Tag Archives: TAFI

AHOY THERE!

It’s that time of the year when most of the Indian travel trade bodies are headed to their annual
conventions. Early in October, the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) concluded their 39th Annual Convention in Bhopal. And only last week, the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) were headed to Tawang for their Convention that was scheduled from December 3 – 8, a long six-day affair, and now, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) is headed to Vietnam next month for the same.

Trade body annual conventions are a great platform to get a good peek into where their respective representative sectors stand, discuss issues at hand, draw up a strategy for the sector to chart a better future, and for the association itself to remain relevant in the ever-evolving market place and to the needs and requirements of their members.

These annual gatherings are also occasions where the associations should look at creating an efficient, well-oiled and thoroughly synergised path forward for their sectors in close co-ordination with the government policies, policy-makers and their aspirations or target from the sector. This is particularly true for trade bodies such as IATO and ATOAI, among others, for the very fact that for tourism, particularly inbound and sub- sectors like Adventure, MICE, etc., to thrive, there needs to be very active co-ordination mechanism between the public and private sectors.

Tourism is a pretty much private sector-led enterprise, but cannot do much on its own if not supported by the political and bureaucratic will. The sooner it is understood, especially by the policy-makers, the better it is. Conventions will go a long way in charting the right course for the sector’s successful role for the ambitious Amrit-kaa ltourism target that seeks Adventure Tourism to contribute USD 800 billion or the targeted USD 3 trillion tourism economy by 2047.

IATO’s, ATOAI’s, or ADTOI’s, such Conventions’ success or failure greatly hinge on the fact that how successful have they been in driving these messages home with real tangible results on the ground, and not merely the bureaucratic or political lip services that these events get.

Shayan Mallick
shayan.mallick02@gmail.com

FAITH is the umbrella body of travel trade associations.

FAITH office-bearers elected unopposed for 2024-26 term

The FAITH Elections for the Post of Office Bearers were held yesterday in New Delhi. The following Board Members of FAITH have been elected unopposed for Office Bearers’ positions for next two years’ term of 2024 to 2026.

CHAIRMAN – Puneet Chhatwal, Hotel Association of India (HAI)

VICE CHAIRMAN – (Two Posts)

i) Ajeet Bajaj, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)

ii) Ajay Prakash, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI)

GENERAL SECRETARY – Rajiv Mehra, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)

TREASURER – Kanwarjit Singh Sawhney, Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA)

The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) is the Policy Federation 10 National Associations in India representing the entire Tourism and Hospitality Industry of the country which includes ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) and Cause Partner – AIRDA.

The federation was formed with an objective to have a collective industry voice to envisage the growth of tourism, travel and hospitality sector of India and achieve our target.

Rajiv Mehra, General Secretary – FAITH, thanked Homa Mistry, who was the Returning Officer for the elections.

Mehra on behalf of all the elected Office Bearers assured to work cohesively for the benefit of the tourism and hospitality industry and fulfill the dreams of Prime Minister and achieve the targets of set by him.

TAFI heads to Vietnam from January 17 to 20 for 2025 Convention

The Travel Agents Federation (TAFI) has selected Vietnam as the host destination for its 2025 Convention. The Ninh Binh Province will see congregation of Indian travel trade for this showcase.

Brimming with excitement, TAFI President Ajay Prakash is happy to offer the association members an opportunity to explore a newer Asian destination from January 17 to 20.

Talking to TravelBiz Monitor, Prakash stated that the convention will be a three-night event (January 17–19) with the theme Tourism for Tomorrow: Protecting the Planet. He mentioned that Vietnam is one of the countries that appear to be serious about sustainable tourism. “The Ninh Binh Province is just a 2.5-hour drive from Hanoi Aairport,” Prakash said.

Speaking about the Ninh Binh Province, he noted that it is a lesser-known destination for Indians but has significant potential in terms of tourism. “TAFI always prefers to organise its conventions in lesser-known destinations with considerable growth potential. This time, we have followed the same principle,” Prakash pointed out.

Prakash emphasised that TAFI is offering its delegates only a three-night convention. “We are not booking flights for them or arranging pre- or post-familiarisation tours,” he said. He added that all their delegates are from the travel industry and are well-versed in booking tickets and handling visa processes.

“TAFI will focus on the three-night convention and its content, ensuring that the event is flawlessly organised. We will pick up delegates from Hanoi airport and drop them back after the convention,” Prakash revealed. He further mentioned that TAFI would stop registrations once 400 people have signed up. “We can accommodate a maximum of 450 people, but no more than that,” he said.

He also confirmed that the media would be part of the convention.

‘Visa demand rises in tandem with outbound travel growth’

At a time when outbound travel is seeing a surge a fact well supplemented by the growth in visas, Yummi Talwar, COO – South Asia, VFS Global spoke to Disha Shah Ghosh about this trend, and the segments that are driving traffic abroad.

Q. What is your overview of the outbound travel market considering your half yearly performance of 2024?
In recent years, the Indian outbound market has experienced remarkable growth, and its upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down. According to a joint study by FICCI and Nangia NXT, this market is poised to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.4%, reaching a staggering USD 55.39 billion by 2034. This reflects not only the growing affluence of Indian travellers, but also their increasing aspiration for global experiences.

A significant driver of this growth is the rising number of Indian students seeking educational opportunities abroad. The Indian Student Mobility Report 2023 reveals that 1,090,000 students travelled overseas in 2019. By 2022, this number had surged to approximately 1,320,000, and projections indicate that by 2025, around 2 million Indian students will be pursuing higher education in foreign institutions.

Mirroring this trend, VFS Global saw its application volumes in the first half of this year exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2%, with an 11% growth in the same period in 2023. It highlights VFS Global’s role in supporting India’s growing global mobility.

Q. What are the factors driving the growth in visa applications from India?
The demand for overseas travel from India has surged, driven by leisure, business, Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR), employment, and student travel. Rising disposable income and increased spending power are key factors, with Indians ranking among the top spenders in many destinations.

Student travel, a rapidly growing segment, is outpacing other categories. The expanding Indian diaspora is also contributing to the growth, particularly in the VFR segment. Looking ahead, this trend is expected to continue well into 2025, indicating sustained growth in India’s outbound travel market. These are key reasons that are driving the growth of visa applications from India.
As a market leader and trusted partner to 68 governments, VFS Global’s unique value proposition has enabled governments to focus solely on the critical visa decision-making process and helped significantly in driving cross border mobility benefiting visa applicants worldwide.

Q. Do you see Indians opting for visa free or visa on arrival destinations amid delay in obtaining visas?
The choice of a travel destination is influenced by several factors beyond the visa process, such as the destination’s appeal and whether the traveller has visited before. With the Indian outbound travel market growing at a promising CAGR of 11.4%, destinations are actively working to attract these travellers, offering a wide range of expanding travel opportunities.

For a smooth visa application process, we recommend applicants review the checklist available on our website before applying. As a trusted partner to governments, VFS Global handles the front-end administrative tasks, ensuring a reliable and efficient process. However, it’s important to note that we play no role in visa decisions, which are solely made by the respective embassies or consulates.

Q. How are you engaging with the travel trade in India?
In India, travel agents are critical partners in the travel ecosystem, playing a vital role in guiding clients through the visa application process. We regularly communicate with them about any updates or new requirements mandated by the 52 client governments we serve in India.

We deeply value our collaboration with major travel associations like TAAI, TAFI, and ETAA. We advise them to avoid fraudulent entities that charge for scheduling appointments, which are freely available on our website. We also encourage agents to advise their clients to apply for visas well in advance, considering the processing times of different governments.

At the local level, we engage with agents to address region-specific issues and offer solutions within our services. We consistently emphasise that our role is limited to handling the front end of the visa process, a message well understood by our partners.

 

Iran Tourism Board Successfully Concludes Tri-City Roadshow in India

The Iran Tourism Board has successfully wrapped up its three-city roadshow in India, designed to highlight Iran’s rich cultural heritage and diverse travel opportunities. The tour kicked off in Mumbai on September 10th, moved to Hyderabad on September 12th, and concluded today in New Delhi.

The roadshow featured prominent Iranian dignitaries, including Aliasghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi, Deputy of Tourism at the Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Ministry; Moslem Shojaee, Director General for International Tourism Promotion; H.E. Mofidifar, Acting Consul General of Iran in Mumbai; and Rahul Narwekar, Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

The primary goal was to strengthen tourism ties between India and Iran. By engaging with Indian travel agents and tourism professionals, the Iran Tourism Board aimed to establish solid business connections and position Iran as a top travel destination. The initiative showcased 11 Iranian hoteliers and travel agents who explored business opportunities and presented diverse tourism packages. The roadshow also included collaborations with key organizations such as MTOA, TAAI, TAFI, and IATO to boost Iran’s visibility among their members.

Hosseinabadi remarked, “We are thrilled to present the beauty and historical richness of Iran to the Indian market. This roadshow has provided a unique platform to share Iran’s cultural tapestry, including our historic landmarks and renowned hospitality. We look forward to deepening our partnerships with Indian travel agents and encouraging more Indian travellers to explore the wonders of Iran.”

H.E. Mofidifar, delivered keynote address. He passionately spoke about the unshakable bond between India and Iran, spotlighting Mumbai as a vital bridge that links the two nations. He emphasized the strategic significance of the Chabahar Port project, a game-changer for regional trade and connectivity, and urged the Indian public to discover the real Iran, beyond media portrayals, through direct engagement and travel.

India has emerged as a significant source of international tourists to Iran. In 2023, Iran welcomed approximately 5,868,421 international visitors, with Indian tourists constituting a notable portion of this figure. The number of Indian visitors exceeded 58,000, reflecting a 31% increase from the previous year.

Narwekar, praised the ever-strengthening ties between India and Iran, recalling the successful hosting of an Iranian MP delegation last year. He welcomed the expansion of these relations and spoke of the bright future of cooperation between the two countries.

 

Mexican Consulate starts issuing multiple-entry visas in Mumbai

Mexico has started issues visas to Indian nationals in Mumbai since April, having opened the Consulate last year.

Shedding light on this, Adolfo García Estrada, Consul General of Mexico in Mumbai, said, “Any Indian national wanting to visit Mexico, holding a valid UK, USA, Canada, Schengen or Japan visa doesn’t need to apply for a visa. For others, one can apply for a Mexican visa at the Consulate in Mumbai or the Embassy in New Delhi. It is a multiple-entry visa with six months validity. The visa fee is USD 53, and we take around 10 working days of processing time.”

He was talking to TravelBiz Monitor at an event hosted by the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Western Region along with Global Destinations for the members to familiarise them with Mexico and its tourist offerings.

Addressing members, Ajay Prakash, President, TAFI, said, “It was interesting to learn about Mexico and how it is a new destination that Indians can explore. Likewise, we hope, citizens of Mexico visit India and explore our vast country, to see the sheer variety we have to offer.”

Currently, Indian nationals can reach Mexico via Dubai or Istanbul hubs. “The establishment of direct air access depends on the demand,” the CG said. The popular destinations are Mexico City and Cancun.

At the event, Global Destinations, which represents Mexican DMC ‘Trip to Mexico’, gave a presentation about the opportunities for FITs to explore the nation.