Category Archives: Agents

Sharing his perspective on the interim budget, Mahesh Iyer, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Cook (India), says, “The FM’s interim budget reflects a welcome focus on the overall travel and tourism sector – demonstrating its significant value as a powerful economic growth engine and employment generator. The government’s aim to accelerate infrastructure development is transformative and while featuring the current doubling to 149 airports, the Budget has focussed on air connectivity with 517 new routes across Tier 2-3 cities, carrying 1.3 crore passengers via the UDAN scheme; conversion of 40,000 bogies into Vande Bharat, enhancement of NAMO trains and metro connectivity – valuable in ensuring efficient and sustainable mobility solutions – especially with respect to addressing the powerhouse of Regional India. Additionally, setting aside Rs. 85,000 crore for new greenfield airports is key in creating a world-class travel infrastructure. We commend the Budget’s focus on spiritual tourism which will serve as a force multiplier in catalysing this strongly emerging segment while uplifting local communities and the ecosystem around India’s pilgrimage circuits. Spiritual Tourism, we believe, will create critical momentum to Domestic Tourism and boost the government’s intent of “Dekho Apna Desh”. India’s coastline of over 7,500 kms represents a viable opportunity for cruise tourism and we welcome the inclusion of port projects; also infrastructure/ connectivity towards development of India’s island destinations like Lakshadweep. An important highlight is the government’s plan to provide long-term interest-free loans to States for development of iconic tourism centres and promotion on a global standard – will be a key driver towards expanding tourism circuits across the Country. The anticipated tax buoyancy this fiscal augurs well – across the Travel & Tourism and allied …

Trevolution reported a growth in demand for trans-Pacific flights highlighting 22 per cent increase in India’s inbound tourism compared to pre-pandemic time. Another key highlight was a 179 per cent increase in outbound travel from India boosting job opportunities in the industry.

South India has become the major contributor to the business of Thomas Cook (India) Limited. Bengaluru-Karnataka has emerged as the company’s top source market for the leisure segment. Romil Pant, Executive Vice President & Business Head – Holidays, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “We have launched a dedicated range of products to cater to the unique preferences of customers from this market and catalyze growth. We expect to see an uptick of 30% from Karnataka in 2024.”  

VFS Global announces its achievement of securing a rating of 4.01 on a scale of 5 for 2023 on Glassdoor, a leading platform for employee feedback and company reviews. This significant achievement reflects VFS Global’s unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of its people management and human capital development. With an employee value proposition of developing a ‘fellowship of winners’, VFS Global is deeply committed to best-in-class HR practices and to developing every team member to her/his full potential.  The company has continuously invested in training and development and in building an organisation where people come first, and in creating meaningful work opportunities and building successful careers, in a diverse and inclusive workplace. The six parameters on which Glassdoor assesses companies is based on Excelling in Culture & Values, Work/Life Balance, Senior Management, Compensation & Benefits, Career Opportunities, and Diversity & Inclusion. VFS Global has elevated its standing on all of them. VFS Global has set a benchmark in creating an exemplary work culture that resonates with employee satisfaction and empowerment. This recognition not only celebrates the company’s achievements but also solidifies its reputation as an employer of choice in the global marketplace. This rating is even more satisfying as this reaffirms the company’s employee centric policies and its sharp focus on nurturing the potential of its employees as it has always focussed on Learning and Development programmes which is highly appreciated by its workforce. Over the years, the company has also won recognition by winning the Golden Peacock National Training Award four times since 2017 in recognition for its exemplary learning and development practices. The last it won was in 2023. According to Nirbhik Goel, Chief Human Resources Officer, VFS Global, …

At Travel M!CE and Corporate Show, Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, said, “We have seen 15% increase in our business when we started selling flights, hotels and accommodation together, so bundle products should be recommended for business augmentation.”

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) roped in DreamSetGo as the official travel partner for the Indian Olympic delegation travelling to Paris. The partnership aims to provide services and ground support to Indian delegation ensuring a seamless experience for athletes, their families and federations.

Travel M!CE & Corporate Show at Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre saw over 1600 meetings with top corporate buyers from across the country. At the event, Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com, recommended that bundle products should be offered to corporates to boost business.

Arago Travels, a DMC noted for its expertise in Nordic destinations such as Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, proudly announces its partnership with Ark Travel Group. This alliance is further strengthened by the appointment of Anjum Lokhandwala as Arago Travels’ representative in India. This initiative is an endeavor to extend Arago Travels’ market reach within India, offering agents access to its premium services in the Nordic region. This partnership heralds a new chapter in Nordic travel, enabling Indian travel agents to seamlessly connect with Arago Travels’ extensive service portfolio. Renowned for their specialization in FIT, GIT, scheduled departures, bespoke private tours, and MICE, Arago Travels is well-equipped to cater to the burgeoning interest in unique, tailor-made travel experiences in Iceland and Scandinavia. Yash Vakil & Tejas Vakil, Director and Founder of Arago Travels, underscored their commitment to delivering top-tier travel experiences. “India represents a crucial market segment for Arago Travels. Our partnership with Outbound Konnections (ARK Reps) is a strategic step in introducing our premier luxury travel experiences to Indian travelers. Outbound Konnections (ARK Reps) deep insights into the Indian travel market and their proven proficiency are fundamental to this alliance. We are enthusiastic about the prospects of this partnership in not only broadening our reach in India but also in redefining luxury travel for Indian tourists with our specialized offerings,” they remarked.  This collaboration marks a pivotal expansion for Arago Travels in the Indian travel market. The partnership with Outbound Konnections (Ark Reps) is poised to facilitate easier access and enhance the visibility of the Nordic region’s enchanting destinations among Indian tourists. For further information regarding Arago Travels and its comprehensive range of services, travel agents and partners …

During the IATO Interactive Luncheon Meeting in Delhi, President Rajiv Mehra announced that the association has achieved a substantial increase in its membership, with a rise of over 300 new members. He attributed this growth to one of the reasons: the special rates for hotels that IATO provides to its members.

Applauding the Atal Setu project, Pradeep Shetty, President, FHRAI, says, “As the longest sea bridge in the country, it not only enhances Mumbai’s connectivity but also symbolizes the nation’s commitment to pushing boundaries in engineering excellence. It is poised to transform not only Mumbai’s landscape but also provide an unprecedented boost to tourism in Maharashtra. With improved connectivity, we foresee a significant surge in tourist footfall to Mumbai’s neighbouring tourism destinations like Lonavala, Matheran, Alibaug, Mahabaleshwar and other scenic locales across the state.”