Category Archives: Agents

More than 40 exhibitors will meet over 600 pre-registered buyers over two day at the ongoing Global Panorama Showcase in Ahmedabad that will conclude today. Sharing these numbers, Harmandeep Singh Anand, MD, GPS, says, “Apart from B2B meetings, We also had interesting  sessions on cyber security, charters, TCS , GST and partners presenting various revenue and ancillary opportunities.”

Voicing his disappointment over delayed visas, Naveen Kundu, MD (India, South East Asia & Middle East), EbixCash Travel Group, says, “It is time we stood up to the outrageous behaviour of Embassies and High Commissions. Are we beggars? Are the corporates who spend millions of dollars in their countries fools to be doing M!CE there?” He urged national travel trade bodies to take immediate action.

The 38th IATO Annual Convention will take place in Aurangabad from September 29 to October 2, 2023. Ravi Gosain, IATO VP, said they expect about 900-1000 delegates from all over the country at the event. The theme of the convention is ‘Inbound Tourism and Emerging sustainable trends’ and there will be 5 post tours.

Tejbir Singh Anand, VP of ATOAI, says that Maharashtra is one of the most mature markets in India for adventure tourism. “It is a fantastic market. Its not just about money; its also about the attitude and aspirations. In Maha we find people who are more aspirational have a long bucket list. It definitely tops as a source market, with Pune and Mumbai being the icing on the cake.”

Speaking about the importance of India market for Oman, Asma Al Hajry, Deputy DG of Tourism Promotions, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, said, “The country recorded a 126% growth in Indian arrivals in April 2023 as compared to the same month last year. With Indian arrivals already surpassing 2,34,000 in the first five months this year, Oman has already seen a 114% growth in arrivals from India compared to last year.”

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of India International Hospitality Expo 2023, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, CM of Himachal Pradesh, urged the hospitality sector to invest in the state. He added that the govt will provide them with all the support required.

J&K has registered 1.27 crore tourist arrivals this year so far, and the figure is expected to touch a record-high by this year end, said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. He credited the restoration of peace for this development. J&K recorded 1.88 crore arrivals in 2022, the highest number in the past three decades.

The Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) in partnership with the Travel Agents Association of Coimbatore, took center stage on 01 August 2023, as they organized a highly successful roadshow at the prestigious Hotel Grand Regent in Coimbatore. The event aimed to foster mutual growth and cooperation between the two vibrant travel communities, while promoting the mesmerizing tourism opportunities in the Andaman Islands. With a turnout of 50 travel agents from Coimbatore, the event was graced by the presence of AATO’s President, M. Vinod, whose vision and leadership have been instrumental in elevating the Andaman Islands as a prime tourist destination. The roadshow proved to be an invaluable platform for networking and knowledge sharing among the participants. Highlighting the event’s significance, M. Vinod, President of AATO, said, “We are excited to collaborate with the Travel Agents Association of Coimbatore for this incredible roadshow. This platform has allowed us to showcase the diverse and breathtaking tourism opportunities that await travelers in the Andaman Islands. We are confident that this event will lead to fruitful partnerships and an increase in tourist footfall to our beautiful islands.” The event commenced with a panel discussion on “Tourism Opportunities in Andaman” that was moderated by the Joint Secretary of AATO, Saikat Biswas. The discussion delved into the untapped potential of the Andaman Islands as a year-round travel destination, featuring its pristine beaches, rich cultural heritage, and thriving marine life. The insightful session garnered active participation from travel agents and industry experts, enabling the exchange of ideas on promoting sustainable and responsible tourism practices.

Sentosa is set to introduce an array of leisure experiences to Indian travellers. The new developments were revealed during the visit of Chin Sak Hin, Assistant Chief Executive, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC), who is here to strengthen SDC’s longstanding relationships with Indian trade partners to ensure that Sentosa is the preferred choice of destination for all Indian travellers to Singapore. Strategic partnership with Thomas Cook India and SOTC Currently, India is a top source market for Sentosa and accounts for nearly a third of overseas visitors to Sentosa Island for the first half of 2023. To leverage this high growth potential, SDC has inked one-year strategic partnerships with Thomas Cook (India) and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, respectively. The MoU aims to deepen the relationship between SDC and Thomas Cook and SOTC; highlight the range of discoveries in Sentosa; and shore up Sentosa’s position as a top-of-mind destination. The partnership will see SDC working closely with Thomas Cook and SOTC on activities such as product development, joint consumer promotions, as well as publicity to raise Sentosa’s profile in the India market, increase Sentosa’s capture rates of the India market particularly in Tier 2 and 3 cities, and grow visitorship to and spend on Sentosa Island. Both Thomas Cook and SOTC will also curate exclusive packages that feature the latest offerings in Sentosa. The partnership is a timely and strategic move to refresh Sentosa’s brand image among Indian travellers, particularly as the island destination had repositioned itself earlier this year as an island of fulfilling experiences where discovery never ends. The new brand proposition presents opportunities and moments which allow guests to discover a new perspective while enjoying their time on …

EaseMyTrip.com is set to acquire 51 per cent of the aggregate paid-up share capital of each of the three prominent travel companies incorporated in India, to solidify its position as a major player in the travel and tourism industry. The company proposes to acquire includes – Guideline Travels Holidays India Private Limited, Mumbai, TripShope Travel Technologies Private Limited, Jammu and Kashmir and Dook Travels Private Limited, New Delhi. The consideration for the proposed acquisition will be paid by EaseMyTrip by way of issuance of its equity shares to the selling shareholders of the respective target companies on a preferential basis. Nishant Pitti, Co-Founder of EaseMyTrip, “These three companies have a strong track record and a wealth of experience in their respective areas. Together, with these remarkable travel companies, we extend and embrace to a diverse spectrum of exceptional services catering to larger markets. Together, we are poised to ignite the wanderlust of countless explorers, crafting unforgettable journeys that resonate with every soul and paint the world with the colors of adventure and discovery.’’ Guideline Travels Holidays India Private Limited, Mumbai: Guideline Travels, a highly reputed travel company that excels in both B2C and B2B circuits. The company boasts an extensive product portfolio international group tours, bespoke FIT ventures, fixed departures and MICE movements and has its major business line in cruises. “Being pioneers at cruise selling, we sought an aggressive online selling platform for cruise products around the world. Our partnership with EaseMyTrip gives us a big thrust to bring a bouquet of cruise products to our B2B as well B2C clients. Partnership with EaseMyTrip opens up our horizons and will allow us to bring to fruition our vision hence …