In-the-Issue

Houseful show at Turkey EduCon

Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) conducted its EduCon in Turkey from May 3-7 to familiarise its members with newer regions in Turkey. The association plans to conduct three more EduCons abroad this year ANKITA SAXENA from TURKEY As many as 45 travel agents participated in the familiarisation trip …

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Amadeus expands portfolio with hotel IT

The technology provider has diversified its offerings with its foray into hospitality and is investments through its latest white paper ‘Online Travel 2020’. The industry nears a new age of online travel with rapid evolution and innovation taking place in every sector. Newer business models have come into play and …

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RezLive.com expands footprint in Africa

The online travel provider has appointed GSAs in Ghana and Kenya to increase their offerings for the continent. Rezlive.com, a product of Travel Designer Group, has further cemented its position in the African region with the appointment of African Origin Travels & Sports Tourism and Continental Travel Group as its …

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Indian travellers revel at global festivals

Whether it’s Oktoberfest in Munich, Dubai Shopping Festival, La Tomatina in Buñol (Spain), or Tomorrowland, Indian travellers are experiencing it all. While there is no exact number of Indians travelling abroad to be a part of this jamboree, the travel industry points out an increase in demand among Indians for …

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Preparing for the future of travel

The tourism and hospitality industry is changing at an exponential rate. The new products being added everyday and the ever-evolving technology has put travel agents at the precipice of evolution. Ashwini Kakkar, Past President, TAAI, outlines various changes in the industry and suggests the way forward. Aviation According to Kakkar, …

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Offbeat locales for experiential travel

The search for exclusive experiences has led travel-hungry Indians to unconventional destinations like Bulgaria, Prague, Croatia, Iceland, Kenya, Zambia etc., reveal travel connoisseurs. AHANA GURUNG Sushil Shamlal Wadhwa, Founder and CMD, Platinum World Group Among the emerging destinations, Russia is going to be a big player since there are innumerable …

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Planes worth $22bn for SpiceJet

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, has announced a landmark deal with Boeing with the purchase of 205 airplanes worth up to $22 billion (`150,000 crores). SpiceJet is set to fly higher after being close to a shutdown in December 2014. The mega deal is only a step closer, …

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New service tax abatement hits travel trade hard

The recent abatement to service tax from 4.5 per cent to 9 per cent on tour operators has come as a big blow to the travel trade. While the CENVAT credit could be a boon for inbound operators, it might negatively impact the outbound business. Industry experts share their views …

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An achievable aspiration

Cruising holidays are no longer the once in a lifetime, expensive, unreachable dream it used to be. India is now a supply-driven market as cruise liners are always looking for new markets and itineraries. We are seeing encouraging growth in cruise tourism in recent years with demand among Indian tourists …

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