About India Outbound Magazine

India Outbound, a brand of Media India Group, is India’s only B2B travel media platform, that encompasses a print magazine, a website, an online TV channel and dynamic social media platforms, entirely dedicated to the promotion of foreign destinations and products in India. India Outbound is a niche platform not just for tourism destinations and products to promote themselves to the Indian travel industry, but also for decision makers to build/change their strategy in a context where the Indian outbound market is not only growing but changing with new dynamics. India Outbound brings to you the latest trends of the market with in depth analysis.

First high-rise Christmas Tree in West Kowloon

Teaming up with West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is bringing back the signature high-rise Christmas Tree and Christmas Town – to the WKCD Art Park for the first time – as an extension of the “Hong Kong Neighbourhood” – “West Kowloon” promotion. The 20-metre Christmas was lit on 26 November. “Every year, the HKTB’s soaring Christmas Tree is a photo hot spot for both locals and visitors. As M+ opens, this year the HKTB brings the signature Christmas Tree to the WKCD for the first time to attract more visitors to both the art and culture landmark and the European Christmas Town to experience the heart-warming festivities in this otherwise chilly season. Although visitors cannot visit Hong Kong for the time being, the HKTB continues to present Hong Kong’s city-wide festive light decos and exciting seasonal happenings through the campaign website, sharing Hong Kong’s richly festive vibes with audiences around the world,” says HKTB executive director Dane Cheng.

UNWTO nominates best tourism villages for 2021

At its annual General Assembly meeting held in Madrid earlier this week, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has chosen the 44 best tourism villages for the year 2021. The Best Tourism Villages initiative was launched to advance the role of tourism in safeguarding rural villages, along with their landscapes, natural and cultural diversity, and their local values and activities, including local gastronomy. A total of 44 villages from 32 countries across the five world regions were granted the recognition in 2021. All of them stand out for their natural and cultural resources as well as for their innovative and transformative actions and commitment to the development of tourism in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Zurab Pololikashvili confirmed for another term at helm of UNWTO

The Annual General Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, held in Madrid, has confirmed a second term for Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili. His second four-year term would cover 2022-2025. Pololikashvili was nominated for his second term earlier in the year and this decision was endorsed at Madrid where UNWTO members strongly backed his leadership and vision for the sector. Meeting in person for the first time in two years, members from every global region approved a ‘Programme of Work’ for the organisation and endorsed key initiatives designed to build a more a resilient, inclusive and sustainable tourism.

The general assembly brought together more than 1,000 delegates from 135 countries, including 84 ministers of tourism, as well as business leaders, destinations and representatives of key international organisations. Opening the event, Pololikashvili cited the spirit of solidarity and determination that has defined tourism’s response to an unprecedented crisis. In presenting his report to members, he made clear how a focus on collaboration and harmonisation of protocols, political advocacy and securing financial support for tourism, have help the sector mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and laid the foundations for tourism’s restart in many parts of the country.

Jyoti Mayal’s term extended as President of TAAI

At the Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) held virtually on November 29, 2021 members of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) extended the term of Jyoti Mayal, the president by a year. Jyoti Mayal, Director, New Airways Travels, a Delhi-based travel agent, who was elected president of TAAI in 2019 for a two-year term will remain at the helm of affairs for another year till September 2022. Jay Bhatia, vice president, Bettaiah Lokesh, secretary general and Shreeram Patel, national treasurer will also continue to be at the helm and carry on with their active duties and take forward the association and sail them through a path of the recovery along with the entire managing committee. The term of the regional & chapter office bearers also has got extended.

The current team has been very active in terms of organising activities for members in form of roadshows, virtual meetings, webinars, and knowledge sessions & workshops. They have also been in regular communication with the government taking up various issues faced by the members and the travel trade. During her annual address to the members at the AGM, Mayal, commented that the agenda for the next year was discussed while highlighting the key achievements of the Association in the last two years. “I would like to extend my gratitude to all the members for their support extended to TAAI, especially to our team led by VP Jay Bhatia, HSG Bettaiah Lokesh, HNT Shreeram Patel and the entire Managing Committee in the last two years. During our tenure, the travel & tourism industry has faced extraordinary circumstances and faced the toughest challenges in many decades. It is only due to the support of all members, TAAI managed to keep the industry’s confidence intact, where we made representations and reached out to the highest echelons in the country for their support,” Mayal said. While updating a 10-point agenda, the TAAI president highlighted the association’s achievements through a well-drafted communication strategy, where she shared details of different MoUs signed to educate and update the travel fraternity; efforts taken to restart businesses in form of air bubbles and other activities of the association.

India Outbound is a publication of Media India Group