Indian agent convention meets outside Asia
Contributors are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the contributor directly
By Anil Mathur
In what is being described as a win-win situation for all, the Travel Agents Association of India will hold its next annual convention in London- the first time the gathering heads out of Asia. Earlier, Indian agents have met in Singapore, Colombo, Nepal and Malaysia. Some 1,000 are expected at the September 26-29 the Indian Travel Congress and Exhibition.
Both Visit London officials, under Mayor of London, and TAAI leadership, under C V Prasad, emphasised that the decision was arrived at after over 15 months of negotiations, largely because of cost.
TAAI president Prasad – who also heads UFTAA- said it was not an easy decision, as the government was keen to promote the ASEAN region. Martine Ainsworth-Wells, Visit London Marketing Director, said that the bid success was the icing on the cake for London the torch ceremony for the 2012 Olympics - which it’s hosting - begins this year.
In 2006, Indian tourist spending in London overshot Japan’s. By 2012, Indian spending is expected to grow by 50% in London. The venue of the conference will be The Lords, home to cricket, which is a common link between the two nations.
Comments are closed.