Agents

A new revenue model

Kochi-based Spiceland Holidays has created a virtual wellness product that can offer B2B agents a new source of revenue in these challenging times. The company is aiming for 10,000 customers in the first phase. Hazel Jain Virtual products may soon become a new reality for the travel industry. Riyaz UC, …

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Yatra calls it off, Ebix responds

In a major stand-off over their pending merger agreement, Yatra Online has announced the termination of its merger agreement with Ebix Inc. and filed litigation, while the latter has denied any breach of agreement in its part and expressed plans to file a countersuit against the second largest online travel …

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‘Overhaul India’s built heritage’

A NITI Aayog working group under the chairmanship of Amitabh Kant has presented an action plan for improving management of heritage monuments of the country. In the recommendations, key action points for separate sections have been outlined. The NITI Aayog report is an effort to understand current challenges for heritage …

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India needs an empowered board

As the country struggles to control the pandemic, the tourism industry believes that the best way to promote India now to the rest of the world is to have an autonomous body in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism. This way, it can play an active role in the decision-making …

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Fear & perception should be addressed

Prateek Hira, Founding President & CEO, Tornos and Gastroutes, and Chairman – IATO Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand chapters, feels that COVID-19 has come as a further dampener to the already dampened inbound tourism sector of India, adding to its woes and putting the sector in a comatose-like situation. Manas Dwivedi …

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Rework the strategy?

TRAVTALK spoke to former secretaries of tourism on the sector not finding a mention in the stimulus package by the government, and the subsequent displeasure. This is what they had to say… Could a change in strategy be the answer to the industry’s woes? While all the former secretaries that …

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DDP launches ‘CovidSMART’ e-training

DDP Group has taken another big step towards empowering the tourism industry of India, and has launched CovidSMART — a training and certification programme which will ensure that the tourism industry is ready to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and effectively deal with its impact on the sector. CovidSMART is DDP …

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DDP pledges Rs. 1 crore to trade

The DDP Group, to support travel and hospitality companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis, has created a media fund of Rs. 1 crore under its ‘Standing with the Trade’ initiative. The move will help support businesses by providing targeted advertising campaigns, free of cost. In light of the current COVID-19 …

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Tourist facilities need a push

As the Budget draws closer, spokespersons of the tourism and hospitality industries talk about their expectations, some of which include, further reduction in GST and improvement of tourist facilities. Subhash Goyal, Secretary General, FAITH The tourism industry should be treated on a par with the export industry, particularly export of …

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