TAAI to hold 58th Indian Travel Congress in

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) will hold its 58th Indian Travel Congress (annual convention) in Dubai, this year. The convention will be held in the last week of September and first week of October 2009, however the exact dates for the convention were not disclosed.

Confirming the same to TravelBiz Monitor, Iqbal Mulla, Treasurer, TAAI said, “The Managing Committee has decided to hold the convention in Dubai this year. This was agreed upon at a meeting conducted in New Delhi on June 18, 2009. We are still working out the convention details like the venue, cost and the FAM tours; however, we will make an official announcement with the confirmed dates in a week's time.” The Association was considering international destinations like Korea, China and also domestic destinations like Mumbai to hold the 58th Indian Travel Congress this year.

Tourism industry to get infrastructure status

This will be a great relief for the tourism industry that recently saw a downside due to global meltdown and terrorist attacks in Mumbai. However, the international tourism experts present on the occasion felt that more can be done to accelerate growth of tourism. According to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) India chairperson, Raymond Bickson, apart from the infrastructure status and lack of infrastructure, the Indian tourism products face challenges due to absence of facilities like visa-on-arrival facility and single-window clearance for tourism projects. He also mentioned that taxation has also been an issue of concern.

The three-day travel bazaar is being jointly organized by Rajasthan state tourism department, Central ministry of tourism and FICCI. Nearly 180 foreign tour operators from around 40 countries are expected to hold over 3,500 meetings with over 1,500 tourism professionals of the state. The department of tourism, GoR and FICCI also signed an MOU to hold GITB every alternate year in April till 2017.

Tourism and Northeast India

A moderately welcome development in international tourism in India in last five years has been the increase in business travel with its spin-off effects in upgradation of accommodation and introduction of new technology in communication and other services. Different travel agencies functioning as the conductors of tours are adding fuel to the rapid growth of tourism with different motives.
The number tourists in Assam has increased in recent days due to the fact that the tourism department in Assam has been trying to enhance its performance with the support from the both state and the central government.

Thus the sinequonon for tourism development in north east region and India at large is the political will and commitment on the part of leadership at the central, state and district level and association of the local people with a view of assuring them that tourism will in no way harm their interests. Far from it, tourism can be an instrument for improving the quality of life by protecting environment and providing gainful employment to the disadvantaged.

Introduction to India Travel