Associations

1000+ delegates at Virtual PTM

Virtual PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2020 saw delegates indulge in B2B meetings online and discuss how they could work together under changed circumstances induced by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Nisha Verma Virtual PATA Travel Mart 2020 welcomed over 1000 delegates from 60 destinations across the world. A total of 208 …

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CKTI wants September restart

The Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI), led by EM Najeeb as President, has called on the government to take immediate steps to reopen the tourism sector in Kerala, and submitted a memorandum. Manas Dwivedi EM Najeeb, President, CKTI, has said that when the tourism industry is on the verge …

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Policy must ease doing business

The National Tourism Policy, which had been in the pipeline for a long time, is now under the observation of various trade associations, as the Ministry of Tourism seeks suggestions and feedback from them. TRAVTALK spoke to association heads to understand the recommendations they plan to make. Subhash Goyal, Secretary …

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IATO seeks revision of refund

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has given its recommendations to the Ministry of Tourism on issues  faced by its members, and also appealed for a change in guidelines under MDA and recognition to tour operators.  Rajesh Mudgill, Honorary Secretary, IATO, shares more details. Manas Dwivedi During a virtual …

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Rural tourism in focus this year

The 2020 edition of World Tourism Day, themed ‘Tourism and Rural Development’, will celebrate the unique role that the sector plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities and preserving cultural and natural heritage. Manas Dwivedi Celebrated on September 27 every year, World Tourism Day is counted as one of …

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There’s potential in golf & film

Rajan Sehgal, Managing Committee Member, TAAI and Chairman, Indian Golf Tourism Association (IGTA), claims  that with international travel restrictions in place, golf tourism will be in demand post-monsoon and India should look at promoting it. He adds that even film tourism holds great potential as a driver for domestic travel. …

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‘Goa wants charter flights’

Worried that the upcoming tourist season is not a dampener, the Travel & Tourism  Association of Goa (TTAG) requests the state government to announce policies that will allow charter flights from international markets. Hazel Jain After getting some sort of relief from the Centre on electricity charges for two months, …

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New process for airport pass

With regular follow-ups from Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), airport entry passes for tour operators have been acceded by the Ministry of Civil Aviation as per information received from Ministry of Tourism. While the revised criteria for number of passes to be issued has been announced, detailed guidelines are …

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United voice of Kerala trade

Thirty six registered trade associations representing different sectors of the travel and hospitality industries in Kerala have unanimously decided to continue under one umbrella organisation – the Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry (CKTI). The Confederation has re-elected EM Najeeb, Chairman, ATE group; Senior Vice President, IATO and Former President of …

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‘Our industry is not elitist’

Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President of FHRAI and President of HRAWI, pleads the authorities to take the  hospitality industry seriously and to stop perceiving it as elitist but recognise its capability and potential. Hotels, he says, are the backbone of tourism and without them, tourism itself cannot bounce back. Hazel …

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