Tag Archives: Naveen Kundu

Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, Ebixcash- Travel & Holidays, has said that he has huge expectations from this budget and his request to the Finance Minister is to declare tourism sector as a priority sector for the next two years and offer it industry status. Also, he requested for tax refunds to domestic travellers who spend large amount of their vacation budgets in India. Other recommendations included budget for loans with rates of interests as offered to industry, with flexibility of re-structuring the loans at least twice due to the frequent lean cycles. “The government shall offer tariffs which are at par with the industry if not lower. Provide tax concession to hotels and resorts in India to boost demand for domestic tourism and inbound tourism. Provide tax subsidy to travel agents who promote inbound tourism (FOREX earning agencies) and offer them incentives on earning FOREX as exports sector. Create a budget to appoint several large PR companies globally to promote ‘Product India’ with all its diversity and hospitality. Offer a financial tax support to corporates / associations who conduct their meetings & events in India. Offer direct financial support of up to Rs. 1000 crores for all global companies/ associations and world bodies who conduct their events, conferences and exhibitions in India. Announce a state-of-the-art skill development institute on the lines of IIM, which will be India’s first tourism university offering various courses. Reduce haulage on luxury trains and offer tax subsidy on operating more luxury and Bharat Gaurav trains in India,” he said.

EbixCash Travels(Via.com) has taken the bold initiative to re-engage with the trade by conducting Travel Sub-agent Meets across the country, making sure that all COVID protocols are followed. Naveen Kundu, MD, EbixCash Travel Services (parent company of Via.com) says, “The aim behind these meets is to bring agents out of their post-COVID shells and from their offices/ homes, to get back to work and their business. These are small and medium enterprises, and we have been telling them that we as a conglomerate will help you with technology, credit lines, efficient payment remittances. When the partners and the principles meet together, they develop a camaraderie, which eventually will work in the favor of the customer, suppliers and the business. We must put in efforts to bring the business to normal, these are the efforts that we are making and rewarding them for staying through with us, even during the pandemic.” Now that the situation is getting better, EbixCash Travels (Via.com) is all out to support, reassure and extend help to its trade partners to grow their business because we believe in developing and keeping the connection personal with the community, and expanding it by creating physical community meetings. The meets are being conducted to have a closed group conversation with the partners to understand challenges and help them overcome them.

Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, EBIXCASH Travel Services, has said that in the last one and a half years, he has seen a surge in private stays and private flying, with people preferring resort stays, exclusive pool and water villas over city hotels and increasingly opting for chartered flights like never before. He also added that as soon as borders open, Indians would be travelling everywhere.

Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, EBIXCASH Travel Services has been appointed as the Co-Chairman for the domestic tourism committee of FICCI. In the new role, Naveen will be involved with various government agencies & tourism committees to strengthen the footprints of domestic tourism in India. This committee will be working as a sub-committee under the aegis of FICCI Tourism Committee to address the various issues and roadblocks in terms of domestic travel and technology, which act as a hindrance for sustaining the rapid growth of this sector. “My vision has always been to enhance the domestic tourism demand of what is called the untouched India for which I already havew a couoke of national awards by the Government of India , build a core team at FICCI team who can help promote & push the fulfilment of the domestic tourism products across India such as hoteliers , Ground operators of various states , transport suppliers , individuals and companies from the artisan in-dustry  and local bodies .Domestic & Regional tourism is the key indicator for inclusive economic development & job creation,” said Naveen Kundu.

Ebixcash Tours & Travels has become the preferred travel & forex partner of 5 IPL teams. The company will handle travel needs of players and provide end to end support including charter flights, ground transportation, foreign exchange, hotel rooms and event insurance coverage.   A fully owned subsidiary of Ebix Inc., EbixCash has announced that it is handling the travel needs for five of the eight franchises involved in an 82-day Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket sporting extravaganza in Dubai. Under the leadership of Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, EbixCash Tours & Travels, EbixCash has been able to secure this prestigious assignment. As a part of this engagement of EbixCash independently by five of the IPL Franchises, EbixCash is handling approximately 19,000 plus hotel room night bookings for four franchises, chartered flights for five franchises, ground transportation for two franchises, foreign exchange needs for the entire entourage of four of the teams and event insurance coverage for one team. Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings are the five franchises who have engaged EbixCash Tours and Travels for varied travel needs of each of the franchises. Sharing his views on the deal, Kundu says, “We are honoured to have been chosen as the vendor of choice by the majority of the IPL franchises. Their decision was made easier with EbixCash emerging as the only end-to-end services provider who could handle their varied needs under one window. Our depth of products and services, international expanse, travel expertise and the past record was instrumental in us being selected for this prestigious engagement.” Robin Raina, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO, Ebix, said, “In COVID-19 times, …

Analysing the revival plans for the tourism industry post-COVID-19crisis, Naveen Kundu, Managing Director, EbixCash Travel & Holidays has said that there will be a lot of behavioural changes in the industry including a complete price realignment for every tourism product. He said that post-COVID-19 crisis, rationalisation and consolidation will become important they will look at special interest acquisitions going forward when the situation is normalised.  “Ebix has always been bullish about the Indian market. Post COVID-19, there will be a complete paradigm shift in the industry, which will make a consolidation opportunity for us. We will be looking at special interest acquisition and continue the way we have progressed in the Indian market. Among sectors, I believe MiCE industry will be the first one to bounce back,” said Kundu.

Mercury Travels, based in Mumbai and Leisure Corp from Delhi has been acquired by one of the Indian subsidiaries of Ebix. Agreements have been signed for a cumulative amount of approximately $14.2 million. The acquisition has been done with an aim to create a new travel division by Ebix, which will focus on a niche segment of the travel market, and the new Travel Exchange will be called Mercury – An EbixCash Luxury initiative, to be headed by Leisure Corp Founder Naveen Kundu. The Mercury Exchange will have three tightly integrated components— Mercury Travel’s entire corporate, leisure & adventure related travel business with the exception of its Forex business; Leisure Corp’s entire sports and events related travel business (MICE) and Via.com’s events based travel business (MICE). Naveen Kundu will hold 15 per cent of shares in the new entity, while Ebix will have a controlling 85 per cent share in the venture. Mercury’s Forex business will be integrated into EbixCash’s existing CDL Forex exchange business. Ebix is an international supplier of on-demand software and E-commerce services to the insurance, financial, healthcare and e-learning industries.