Tag Archives: TAAI

Expressing her views on the Union Budget 2024-2025 presented by Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman today, Jyoti Mayal, President, Travel Agents Association of India and Vice Chairperson, FAITH, said, “The budget for tourism is a huge letdown. Out of 28 states and 8 Union Territories, the FM focuses on the infrastructure development of a couple of states, which is quite disappointing. However, the promotion of a religious corridor in these states is appreciated. The only word of inclusion is the reduction of TDS for all e-commerce companies and a simpler tax regime for foreign shipping companies’ operations in the domestic market for cruise tourism.” She added that the focus on skilling is appreciable but where will the jobs be created in the tourism sector unless the employer can absorb more and pay the skilled youth?

Neeraj Malhotra has been re-elected as the Chairman of the TAAI Northern Region for the next term 2024-2026 at TAAI’s Annual Meeting. The other office bearers who were reinstated includes: Anurag Agrawal as Hon. Secretary and Neeraj Kumar Sarna as Hon. Treasurer. They were elected unanimously for the next term indicating the support and trust shown by members.  

Anoop Kanuga, MC Member, TAAI, said, “The potential to host weddings in J&K is immense, primarily due to its scenic locations and cultural richness. To tap it, the govt can help support the MICE community by improving infrastructure, strengthening security and offering subsidies to attract event organisers and agents to host weddings and MICE tourism events in the region.”

Ahead of the Union Budget, Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, said, “To make India a preferred travel destination, the Union Budget 2024-2025 must focus on infrastructure, more favourable GST rates and GST credit, industry status including travel operators, development of new airports, and rapid expansion in rail, road and waterways.”

At ‘Tourism Beyond G-20 Revealing J& K’s Tourism Treasures’ organised by the J&K Committee of ICC, Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, said, “The significance of environment-friendly travel to Kashmir, is to guarantee the prosperity of the state, the necessity of preserving the environment and creating more equitable tourist initiatives.”

To boost domestic tourism and inbound arrivals, India needs to frame policies that could introduce uniformity in the sector. Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, believes that it is high time that India should come up with a National Tourism Policy, which will escalate investments and augment tourism’s share in the economy.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkiye and Turkiye Tourism & Promotion Agency successfully concluded a mega six-city India Roadshow. In collaboration with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), this roadshow spanned six prominent cities of India including New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Ahmedabad. The event witnessed a resounding response from the travel trade fraternity. It collectively saw participation from over 1200 members from India’s Tourism Industry and was designed to foster successful business interactions between the Indian travel trade community and Turkiye Tourism officials. The roadshow not only saw participation from TAAI members across the country but also from India’s most renowned MICE Agents and travel brands including Thomas Cook, Makemytrip, SOTC, and FCM. The event kicked off its first leg in New Delhi on January 30th, and saw the esteemed presence of Mr. Onur Gözet from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as, Turkiye’s Ambassador to India, H.E. Mr. Fırat Sunel. The Roadshow assembled 29 distinguished suppliers from Turkiye, including Tour operators, Hoteliers, and Indian restaurants. The roadshow comprised impactful B2B sessions, facilitating invaluable interactions between these stakeholders and the Indian Travel Trade Community. The event was designed to unveil the latest travel trends emerging in both countries, offering participants a unique opportunity to network and establish valuable connections within the travel fraternity. The aim was to create a platform that not only promotes Turkiye tourism in India but also further the collaborative sentiment between both the countries. Enhancing the celebratory ambiance of the roadshow, lucky draws were also held in each of the six cities. Mr. Onur Gozet, Deputy Director General of Promotion in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said, “The success …

The Ministry of Culture & Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), in collaboration with the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), have successfully concluded the first leg of their mega six-city India Roadshow 2024, in New Delhi. The event held on 30 January at The Oberoi Hotel, marked the commencement of the roadshow with a grand kick-off in the National Capital. In attendance at the roadshow were 30 key stakeholders from Türkiye, including Tour operators, Hoteliers, and MCs.   The attendees witnessed an immersive exploration of Türkiye’s stunning landscapes, historical landmarks, and vibrant cities. The B2B sessions facilitated fruitful exchanges, fostering partnerships between the Indian travel industry leaders and Türkiye‘s esteemed suppliers. Prominent Indian travel brands such as MakeMyTrip and EaseMyTrip actively participated in this event, underscoring the industry’s enthusiasm for Türkiye as a premier destination. The presence of influential dignitaries, including Mr. Onur Gözet from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, along with Türkiye‘s Ambassador to India, H.E. Mr. Fırat Sunel, further emphasized the significance of the growing tourism relations between the two nations.   Addressing the gathering, Onur Gözet, Deputy Director General for Promotion, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Republic of Türkiye said, “Our shared histories, deeply rooted in ancient civilizations, have woven a narrative that resonates through both Türkiye and India. It is remarkable to witness the cultural commonalities that bind the two countries, fostering a unique connection that extends beyond geographical borders. It’s no wonder that Türkiye has emerged as a country of choice for Indian tourists, with iconic destinations like İstanbul, Antalya, and Cappadocia capturing the hearts of travellers. The foundation laid with the commencement of the six-city roadshow goes beyond tourism. It signifies the beginning of a collaborative journey towards enduring …

Onur Gozet, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Turkey, said that in 2019 the number of Indian visitors to Turkey was 2.3 lakh. In 2022, it was estimated to have been 2.7 lakh. The aim is to reach 3.5 lakh Indian visitors in 2024. He was speaking at the joint roadshow with TAAI.

Gaurav Dogra, Hon. Secretary, TAAI-Northern region, has stepped down from his position to focus on his company Plan Your Holiday. Dogra has been in this position since 2017 and was the Treasurer of the chapter before that. Currently, the TAAI-NR team is headed by Neeraj Malhotra, who revealed that the term for the team will be over in 2 months and elections are due for the new team.