Kolkata will host the 69th convention of the Travel Agents Association of India from October 25 to 27, with around 700 delegates from India and overseas expected to attend, according to a report by Sanmarg – Kolkata. The event will place the city’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector at the centre of a major travel-industry gathering.
The convention is being held in the year TAAI completes 75 years. Around 100 of the expected delegates are likely to come from outside India, the report said. The programme will bring together airlines, travel agents and hotel operators for business-to-business meetings and discussions on technology adoption and new commercial opportunities in tourism.
The event follows a real estate convention held in Kolkata and is being positioned as another large industry gathering for the city after the Durga Puja period. TAAI’s previous three conventions were held in Abu Dhabi, Colombo and Singapore. Its last convention in India took place in Srinagar in 2018.
The report said invitations had been extended to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, urban development minister Agnimitra Paul, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar. A prize ceremony during the convention is also expected to recognise senior members and pioneers of the travel industry.
For Kolkata, the convention is significant not only as a three-day trade event but also as part of an effort to strengthen the city’s position as a MICE destination. Anjani Dhanuka, TAAI’s regional president, said the event and the opportunities generated after it would be important for Kolkata and West Bengal. He said the Kolkata chapter would use the convention to promote the city as a leading MICE centre and as a tourism destination for international visitors.
The convention will also include visits to tourist destinations across West Bengal. The itinerary is expected to cover the Ayodhya Hills in Purulia, Digha, the Sundarbans, Darjeeling and Mayapur. The stated objective is to familiarise delegates with the state’s geographical, cultural and tourism diversity and support wider promotion of Bengal’s destinations in national and international markets.
The gathering comes amid a renewed policy emphasis on domestic tourism. The report linked its significance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce overseas travel to save foreign exchange and encourage tourism within India. The convention’s business meetings, destination visits and technology discussions will run from October 25 to 27, with the participating travel and hospitality companies expected to form the core of the programme.
