An E- Bulletin Volume 32 I Aug-Sep 2012 For Private Circulation OnlyTAAI NewTravels Agentsl iAssociationne of India FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT Dear Colleagues, Members, as you are aware, our Government has finally come out with the bill allowing FDI to the aviation sector and there is already The last two months have been very hectic for your Association some airlines in talks with potential investors. We shall have to wait involved with much intense discussions on various fronts through and watch the outcomes of such deliberations. meetings and more meetings. There was the UFTAA Board Meeting in Delhi, the all important APJC meet in Mumbai, meeting with Hon Well, we have a new contender for outbound tourism ! IRCTC ! Now Ambassador of Philadelphia, once in August and again last week, concentrating on Outbound Tourism in a big way. Its first overseas catching up with Brand USA, meeting with Chief Minister of Madhya tour was planned from Bhopal to Dubai via Mumbai in August this Pradesh in Bhopal, meeting with officials of Tourism Guild of India in year. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has Aurangabad and the Signing of a MOU with VUSACOM, Our industry launched a four night/five day package tour to Thailand from is such that many events of high importance take place Mumbai, set to commence on October 25, 2012, as per a TOI report. simultaneously and are happening all over the country. There is a More competition on the anvil ! gamut of action pan India in our travel, tourism, hospitality and aviations sectors that often, you are literally kept on your toes! Read Once again, let me remind you that I look forward to welcoming each all about these activities in the inside pages. and every one of you on 22nd October for the inauguration of ITTE and Travel Awards 2012. TAAI M C Members & Office Bearers of Regions & Chapters sent an important letter to the MPs & MLAs from their jurisdiction and sought their support to take up the issues and problems faced by the M Iqbal Mulla Travel Agents in India at the Parliamentary Session (Monsoon President Sessions). We got some positive responses to our plea from the Local MPs & MLAs. In this manner, we will garner maximum support for our problems so that your President and his team can go all out and do whatever we can to save the Travel Trade in India Come October and it is time once again for our exclusive B2B Exhibition India Travel Trade Expo-ITTE 2012 ITTE has become a notable platform for the industry’s counterparts for excellent networking opportunities and establishing business strategies. Along with ITTE we shall hold the prestigious Travel Awards function that will see the icons of the industry present amidst the fanfare and deserving professionals from the trade will be recognised for their year- long efforts. Editor’s Note Dear Colleagues, This Newsline comes to you with lots of news about various important meetings that our President has been involved over the recent days. The President has been extremely, busy with myriad meetings and interactions, news of which have been already sent to all members. The request that was sent out to all the MLAs and MPs by each Regional Chairman and Chapter Chairman highlighting the woes of our industry point by point, made news all over the country. We are now awaiting news on this front from these ministers. October will herald in ITTE 2012 and TAAI Travel Awards 2012 soon and I am sure, dear members, that all of you will attend these twin events of your Association and get maximum mileage with the networking opportunities they present. Enjoy Reading ! Manoj Sogani 1 TAAI Newsline Volume 32 I Aug-Sep 2012 TAAI & VUSACOM SIGN MOU ON WORLD TOURISM DAY Consul General, Mr Peter Haas, Honorary Ambassador of Philadelphia, Ms Kanika Choudhary, Chief of U S Commercial Service in India, Mr Richard Rothman and eminent members from the trade. TAAI & VUSACOM are now jointly committed to promote tourism & bilateral trade to USA & vice versa. VUSACOM has been formed with the support of the U.S. Consulate General and engaged in the development of tourism in USA. The main objective of this MOU is facilitate better coordination, outreach and information sharing between VUSACOM and TAAI with the aim of promoting the United States as a attractive tourist destination for TAAI President Mr Iqbal Mulla, Honourable Consul General of USA, Mr Peter Haas, Indian travelers and to increase the Indian arrivals to USA from the President of VUSACOM Mr Ashwini Kakkar, Chief of U S Commercial Service in India, current 650,000 to 1 Million by 2015. The tie up also looks to ease Mr Richard Rothman and Hon. Ambassador of Philadelphia, Ms Kanika Choudhary the VISA process and communication channels especially for the MICE market as this will help fillip the growth and also to create Members, here is some good news ! We are happy to inform you, awareness amongst its members about the various new that on 27th September, on the occasion of "World Tourism Day", destinations/places of attraction in the US. It will facilitate B2B our President, Mr Iqbal Mulla and VUSACOM President, meetings between tour operators/ travel agents in India with the US Mr Ashwini Kakkar signed an MOU at the American Consulate in based suppliers like hoteliers, airlines, DMC's, attractions, USA here Mumbai. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Honorable we come ! PRESIDENT INVITED TO STATE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING OF MADHYA PRADESH Archaeological Survey of India and Mr Sunil Notani TAAI MC Member & Chairman of Diplomatic Services.“There is really great tourism potential in MP” the President informed the gathering “but branding and marketing plays a large role in boosting this potential and that is what is required in large doses right now “Mr. Mulla mentioned how the widely spread TAAI Regions and Chapters all over India would be able to promote the tourism circuits of MP to increase domestic tourists into the state in a huge way. “but” he added “Tourism projects should get concessions and priorities should be fixed for infrastructure arrangements at tourist spots” Mr. Notani was emphatic that there should be more affordable good President Mr. I Mulla and Sunil Notani MC Members (4th from Left) with the Minister (Center) quality transport system established so that tourists can avail of these without always resorting to hired taxis and cars that were very expensive The CM agreed that these points would be taken up As many as 10 special tourism zones will be developed for immediately. promoting tourism in the state of Madhya Pradesh said Chief Minister Shri. Shivraj Singh Chouhan as he chaired the State It was informed at the meeting that number of tourists in the state Tourism Development Council meeting in Bhopal on September 17 has increased about four-fold during the last five years. It was 11 and gave in-principle sanction to this proposal. Special tourism million in the year 2006, which increased to 44 million in the year zones will be established in Indira Sagar, Gandhi Sagar, Bansagsar, 2011. A list of new tourist destinations of the state has been chalked Sanchi, Orchha, Mandu, Khajuraho, Datia, Tawa Nagar-Madhai and out. As many as seven forts and fortresses of private and state Tamiya-Patalkot wherein tourist activities have been identified for ownership have been identified for promoting heritage tourism. each zone. President Iqbal Mulla was specially invited to attend the Also roads leading to major tourist destinations are being improved. important meet along with Urban Administration Minister New air routes have been identified including Khajuraho–Jaipur, Shri Babulal Gaur, Tourism Minister Shri Tukojirao Puar, Forest Khajuraho-Mumbai, Jabalpur-Mumbai, Jabalpur-Kolkata and Minister Shri Sartaj Singh, PWD Minister Shri Nagendra Singh, Bhopal-Varanasi Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Industries Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, Chief Secretary stae would also develop a special tourist circuit by linking religious Shri R. Parasuram, Principal Secretary Urban Administration tourism destinations with each other. And what about routes leading Shri S.P.S. Parihar, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development to major tourist destinations? The Minister informed that new air Corporation Managing Director Shri Raghavendra Singh, ADTOI routes have been identified including Khajuraho–Jaipur, Khajuraho- President Shri Subhash Verma, Shri Subhash Goel of IATO, Mumbai, Jabalpur-Mumbai, Jabalpur-Kolkata and Bhopal-Varanasi. Shri Manu Bhatnagar of Intec, Shri K.K. Mohammad of The CM was happy with the important inputs of our President and promised to act on these issues right away ! 2 TAAI Newsline Volume 32 I Aug-Sep 2012 PROMOTING TOURISM TO PENNSYLVANIA Pennsylvania and Hon Ambassador of Philadelphia, Ms Kanika Choudhary on 20th September, 2012 in Mumbai. Also present were Sushama Kanetkar, Pennsylvania’s Authorized Representative Director for India, Pennsylvania Trade & Investment Office - India, Rajiv Wagle, MD, Kuoni India, Mr Ashish Kumar Singh, Chief Secretary to The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr Sheldon Santwan, COO and Editor, Travelbiz Monitor, Mr Manoj Gursahani, Vice President VUSACOM and Mr Rajiv Duggal, former MD of Kuoni India. At the Meeting The meeting's focus was about promoting tourism from India to Pennsylvania and bringing in more tourists to India from this TAAI President Mr Iqbal Mulla had a very fruitful meeting with bustling State. They also discussed the possibility of exploring this Mr David Briel, Exe Director, Centre for Direct Investment, Dept of destination for hosting TAAI's prestigious annual Convention and Community and Economic Development, Commonwealth of Exhibition - the Indian Travel Congress 2013, in Philadelphia. BRAND USA TO APPOINT INDIA REPRESENTATIVE participation ever - converged in Mumbai on 12th September.