Confernce 2017

Informa

Sustainable Tourism

The First panel discussion for SATTE 2017commenced with Envisioning a ‘Sustainable’ world: This is only the third time that ‘tourism’ has been put in spotlight ever since the United Nation came into existence. The United Nations 70th General Assembly declared 2017 as the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.’ The move is aimed at creating a unique opportunity to promote better future and better life for planet earth through Sustainability. As the specialised agency of the United Nations for Tourism, UNWTO has been mandated to lead the celebrations of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 (IYSTD 2017).

Make in India’ & Tourism

Tourism’s impact on a destination’s social and economic areas is massive. It contributes around 10 per cent to global GDP and over 9 per cent is job creation. In India it is in the region of 6 per cent to GDP and about 5.5 per cent to jobs. This can change substantially and at a faster rate if the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign can sincerely be imbibed in tourism as well. Developing destinations with innovative new ideas and right tourism infrastructure and then effectively marketing it is the key to the promotion of tourism and Make in India can further expedite the pace of change.

Show on GST

Tax incentives & GST Gupta says, “Why give people money to support their food and livelihood. Why not give them jobs. Our recommendation is give people direct tax incentive for holidaying in India, like every 50,000 rupees spent on domestic holidaying get exempted of tax.” This is aimed at generating massive demand of travel that in turn will create millions of new job opportunity and new demand of hotel and other tourism related infrastructure.

Niche & Experiential Tourism

Unraveling the SATTE 2017 business session on ‘Niche & Experiential Tourism’, the panel discussion debated opportunities in this segment at a session moderated by well known industry face and a veteran of experiential and niche, particularly in the adventure travel segment, Tejbir Singh Anand, VP, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India and MD of Holiday Moods Adventures. Panellist on session included William Harber, President, China & Asia Pacific, Hurtigruten; M R Narayan, Secretary, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry; Ratna Chadha, Chief Executive, Tirun Travel Marketing and Parthiban Ranganathan, Director, Swagatam Tours

Holiday Packaging

Holiday packaging: innovate, be opportunist & take risks. The art of holiday packaging isn’t gift everybody is gifted with. If there are product designers whose innovations with products result in windfall for a company, other may be struggling on how and what to design and package. Even stealing a successful idea can fall flat because there are other aspects of product planning and holiday packaging like, say, timing of a product or inventory shopping that may not be in sync with profitability for the company or a fulfilled and satisfied customer.