This grant is the first of its kind by India and can be utilised for the construction/renovation of Buddhist monasteries, education of young monks, engagement of Buddhist scholars and clergy, development of Buddhist heritage museums, cultural exchanges, archaeological cooperation, and reciprocal exposition of The Buddha’s relics.
At the 67th TAAI Convention, Jyoti Mayal, President of TAAI, highlighted the significance of transcending borders in both travel and personal growth. She emphasized the transformative power of tourism in bringing prosperity, peace, and economic development to countries. Mayal stated, “As the industry evolves, our minds must evolve too. We need to focus on growth and embrace the future to transform lives.”
Over the course of the two-day event, various topics related to transcending borders will be discussed. Renowned industry experts such as Arvind Singh, Former Secretary of Tourism, Government of India; Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook India Limited; Nipun Agarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer, Air India; and K.B. Kachru, Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor – South Asia, Radisson Hotels Group, among others, will deliver speeches on subjects including The Boundless Potential of the Skies, Experiential Travel – A Paradigm Shift in Tourism, NEXTAAI – The TAAI Members’ Technology Initiative, Differentiating Travel – Perspectives from Industry Experts, Transcending Borders – Strengthening International Relations for a Transformed World, and TAAI – The Road Ahead, as per RRM Lilani.
Notable industry experts attending the convention include Ashish Gupta, Consulting CEO, FAITH; Pieter Elbers, CEO Indigo; Amitabh Khosla, Country Director – India, IATA; Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air; Rajeev Bhatia, Chief Commercial Officer, Amadeus India; Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, Indigo; Richard Nuttall, CEO, Sri Lankan Airlines; Kapil Kaul, CEO and Director, CAPA India; Ajeet Bajaj, Dev Karvat, Founder and CEO, Asego Insurance; G.B. Srithar, Regional Director, India, Middle East & South Asia, Singapore Tourism Board; Commander Nevil Malao, Senior Vice President, JM Baxi & Co.; Noel Swain, COO – Passport, eVisa, Identity & Citizen Services, VFS Global; Sandeep Dwivedi, CEO – InterGlobe Technology Quotient, and many more.
Jay Bhatia, Vice President of TAAI, emphasized the significance of the Convention in fostering stronger bilateral relationships between India and Sri Lanka. With the participation of approximately 200 Sri Lankan tourism stakeholders in the B2B sessions, the event serves as an ideal platform for networking and establishing fruitful business relations. These interactions promote inbound and outbound travel between India and Sri Lanka, encouraging tourists to explore new and exciting destinations.
Jyoti Mayal, President of TAAI, highlighted the immense potential of the Indian market to become one of the most sought-after destinations globally for outbound travel. The TAAI Convention in Colombo presents an opportunity to explore emerging trends, share insights, and collaborate to shape a future where travel transcends borders and truly transforms lives, she said.
As delegates gather in Colombo, let us seize this occasion to embrace these trends and work together toward a more interconnected and transformative travel industry, Mayal added.
The main theme of the TAAI 2023 conference is to strengthen the regional tourism industry, aligning with Sri Lankan Airlines’ regional strategy. Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it an ideal hub for connecting countries to the north, east, and west of India. Sri Lanka has become a popular stopover destination for Indian tourists travelling to Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Maldives. Sri Lankan Airlines currently operates 85 weekly flights between various Indian cities and Sri Lanka.
Dimuthu Thennakone, Head of International Sales and Distribution at Sri Lankan Airlines, expressed the airline’s goal to strengthen relations with India, particularly focusing on leisure and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourists. Sri Lankan Airlines aims to expand its flight operations to several other cities in India in the future and is pleased to collaborate with the TAAI Association to further develop tourism activities between the two countries, he stressed.
Source – ANI
-Agencies
