Category Archives: Associations

The 16th Annual Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) is scheduled to take place from 3-8 December, 2024 in the panoramic town of Tawang. This year’s event promises to be a memorable journey of networking, learning and adventure with a focus on sustainable tourism, safety protocols and extraordinary travel experiences. Industry leaders will have the opportunity to network while exploring the breathtaking beauty of Arunachal Pradesh.

The 40th IATO Annual Convention scheduled to take place in 2025, will be hosted in Puri. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO said, “The convention will take place at the new Swosti Hotel.” He revealed the availability of high-quality stays for the event, including Taj Puri and Mayfair hotels.

The Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC), in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), proudly announces the Indian team for the upcoming WorldSkills Competition 2024, scheduled to take place in Lyon, France, from 10 to 15 September. THSC conducted extensive competitions across the country, leading to the selection of 102 top competitors in the hospitality skill categories of Bakery, Cookery, Restaurant Services, Patisserie and Confectionery, and Hotel Reception. Competitors from various regions demonstrated exceptional skills through multiple selection rounds to earn their place in the IndiaSkills National Competition. To represent India at the WorldSkills Competition, these candidates underwent a rigorous selection process, including 16 hours of hands-on competitions. The finalists were chosen during the IndiaSkills 2024 – National Competition for Hospitality Skills in Delhi. The primary goal of these competitions was to identify and nurture the right talent. Each finalist is being trained and mentored by a dedicated expert from the skill management team, providing specialized training to ensure the competitors are well-prepared to represent India on the global stage. “Our aim is to offer a platform for young professionals to showcase their talents and skills, contributing to the growth of the hospitality industry. By competing on a global stage like WorldSkills, these individuals not only bring pride to our nation but also set a benchmark for excellence in hospitality. We are committed to providing them with the best training and mentorship to ensure they are fully prepared to meet the high standards of this prestigious competition. Their success will inspire future generations and reinforce India’s position as a leader in skill development,” said Rajan Bahadur, CEO, THSC. The Indian contingent for WorldSkills 2024 includes: Bakery: Sasmita Bardhan …

New Zealand’s tourism industry is facing a storm with the government’s recent decisions on increasing visa fees and the International Visitor Levy (IVL). Higher prices for tourist visas kick in from October 1, going from $131 to $211. Meanwhile its International Visitor Conservation & Tourism Levy (IVL) will also go up from $22 to 62 from October 1.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the Tourism Seasonality Summit (TSS) have joined forces to tackle the seasonality challenges in tourism destinations across the Asia Pacific region. The strategic partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to develop innovative solutions to distribute tourism more evenly throughout the year and mitigate the negative impacts of over-tourism. The MOU was officially signed by World Tourism Seasonality Summit CEO Ged Brown and PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid during the PATA Knowledge Forum on 27 August, 2024 which was part of the PATA Travel Mart 2024 programme. “This collaboration aligns with the Association’s mission to bring together private and public sector members to enhance the value, quality, and sustainable growth of travel and tourism. By working together, we aim to develop strategies that will effectively manage and alleviate the impact of tourism seasonality,” remarked Noor Ahmad Hamid, CEO, PATA. Ged Brown, CEO, World Tourism Seasonality Summit, remarked, “The Tourism Seasonality Summit is the only travel and tourism event which is focused completely on resolving the seasonality issues facing tourism destinations, airports and airlines.” This agreement signifies a joint commitment to addressing the challenges of peak season tourism, which often contributes to over-tourism. Both organisations are dedicated to safeguarding, preserving, and enriching tourism experiences for both future generations of travellers and host communities. The collaboration will also provide mutual advantages, such as heightened brand recognition and speaking opportunities at the organisations’ respective events, to name a few.

The New Zealand travel and tourism industry is facing a storm as the government’s recent decisions on visa fees and the International Visitor Levy (IVL) threaten to derail its recovery efforts. The double whammy has significantly increased the cost of visiting the country, making it less attractive to international travellers. According to Dr. Xie Xingquan, Regional Vice President, IATA, North Asia and Asia-Pacific, the combined impact of these changes could delay the return of visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels well beyond 2026. This is a major setback for the industry, which is a crucial contributor to the New Zealand economy. IATA had strongly opposed the increase in the IVL during the public consultation process for the IVL, arguing that it would harm the country’s competitiveness as a tourist destination. Unfortunately, the government ignored these concerns and applied the levy in the 2024 budget despite ongoing discussions. Dr. Xie also expressed concern about the lack of transparency regarding the allocation of funds collected through the IVL. He urged the government to consider investing these resources in initiatives that support the decarbonisation of the aviation sector. As the industry struggles with these challenges, it is clear that the government’s approach to tourism policy needs to be reassessed. By fostering a more welcoming environment for international travellers, New Zealand can position itself as a leading destination and drive economic growth.

In a recent announcement, Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, IHCL, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to enhancing the tourism industry. He stated, “We will increase the commissions from 10% by 25%, which means they will go to 12.5% for all of you.” This exclusive incentive is available to IATO members only.

Speaking at the 39th IATO Convention, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary,  Culture and Tourism, Madhya Pradesh, said that the state will develop 50 offbeat destinations to boost tourism along with training over 40,000 women in tourism-related jobs to boost employment.

Pradeep Shetty, President, HRAWI & FHRAI won the DDP Trailblazer award at the India Travel Awards. Upon receiving the award, he said, “Awards like these play a vital role in boosting the morale of the younger generation and inspiring them to consider careers in hospitality. This recognises the efforts made by the hospitality industry at large, by the owners and associations, all of whom are behind me and supporting me. It also inspires us to do much more.”

Addressing the inaugural session of the 39th IATO Annual Convention that witnessed around 1,200 delegates, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, said, “We need to understand the changing needs of tourists and need to develop products and new destinations from the perspective of the people. With growing opportunities, India is going to become the largest market for tourism in the world.”