OTOAI convention in Antalya

The fifth OTOAI convention, scheduled from March 15-18 in Antalya, Turkey, will be accompanied by optional pre and post-convention tours of three days each. As preparations are afoot, the theme for this year is yet to be revealed.

Manas Dwivedi

Outbound Tour Operators Assocition of India (OTOAI) will organise its fifth convention in Antalya, Turkey, from March 15-18, 2020, said Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, during an official announcement ceremony organised by the association and the Turkish Embassy. It was also revealed that Himanshu Patil, Vice President, OTOAI, will be the Convention Chairman, while Joint Secretary of the association, Vineet Gopal, will be the Convention Co-chairman.

Once our tour operators experience the destination first hand, they will be able to sell it better to their clients

Sharing more details, Munshi said that the convention will be accompanied by optional pre (March 12-15) and post (March 18-21) convention tours of three days each, to experience places in and around Antalya such as Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and Izmir. The airline partner of the convention is Turkish Airlines, which offers convenient connections between India and Turkey.

“Preparations are going on in full swing. Apart from the pre and post tours, we are finalising flight travel arrangements and business sessions of the convention. Our aim is to bring the outbound tour operators from various parts of the country together and showcase a new destination to them each time.

Antalya and the region around it have much to offer to the discerning traveller and once our tour operators experience the destination first-hand, they will be able to sell it better to their clients in India,” Munshi said.

H.E. Sakir Özkan Torunlar, Ambassador of Turkey to India; H Deniz ERSÖZ, Culture & Tourism Counselor, Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in India; Huseyin Ozbek, General Manager – North and East India, Turkish Airlines and Komal Seth, Director, Linkin Reps, were present during the ceremony, where OTOAI invited its members, travel trade and the media to the convention.

The theme is yet to be finalised along with topics for business sessions, as well as the list of panellists who will discuss and debate on issues prevalent in the industry. The previous OTOAI convention was held in South Africa in 2018.