Category Archives: Associations

According to the global authority on the economic and social contribution of travel and tourism – WTTC, taxes provide an opportunity to help fund necessary changes in travel and tourism infrastructure. However, any taxes levied should be used to stimulate and promote economic growth and job creation in the sector. It says that well-designed tourism taxes can be both practical and meaningful tools in the sustainable management of a destination’s resources and the development of tourism infrastructure.

A total of 415 deals (comprising mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture financing deals) were announced in the travel and tourism sector during January to July 2024, which was a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 10.4% compared to the 463 deals announced during the same period in 2023, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Deal activity remained a mixed bag across different regions and countries, with some of them experiencing a fall in deal volume, while others showcasing improvement. And the same was the case with the deal types under coverage as well.” A significant part of the decline was driven by North America, which saw its deal volume fall by 30.9% during January-July 2024 compared to January-July 2023. Asia-Pacific and South and Central American regions also showcased YoY decline of 16.3% and 42.9% in deal volume during January-July 2024, respectively. However, Europe saw YoY improvement in deal volume by 16.8% during the review period as some of the key markets in the region witnessed growth in the number of deals, whereas deal volume for the Middle East and Africa mostly remained at the same level. Meanwhile, key markets including the US, South Korea, China, Australia, and France witnessed a 30.4%, 5.6%, 50%, 27.8% and 45% decline in deal volume during January-July 2024 compared to the same period in the previous year. However, markets such as the UK, India, Japan, Spain, and Germany experienced improvement in deal volume during the review period. An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database also revealed that the volume of M&A deals declined by 6.6% during January-July 2024 compared to January-July 2023, whereas the number of venture financing deals fell by 25.4% YoY. …

The Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) successfully hosted its inaugural roadshow in Mumbai on 20th August 2024 at the IMC, Churchgate. The event brought together 25 exhibitors from various sectors of the travel and tourism industry, with over 100 Travel Agents and Tour Operators participating and benefiting from this vibrant gathering. The exhibitor lineup showcased a diverse range of participants, including Domestic and International DMCs, Tourism Boards, Visa Experts, Hotels, Loan Advisors, Insurance Partners, and Airlines. The Mumbai Board Team, consisting of Mr. Jagat Mehta, National Director; Mr. Abhijit Khadilkar, National Director & Membership Head; Mrs. Dipti Pradhan Thakoor, National Director & Event Head; and Mr. Dharmesh Advani, National Director, spearheaded the event with strong support from ETAA Coordinators and the ETAA Mumbai Committee. The roadshow marked a significant first for the team, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from both exhibitors and travel agents. Sponsored presentations by M/s AVNI MICE and RupeeBoss Financial Services Pvt Ltd. added value to the event, while India Tourism made a notable appearance. Tourism Malaysia and Qatar Tourism offered complimentary hotel packages, and Oman Air and Indigo sponsored hampers for the lucky draw. Exciting lucky draws were held every 30 minutes, sponsored by various Exhibitors, with participants walking away with a variety of delightful prizes. The ETAA Business Partners Meet 2024 set a new benchmark for industry collaboration, energizing the travel community with fresh connections, exciting opportunities, and a shared vision for the future of travel.

Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), the travel business division of ITDC, has been appointed as the official travel partner for India’s Paralympic team at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to excellence and ensures a seamless travel experience for the athletes, coaches, and the entire Indian contingent. A grand send-off event was organized at The Ashok, New Delhi, where the Nation’s Paralympic heroes were honoured. The event symbolized the nation’s collective pride and optimism as our Paralympics athletes embark on their journey to Paris 2024.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) celebrates the milestone of bringing over 5,000 properties across more than 80 countries under the hotel sustainability basics (basics) programme. It is planning to expand across India with the help of major hotel brands such as Radisson India.

IATA urges all governments to promptly share their regulatory changes with IATA to ensure this information reaches the entire airline industry. Willie Walsh, DG, IATA, says, “The reality is that without the proactive support of govts, if IATA is not aware of the changes before new regulations take effect, its virtually impossible for airlines to comply with country requirements. All we are asking is for govts to promptly communicate regulatory changes concerning passengers air cargo or airport charges to IATA. Let us do the rest.”

A key highlight of the TAFI Western India AGM was the discussion on one of the most pressing challenges facing the industry: the severe shortage of trained staff. Jay Kantawala, its Chapter Chairman, says, “The need to build a robust pool of new employees has never been more urgent. Members shared suggestions on how we can address this challenge like collaborating with tourism institutions and colleges that specialise in tourism programmes.”

Expressing concerns regarding the recent GST notices issued by India’s Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) to some foreign airlines, the IATA argues that this approach does not align with international norms and practices, pointing out that Indian airlines do not face similar demands abroad. These notices, targeting expenses incurred by foreign airlines’ headquarters, are seen as potentially detrimental to India’s aviation growth, it said.

Addressing hoteliers, Dr. Sagnik Chowdhury, DDG & Regional Director (Western & Central), MOT, said, “Guests from all parts of the world visit India, and the hospitality sector is essentially a melting pot of cultural exchanges. Enhancing guest experiences is our core offering; we are more than just venues to stay. I emphasize on the need for the hospitality industry to focus on sustainability and community ties and implored the industry to dovetail its trade with the tangible heritage and intangible cultural heritage which are India’s core strengths.

Addressing hospitality industry stakeholders at the HRANI annual conference in Greater Noida, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Tourism, GoI, said that he understands the pain points of the tourism and hospitality industry and will take up the long-standing demands like infrastructure status and GST with PM and FM to find a lasting solution.