Associations

Ravi Gosain takes the reins at IATO

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has elected a new leadership team for 2025–2027, headed by Ravi Gosain as its new President. Bringing a fresh mandate focused on digital innovation, stronger government advocacy and global outreach, the team pledges inclusive growth and capacity building for members across all regions. …

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PATA award of merit comes home

SanJeet, Director, DDP Publications, becomes the first Indian to be conferred with the ‘PATA Award of Merit’ at the PATA Annual Summit 2025, held recently in İstanbul, Türkiye. TT Bureau The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) honoured two distinguished leaders in the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry during the …

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Rise of detour destinations

As global travel evolves, there is a growing liking for unique, less crowded destinations. Whether it is leisure or MICE, the emerging trends are reshaping how we explore the world. Markus Tan, Regional Director, STB, India, Middle East, South Asia and Africa Indian travellers have evolved, with changing preferences that …

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TAFI pledges to green tourism

TAFI, set for its Vietnam convention from 17-20 January under the theme, ‘Tourism for Tomorrow, Protecting the Planet’, aims to promote eco-friendly travel via its members. Hazel Jain The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) is spearheading a movement towards environmentally responsible tourism with its convention theme, ‘Tourism for Tomorrow, …

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Is industry ready for transformation?

As we step into 2025, the global landscape is poised for transformative growth. Against this backdrop, industry is gearing up to tackle emerging challenges and seize opportunities. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO The IATO expects robust growth in inbound tourism for 2025, driven by improved infrastructure, streamlined visa policies, and increased …

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Overseas promotion funds slashed

The 7th Union Budget mentions about tourism but did not really meet the expectations of tourism and hospitality stakeholders with reduced overseas promotion allocation and no tax relief for the industry. TT Bureau The budget allocation for Ministry of Tourism was increased from Rs. 1,692.1 crore in 2023-2024 to Rs. …

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Pinning hopes on Budget

Union Budget 2024 holds significant expectations for India’s travel and tourism sector. As the country aims for a target of US $1 trillion by 2047, industry experts have high hopes from the budget. Rajiv Mehra, President, IATO IATO wants the export status to be given to our industry like the …

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Soft skills key to success

Being a people’s person, patience, and effective communication are some of the top skills required to succeed in travel and tourism business, say experienced travel operators in unison. Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI The travel industry is all about people, and about fulfilling their dreams and helping them create memories while …

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The lure of India for Middle East

While India hasn’t traditionally been a luxury destination for the Middle East travellers, it is coming up as an exotic one with its vibrant culture, ancient traditions, and new bespoke experiences such as private dining and tours. India’s transformation into a luxury escape may not be complete just yet, but …

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