra support, in terms of manpower, during those times. So the processing is quickened at both the High Commission as well as the Consulate specifically for the Indian market. The big part of our travel is during the Indian monsoon from May through August, which led to a huge bottleneck,” she said.

Bharat Dev of Dev Travel has been elected unopposed as the new Chairman of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Chhattisgarh Chapter. His nomination was proposed by the outgoing team of the chapter. In addition, Raman Jadhwani of Ajay Travels is the new Secretary of TAFI Chhattisgarh Chapter.

Tunisia is offering Visa on Arrival for Indians who are travelling in a group of at least 20 people, it was revealed at a small interactive session on Tunisia by Embassy of Tunisia and BTC Travel Group. Addressing a gathering of travel agents and media, Tarek Azouz, Ambassador, Tunisia to India, said, “We have introduced visa on arrival facility for groups. If a travel agent has a group of 20 people, they can send prior information to the embassy and they can get visa at the immigration counter.” Tushar Jain, Group Managing Director, BTC Group, said that Tunisia is trying to attract mice groups from India. “Travel agents can easily apply visa for a group of minimum 20 people. They just need to produce their hotel voucher at the immigration counter and get visa on arrival.”