We always want to travel and travelling is a way to enjoy and experience one life that has been given to us. In this decade people have started to travel more, they have gotten more out of their homes and started to experience the culture, heritage and see beautiful places, not just in India but across the whole world. Tourism in India and in different countries have been just kept going up in the number of people travelling the world has increased from youngsters to old age groups.
But, now as this pandemic has put everyone on to hold, what question it brings up?! How will people come out of their homes and start to go on adventures back again?! These are some of the questions have been answered by one of India’s Travel & Tourism’s leading names Shri P.P Khanna – President, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India.
So, you readers have been sending us questions and we at Travel Mail look for opportunities to get those questions answered and to give you the best the response into the current situation in India.
Shri P.P Khanna – President, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India.
Q.1 What are the key steps taken by the Association during the Present Situation in India on the Global Arena?
Ans.1 We have written to State Tourism Boards to utilize this lockdown period to educate the tour operators with knowledge session through webinar/zoom meeting so that they are quite aware of the destinations they need to promote among the domestic tourists as the first revival of the tourism segment would be domestic tourism. We are also in association with various agencies having knowledge session for our members. We had recently held a Zoom meeting with MP Tourism Board a kind of knowledge session on the various tourism products in Madhya Pradesh, accessibility, infrastructure facilities available, new initiatives etc. for our members.
Q.2. Why should a common man prefer a tour operator to plan his holidays?
Ans.2 Though information on travel, destination and tour packages are available on the internet, people still need a trustworthy and dependable agency who could guide and take care of all their needs to ensure a hassle free holiday. Sine tour operators are in touch with all service providers, they provide the latest info and get the best price and also attention
Q.3. What is the future of tourism in India after COVID -19?
Ans.3. It is for the Government to see how we will walk out from our homes after COVID 19 to lead our erstwhile normal life. A restriction like a lock down in homes to contain COVID 19 is imposed by the Govt for our own safety. All services are controlled and managed by the Govt so we will have to only wait and watch.
Q.4. What are the expectations of Travel & Tourism fraternity from the government?
Ans. 4. Business is at a standstill. Liabilities like payment of salary for the staff, incurring expenditure to maintain the office/workplace. A lot of burden due to this COVID 19 and we have through FAITH took up with MOT/MOF to bail out the industry people by offering various relief measure like tax holiday, interest-free loan, delay in the payment EMI loan etc.
Q.5. What is your advice about the safety and security of all tourists, domestic as well as international?
Ans.5. It is for the Government to provide safety and security to tourists at all tourist places.
Q.6. What major bold steps to be taken or advise by Travel Trade to Government after COVID 19?
Ans.6. Trade bodies have already taken up the issues with the Government to provide relief to stakeholders to start the business afresh.
Q.7. How Association members help Governments and Tourism Departments for cleanliness at prominent places of tourist significance?
Ans.7. Government and Tourism Departments from time to time take up cleanliness drive at tourist
important places and our members participate in it.
Q.8. What you say about to make ‘Incredible India Trip’?
Ans.8. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister has advised our countrymen to visit at least 15 tourist destinations
in the country to see the country’s cultural heritage.
Q.9. How does the customer have to deal with delays, hidden charges and other problems created due to travel booking agents?
Ans.9. To avoid such a situation they have to deal with a trustworthy agent and we always advise the
people to deal with ADTOI members only.
Q.10. Due to major competition between the tour operator and online tour portals, do you think that online portals increased market share? Are they providing the best rates and services to the customers?
Ans.10. This is the major problem the traditional tour operators facing these days and we are bringing this at every forum about these unethical practices adopted by the online portal and to curb it in the interest of the business.
Q.11. The outbound travel market has grown over the past three years. After COVID 19 is the outbound tourism boom?
Ans.11. It needs people courage and willingness to travel abroad. Future Govt. regulation on the entry of foreigners at all ports will be very hard and regulated strictly to avoid a recurrence of a situation like COVID 19 in future.
Q.12. For a large part of middle-class India, the definition of holidaying today is essentially ‘travelling abroad’. Is domestic travel suffering due to this?
Ans. 12. Travelling abroad is not a cup of tea for all middle-class people. It depends on the disposable income available to such people to spend to take an overseas holiday.
Q.13. Some outbound destinations are very economical rather than holidaying in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa or NorthEast? With travelling becoming so cheap, people are looking forward to getting more value out of their money? What more do you plan to offer to your customer?
Ans.13. Tour Operators offer the packages to visit destinations in the country or abroad. Subject to the affordability of the person concerned he or she can take up a holiday with family in the country or abroad. Whatever the tour operator can negotiate including add ons with the service provider at destinations shall be provided to their clients.
Q.14. Impact of COVID-19 on Global travel and tourism revenue in 2019 and forecast for 2020?
Ans.14. The impact is going to be very huge and unpredictable and the tourism pundits will be bringing
up the actual after the COVID 19 is over.
Q.15. What has been the biggest challenge in navigating COVID-19 to date?
Ans.15. Challenges are many and different to different people as we hear and see on the media. Let us hope to get over it soon.
Q.16. What actions are been taken now to ensure that you’re ready to get leisure & business travellers back after COVID-19 pandemic is over?
Ans.16. We are doing our homework through Zoom meeting/Webinar etc. with suppliers like State Tourism Bodies/Hoteliers. Once we are ready we shall contact our channel customers to know their travel needs.
Q.17. How can the tourism industry overcome disasters?
Ans.17. By following the Government guidelines and seeking Govt. support industry shall overcome disasters.
We hope this Q&A session by Shri P.P. Khanna has helped you the readers, in any way possible. We would like to thank our 10K plus subscribers and active reader. if you have not subscribed yet do so to keep it in touch with upcoming content.
Stay strong & stay inside!
Jai Hind!
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