ADTOI convention at Srinagar from Oct 12: Subhash Verma

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Sept 5: Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) is holding its sixth annual Convention 2012 with the theme “Domestic Tourism - Impetus to National Growth” in Srinagar from October 12, according to ADTOI President Subhash Verma.

ADTOI, a national apex body for the cause of domestic tourism, is holding its first convention outside the national capital, Delhi.

“We have chosen Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, as the venue as its paradise on earth and needs nation’s support to promote tourism in the terror affected State,” said Subhash Verma while announcing the two-day convention.

Dwelling on the theme of the convention, Mr Verma said “domestic tourism is the most vibrant, well-established and ever-growing and is a huge potential segment of the travel tourism industry. It requires no passport, no visas and no foreign exchange.”

“India has over 800 million domestic tourists as compared to 6 million inbound and 13 million outbound. This tells the story that domestic tourism has potential much beyond its activity.

Even the Prime Minister’s Officer and the Planning Commission have confirmed that tourism is employment generating and contributes towards poverty eradiction. It’s the best tool for national growth, business social integration and peace and harmony for Great India,” said Mr Verma.

Why Srinagar? ADTOI Vice President and Convention Chairman P P Khanna said “Jammu & Kashmir has been and is one of the strong supporters of ADTOI since long and it was at the initiative of JK Tourism & Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora that we decided to take our annual event outside Delhi with the wholehearted support of Tourism Department of J & K Government.

“Kashmir as you all know is paradise on earth. It had suffered a severe set back on tourism, the mainstay of the people in Kashmir. The State bounced back during the last few years and this year particularly they had unprecedented tourist arrivals bringing cheers on the face of people engaged in tourism business.

We, therefore, decided to take forward the growth to a higher level by showcasing the products to the delegates participating in the Convention,” added Mr Khanna.

The Convention Chairman said JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, JK Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora, Union Tourism Secretary R.H. Khwaja, Gujarat Tourism Secretary Vipul Mitra have already consented to participate in the meet.

He said nearly 400 delegates are expected to participate in the convention. As of now Madhya Pradesh Tourism and Gujarat Tourism have confirmed their participation.

ADTOI General Secretary Rajat Sawhney said the forthcoming convention would give further impetus to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sawney said it was a monumental step to move the convention to Srinagar. He has been handling the Kashmir chapter of the Association for the past six years.

Executive Council Member and Co-Chairman of the Convention Harjinder Singh said the second day, two business sessions are planned. The first session would be on "Opportunities and Challenges in J&K" and second session would focus on State Tourism highlighting "Shaping Domestic Insights".

Harjinder Singh said there would also be State Tourism presentations with B2B meetings. Eminent panelists from the Government and the Industry will participate in the business sessions.

Stressing on the need to grow domestic tourism, Harjinder Singh said “we have seen that 9/11 terror attack in the US had an impact on worldwide tourism, including India. Though the attack was on the US, but India tourism also suffered. The answer to such difficult times is promoting domestic tourism in a more organized and innovative manner and ADTOI was committed to this.”

Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), National Body of Domestic Tour Operators, was constituted on August 7, 1996 with the express purpose of consolidating the efforts of all those tour operators who are actively engaged in the promotion of "Domestic Tourism" in the country.

Its members work to ensure delivery of professional service to the consumer, through its principal suppliers, which are primarily the accommodation facilities, as also travel intermediaries like railways, transporters, airlines and guides.

ADTOI to hold Convention at Srinagar: Subhash Verma

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Aug 18: Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) is holding its sixth annual Convention 2012 with the theme Domestic Tourism - 'Impetus to National Growth' in Srinagar from October 12, according to ADTOI President Subhash Verma.

Mr Verma said the two-day convention is being held with the support of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department.

ADTOI Vice President and Convention Chairman P P Khanna said Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Omar Abdullah is expected to inaugurate the Convention.

He said there will be two business Sessions dealing with the current issues on Domestic Tourism. Eminent panelists from the Government and the Industry will participate in the business sessions.

Executive Council Member and Co-Chairman of the Convention Harjinder Singh said a few Sate Tourism Boards would also make presentations during the two-day meet.

He said over 400 delegates are expected to participate in the Convention.

Mr Subhash Verma said "domestic tourism strengthens national integration and provides socio-economic development in the country. Our members are actively involved in the promotion of tourism by promoting various tourist destinations in the country."

Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), National Body of Domestic Tour Operators, was constituted on August 7, 1996 with the express purpose of consolidating the efforts of all those tour operators who are actively engaged in the promotion of "Domestic Tourism" in the country.

He said "Our members work to ensure delivery of professional service to the consumer, through its principal suppliers, which are primarily the accommodation facilities, as also travel intermediaries like railways, transporters, airlines and guides."

Atout France to celebrate 10th anniversay; to conduct B2B Workshops in September

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Aug 17: Atout France will conduct its annual B2B workshop titled “Rendez-vous in France & Tahiti in New Delhi and Mumbai in September, according to Catherine Oden, Director of Atout France India.

The workshop will comprise of delegates representing Air France, Rail Europe India Pvt Ltd, Accor, Disneyland Paris, Montparnasse Tower - Paris, La Baule Tourist Office, Normandy Tourist Board, Lisieux - Tourism and Spirituality in France, Champagne Tourist Office, Dijon Tourist Office, Rhone Alpes Tourisme, Chamonix Mont Blanc, Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur, Riviera of your Dreams - Cannes and St Tropez, Nice, Radisson Blu Hotel - Nice, Aquitaine Regional Tourist Board, Biarritz Tourisme, Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Bordeaux Executive Travel, South-West of France: Pau and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Lourdes and Carcassonne, Cité Hôtels - Carcassonne and Tahiti Travel Specialists.

She said the workshops would take place in New Delhi on September 4 at the Shangri La Hotel and in Mumbai at the Taj Mahal Palace on September 6. These workshops will provide a perfect platform for French partners to interact with members of the Indian travel trade fraternity and understand the dynamics of this market.

Soirees in both cities commemorating Atout France's 10th Anniversary Celebrations are also planned during the course of the workshop.

Sharing her thoughts, Catherine Oden, Director Atout France India observes, "This workshop is very special for us as Atout France India completes a decade of its presence in the Indian market this year."

She said "The journey has been extremely enriching and we sincerely appreciate the support of the Indian travel industry in selling and marketing our destination. We will continue to promote France through our various communication campaigns in collaboration with our travel industry partners."

she also announced the launch of the special campaign for next year, "Be There, Do That!''.

"This proactive campaign aims to motivate Indian visitors to try different experiences while in our country and will try to reveal newer facets of France. Our existing campaign, ''France Celebrates India'' will continue in 2013 with new and renewed special travel offers for the Indian traveler,'' added Catherine Oden.

JK tourism associations condole death of 3 tourists

SRINAGAR, July 29: Jammu and Kashmir travel trade industry has expressed regret and sorrow over the death of three home tourists in an ill-fated incident due to bursting of a cooking gas cylinder in a tempo traveller while on way from Pahalgam to Srinagar.

At a meeting here Saturday the members of the tourism industry condoled the demise of the tourists and expressed their deep sympathies with the bereaved families. The Members also wished speedy recovery to the injured.

The Travel Trade Bodies also showed their disappointment towards the wrong reporting by few National print and electronic media wherein they had spread the erroneous news as a grenade attack.

The Travel Trade Organisations also appreciated the role of Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS), for condemning the wrong reportage of few National Channels.

The Members also thanked KCSDS for showing solidarity with the Tourism Fraternity of J&K, according to a statement.

The tourism bodies represented at the meeting were J&K Tourism Alliance, Kashmir Hotel & Restaurant Owners Federation, Kashmir Hotel & Restaurant Association, House Boat Owners Association, Travel Agents Society of Kashmir, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, Travel Agents Association of India – JK Chapter, Association of Kashmir Tour Operators, Association of Domestic Tour Operators Association [ADTOI – JK Chapter], Pahalgam Hotel & Restaurant Owners Association, All Kashmir Tourist Taxi Transporters Federation, All Kashmir Shikara Traders Association, Indian Association of Tour Operators, Urban Travel Agents Association.