Category Archives: Associations

The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Pune Chapter recently organised a fruitful meeting in Pune for about 60 members. The meeting was led by Chapter Chairman Sunil Uttam and Secretary Sameer Kulkarni. Pune sales heads of all five domestic airlines along with leading international Emirates’ were present at the event.

Highlighting the interest in UNWTO’s innovation and start-up competitions, UNWTO has been showcasing talent and readiness to hear new voices and embrace new ideas. Their global innovation ecosystem is now made up of more than 12,000 start-ups from 160 countries, with US$83 million mobilized and 300 corporate partners currently working on new tourism technologies.

Travel & Tourism sector’s employment is set to rise by 0.7% in 2021, representing 2 million jobs, followed by 18% increase in 2022 – only 10 million below 2019 levels. However, there is dire need to proactively address the current issue of staff shortages that the sector is facing, particularly in developed countries. Highlights WTTC’s latest economic projections from October 2021.

ATOAI’s active membership criteria has been revised. “We want people who’ve been actively involved in adventure travel, have their own equipment, guides, and manage adventure activities themselves, while those who promote adventure travel through operators continue to be in the associated group. The genuine active members are those who have their own operations.” stated Vaibhav Kala, Vice President, ATOAI.

As per press release by Hotel Association of India, The room rates have mostly returned to pre-covid levels at leisure locations. 2022 will be a year of hope, survival, and subtle recovery for the hotel industry in India. “Our industry is alive to the new trends that will shape the future—like use of technology, digitalisation, sustainable practices and increasing productivity in business,” stated M.P.Bezbaruah, Secretary General, HAI.

Since 22 December travel agents across the country have been unable to access Air India’s inventory on the GDS while the flights can be seen on the airline’s website. Attempts to contact senior management have proved futile, attributing the problem to a ‘technical issue’ . “Such disruptions, coupled with zero communication to the trade further erode Air India’s credibility,” said Ajay Prakash, TAFI President. “We’re all waiting for the House of Tata to take over the reins of the Airline and we hope that the new management will work more closely with their trusted trade partners – the Travel Agents who have supported the national carrier at all times,” he concluded.  

In its 249th EC Meeting on 23rd December, 2021PATA India Chapter announced that Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, will remain as Chairman. Apart from that Jatinder Taneja, MD, Travel Spirit International was re-elected unopposed as the Vice Chairman; as well as Vikram Madhok, MD, Abercrombie & Kent as Hon. Secretary. SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications, remains Hon. Treasurer and  Runeep Sangha will continue as Executive Director, PATA India Chapter.

At the TAFI Western India’s year end Chapter meeting held in Mumbai, many members expressed their concern with airlines that have made a lot of fares, including Business Class, totally non-refundable – even disregarding the claims of people affected by COVID. President, Ajay Prakash said, “TAFI would take this up strongly with the airlines and with DGCA.”

Nasir Shah Chairman – IATO Jammu & Kashmir Chapter, has shared that they J&K Tourism has plans to conduct a roadshow in Thailand in March-April if international flights start by that time. “We have seen from our partners in other countries that they are ready and as soon as flights start, they will start coming back to Kashmir. We have a roadshow in Thailand planned in March-April, but it now depends on restarting of international flights,” he said.

The UNWTO tourism dashboard highlights that Indians spent US$ 12.6 billion last year on outbound trips. While this is -45% from the previous year (2019) where Indians spent US$ 22.9 billion. In 2019, the expenditure per departure from India was US$ 851, this number is expected to be different in 2020. In order to better understand outbound tourism, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) launched a dashboard on country profiles with data on outbound tourism.