The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Western region has requested India Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism to restart issuing e-visas for international tourists, in time for the upcoming season. During the session, they brought up some key points, including the question of e-visas for inbound clients. Hazel Jain …

Many in the industry believe that both domestic and safe tourism are temporary phenomenon, and things will be back to ‘normal’ in not more than two years. What remains to be done, however, is improvement and streamlining of processes to enhance the touristic experience, says Vipul Jain, Founder & CEO, …

TOFT India has launched an internationally-recognised online programme for tour operators that focuses on driving more sustainable travel. Called Travelife, it gives members access to a range of online tools that they can use to start the journey towards greater sustainability in their own operations and in the tours they …

Never before has the tourism segment had such a catastrophic experience as the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotels are almost defunct, tour operators have gone into oblivion and 90 per cent of travel agency staff is jobless. Anand Singh, Director, Earthen Experiences, believes it’s time that hospitality and tourism need hand holding …

Hotel Association of India (HAI) has urged the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance to understand the plight of the hospitality industry and decide on what they need. He says that their advocacy is only that the government give a comprehensive package instead of small things happening here …

Yossef Fatael, CEO, Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association and Vice President, UFTAA, shares that the recent unrest in Israel impacted inbound tourism to the country only for a week, and that they are ready to receive tourists as they are the most vaccinated country in the world currently. Nisha Verma …

Peter Harbison, Chairman Emeritus, CAPA – Centre for Aviation, shares his perspective on what countries need to do to be able to open up quickly and what airlines can expect from the second half of 2021. He says the next 18 months will result in airline losses We’re 15 months …

John Spence, Founder and Owner of Karma Group of Hotels and visiting professor at Yale University, shares his views on how he thinks the hospitality industry should cope in the present and restart in the near future. I think it will bounce back very swiftly. Clearly, the pandemic has affected …

Alex McEwan, Country Manager, South Asia, Virgin Atlantic, says they are on their way to upgrading their aircraft on the India routes, ensuring more comfort and benefits for the end user. The airline will also work more keenly with the travel trade. Nisha Verma Virgin Atlantic is presently operating five …

The Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) has reached out to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Union Tourism Minister and the Chief Secretary of the Union Territory seeking help and relief for the island’s travel trade. The second wave of the virus has been especially devastating. Manas Dwivedi In a …