ASSOCIATION

TAAI’s National Office Bearers & Managing Committee returns unopposed

The elections were scheduled for 29th of September in Mumbai where the team has once again taken over their positions

News Desk

For the first time in the history of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), ‘National Office Bearers’ and the proposed ‘Managing Committee’ members have been chosen unopposed for the term 2022 – 2024 as there were no nominations filed to contest elections, challenging the current Office Bearers or nominations of MC members. Earlier, the Association had invited nominations from its members for National Office Bearers & MC Members for the term 2022-2024. The last date to file the nominations was the 15th of September and withdrawal of nominations was 23rd of September. Sharing her views on the re-appointment as the TAAI President, Jyoti Mayal, said, “We have done our best for the fraternity. We left no stone unturned and represented the travel trade on every front. Our hard work won us many accolades because TAAI’s relentless support to the travel trade and tourism industry has been appreciated at both national and international levels.” “Our presence at UFTAA, with Global Tourism Boards, with FAITH and state tourism boards as well as IATA shall certainly be more aggressive and interactive,” she added. Adding to that, Jay Bhatia, who once again continues as the Vice President said that the team worked day and night despite of challenges faced due to the unprecedented event like Covid, which halted our industry. However, we ensured that our voice be heard by the highest echelons and that adequate support must be extended to our trade.” “I am thankful to all who have been there with us during the tough times, encouraging and supporting us. This term of 2022-2024 shall definitely see more endeavours from this committee especially with more interactions with the government and the airlines along with other stakeholder partners which shall benefit our members,” he added. Bettaiah Lokesh, who too is continuing as the Hon. Secretary-General said, “Against all challenges, we worked for the benefit of the members. Members were paying their annual subscriptions and our responsibility was to ensure that all statutory and regulatory compliances must be adhered to as per the law and meetings are conducted. Indeed, it was tough but we burnt the midnight oil and made the association strong and faced all such challenges & delivered our best.” Shreeram Patel, who is continuing as the Hon. Treasurer said, “The secretariat, both at Mumbai and Delhi offices, kept the channel of communication open with members with limited resources. The efforts put in

ATOAI elects New Team

News Desk

Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on September 21st has elected the new team of ‘Office Bearers & Executive Committee Members’ for the term 2022-2024. Padmashri Awardee Ajeet Bajaj, Managing Director of Snow Leopard Adventures has been elected as the President of ATOAI along with Tejbir Singh Anand – Managing Director of Holiday Moods Adventures as Sr. Vice President, Vaibhav Kala – Managing Director of Aquaterra Adventures India as Vice President, Ronny Gulati – Managing Director of Youreka Campouts Services as Hon. Secretary and Nirat Bhatt – Managing Director of Nidus Enterprises as Hon. Treasurer. While addressing the members, the newly elected President said that the new team of ATOAI will continue to work diligently for the sustainable growth of adventure travel in India by taking forward the association’s aims and shaping government policy for this sector. “With the formation of the National Board for Adventure Tourism by the Ministry of Tourism and ATOAI as one of the core members of the board, we have spelled out all of our concerns, areas of focus, attention to our international rankings, and bringing global standards with a strong emphasis on safety, risk mitigation, sustainability and improving India’s reputation in the global adventure travel market,” he added.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Vishwas Makhija, Managing Director – India Insight Tours, Immediate Past President Pradeep Murthy, Partner – Muddy Boots Vacations India LLP Tundup Dorjay, Director – Overland Escape Ravi Kumar, Program Manager – National Outdoor Leadership School Rahul Sharma, Managing Director – R Ventures Holidays Amit Perival, Chief Executive Officer – Clubside Tours and Travels Sanjay Basu, Managing Director – Far Horizon Tours

Uttar Pradesh to host 37th IATO Convention

News Desk

Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) – the nodal body of ‘Inbound Tour Operators’ has announced that the 37th IATO Annual Convention will be held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from December 16-19, 2022. The Centrum will be the venue hotel and all other activities including registration for the convention, business sessions and evening programmes. new hotels have come up in Lucknow and other cities which will give insight of the facilities and development of infrastructure to the tour operators promoting the state amongst foreign and domestic travellers. Also the added attraction would be the Ram Temple at Ayodhya which in due course of time our members would be aggressively promoting globally,” he added. While elaborating on the expected number of delegates to attend the Convention, Mehra, further informed, “We expect about 1000 delegates from all over the country to participate which will include senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism and States, including industry leaders, tourism and hospitality professionals and travel trade media. Added attraction for this year Convention would be Post Convention tours to Ayodhya and Varanasi.” According to Mehra, as every state is keen to re-instate inbound tourism to their respective state, around 18-20 State Governments are expected to be present to interact with the conglomerate of the most prominent industry stakeholders. “This year focus in the Convention would be to deliberate about the revival of inbound tourism to India therefore, the theme of the Convention and subjects for the business sessions would be suitably decided by the committee,” added IATO’s President.

Elaborating more on this, IATO’s President, Rajiv Mehra said, “We are coming back to Lucknow after a gap of 26 years and it will be an excellent opportunity for our members to see the improved and developed infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh.” “The last IATO Convention in Lucknow was held in 1996 and there are so many The most prominent and much awaited Inbound Tour Operators’ meet – the 37th IATO Annual Convention will be graced by the auspicious presence of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath. Inauguration of the Convention will be held on 16th December at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. “Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath has given his kind consent to grace the occasion with his presence and inaugurate the convention,” informed Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators.

Can’t wait to welcome my fellow members; Prateek Hira

News Desk

While sharing his thoughts on the forthcoming 37th Annual Convention of IATO, Prateek Hira, IATO Chairman-Uttar Pradesh said that hosting IATO Convention in Uttar Pradesh is not only a privilege of the state but our membership is extremely delighted and feels privileged to be once again coming back to the state and seeing it in an all new avatar. “I am elated that IATO’s 37th Convention returns to Uttar Pradesh after a long gap of 16 years and to Lucknow after a gap of 26 years. Since the last convention held in UP, Uttar Pradesh has changed and changed for betterment, especially in the last 10 years. Development in UP is commendable and beyond imagination. ‘Transformation’ is the right word and that too, an ongoing one,” he added. While visiting after a gap of 26 years the Inbound tour operators will have a chence to see the new developments through their eyes. “The kind of development that Varanasi and Ayodhya is seeing and the hype they have created is exemplary and is sure to take the state of UP to the next level in spiritual tourism.” “Similarly, the government’s focus on other thrust areas such as eco-tourism, rural tourism, adventure tourism etc is no less appreciable and is a step towards realising our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s dream of making Uttar Pradesh a One Trillion Dollar Economy,” he further informed. “I, as the IATO’s Chapter Chairman of Uttar Pradesh, can’t wait to welcome my fellow members from all across Uttar Pradesh this December at IATO’s 37th Convention,” he concluded.