Category Archives: Agents

As per a MICE study carried out in 2019 sponsored by Ministry of Tourism, the market size of the India MICE industry is at Rs.37,576 crore, 60% of which is attributable to Meetings, Incentives and Conferences. The international MIC in this accounts for 22% of the market size. 65% are business to business events, and the Meetings & Incentives form roughly 70% of the entire MICE segment for 5-star properties. Ministry of Tourism identified MICE as one of the important segments of Tourism. Ministry has also formulated a National Strategy and Roadmap for MICE Industry to promote the growth of MICE industry in the country including Haryana and Delhi NCR.

Looking at the travel landscape in India, Mark Meehan, GVP & MD, Global Ops, Travelport, said, “Research indicates that Indian carriers will become increasingly relevant in the future, both in India and globally. Today, Indian airlines account for around 46% of international traffic in India. That’s up from around 35% from a pre-pandemic perspective.” He said, “Over 12.7 million international passengers travel in the April to June quarter. Indian airlines carry 8 million of those 12.7 million passengers. Growth drivers include fleet expansion by Air India and Indigo, with the latter looking at long-haul markets. Projections in India for 2028 is that international outbound travel will reach 39 million, nearly an 8% pay gap from 2024.”

South Africa will be hosting the T20 World Cup in 2027 and expected to welcome a huge number of Indian cricket enthusiasts. For this, they will set up a dedicated team that can process visa applications for cricket fans. In terms of cultural events, the country will share its calendar of sports and culture events for 2025 with India so that both countries can work together.

Giving credit to the India Travel Award, Gagan Chadha, Owner, Travel2agent Oneworld, commented, “I would like to thank ITA for recognising our efforts in being customer-centric through this ‘Customer Service Excellence for Outbound Tourism’ award.” Since its inception in 2002 as a DMC catering to far eastern destinations, Travel2Agent.com has transformed into a provider of personalised tours for outbound with in-depth destination knowledge.”

ITQ, the official partner of Travelport in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan hosted a customer meeting in Pullman Hotel, New Delhi, to showcase new capabilities offered by ITQ and Travelport. The event discussed the growing Indian market and business opportunities for travel partners in India and gave valuable insights into automation, NDC implementation and Travelport+. From the India perspective, Anil Parashar, Executive Director, ITQ, said, “In the last few years, we have more than 20 airlines who have implemented NDC and many are on their way to join. We are committed to working together with our partners to make a better, more tech-friendly and modern world.” John Elieson, COO, Travelport thanked the customers and partners for their valued partnership and support in making Travelport successful. He said, “The growth for ITQ and Travelport has been fabulous as we will touch over 32 million this year. We continue to invest in the Indian market to continue to lead and be first.”

Ambiance Holidays Mauritius is pleased to announce the appointment of SSR Travel Solutions as its official representative in India, effective 1st December 2024. This strategic collaboration is designed to strengthen Ambiance Holidays’ presence in the rapidly growing Indian market and enhance its sales, marketing, and business development efforts across the region. SSR Travel Solutions, known for its deep industry expertise and extensive network within India’s travel sector, will work to elevate the visibility of Ambiance Holidays Mauritius. The partnership will connect Indian travellers with the enchanting allure of Mauritius, offering access to its pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and rich cultural experiences. Speaking about the partnership, Nayaz Toolun, Owner & Executive Director, stated, “We are thrilled to partner with SSR Travel Solutions to tap into the growing Indian outbound travel market. Together, we aim to deliver customized travel solutions that capture the essence of Mauritius’ vibrant hospitality, diverse culture, and natural beauty.” SSR Travel Solutions, recognised for its successful track record in promoting global travel brands, will focus on amplifying Ambiance Holidays’ market presence in India through targeted marketing campaigns, collaborations with travel trade professionals, and exclusive travel packages tailored to the Indian market. Sidhant Sapneal Rao, Chief Marketing Officer at SSR Travel Solutions, commented, “It’s an honour to represent Ambiance Holidays Mauritius in India. Mauritius is a dream destination for Indian travellers, and we’re excited to work together to deliver exceptional, bespoke travel experiences to this growing market.” This partnership marks an exciting chapter for both Ambiance Holidays Mauritius and SSR Travel Solutions, as they aim to unlock new growth opportunities and meet the evolving demands of Indian travellers.

Singapore Tourism Board invites travel trade for a webinar today at 3pm, focusing on latest offerings that are tailored for India’s MICE requirements. Gain valuable insights and curate enriching itineraries on Singapore for your clients. For more info, please contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Singapore Tourism Board invites the travel trade for an exclusive webinar focusing on the latest offerings for world-class events that are tailored for India’s MICE requirements. Gain valuable insights to help create enriched itineraries for your corporate clients, showcasing the best of what Singapore has to offer. For more information, or to register, please contact Jaspreet Kaur at jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532. Registration link: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/655/5v7qwi3k5  

The TAAI Northern Region team celebrated its 73rd year of establishment in Delhi, marking a significant milestone for the travel industry. Gracing the occasion were RK Suman, Regional Director North, Ministry of Tourism, and Neeraj Malhotra, Chairman, TAAI-Northern Region. The event brought together TAAI members, travel agents, and key industry stakeholders, fostering dialogue on pressing issues and collaborative opportunities. Members leveraged the event to discuss the challenges being faced by them in diverse areas and activities to be conducted in the future. A presentation on how to use the NIDHI portal has also been held to guide members on registering as travel agents. NIDHI ID (NID) is a unique national identifier for relevant stakeholders in the tourism, which improves delivery of services. One can avail of the benefits and incentives through it. Apart from this, registered entities can apply for relevant Certification/Classification/Recognition on this portal. Emphasising his commitment to educate members and provide support to them, Neeraj Malhotra, said, “My priority is to empower our members through knowledge-sharing events like these. I am dedicated to resolving their issues, be it with IATA, VFS, hotels, or airlines”. Aligning with TAAI’s national leadership vision of ‘members first,’ he informed us he is taking multiple initiatives to resolve members’ concerns including staff insurance policies and regular feedback forums. He also revealed that the launch of the association’s new logo will be held in January, 2025. Looking ahead, Malhotra expressed excitement about future milestones. “January 2025 will see the launch of TAAI’s new logo, to be unveiled in Delhi and Mumbai, as we gear up for TAAI’s 75th year in 2026—our golden jubilee,” he shared. Highlighting a major concern, he called out the inefficiencies …

In a significant move to strengthen tourism ties with India, South Africa has come up with a newly gazetted Trusted Tourist Tour Operator System Scheme which will take effect on 20 January 2025. Aimed specifically at the Indian and Chinese markets, it will allow for bulk visa processing for group travellers. 23 Indian tour operators applied in the first phase.