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After a recent successful launch,
the VUSACOM India Chapter with a well planned strategy is
all set to augment tourism to and within the US. VUSACOM,
an international network representing private and public sector
cooperation in the travel industry, has been formed under
the approval, guidance and affiliation of the Travel Industry
Association of America (TIA), the US travel organisation.
VUSACOM India has been facilitated by the US Commercial Service
in Mumbai.
Said Richard M Rothman, US trade
commissioner, “VUSACOM India was set up as a result of
having received ample requests from travel professionals to
have a tourism board for the USA in India. As the US government
no longer promotes tourism, VUSACOM has been set up directly
as the apex body to promote travel to the USA from India.”
The Mission
The VUSACOM organisation is represented in almost 40 countries
around the world, and follows a clear mission - to provide
a networking forum for the exchange and collaboration of marketing
strategies in order to increase awareness of and build outbound
tourism to the USA. VUSACOM India will be facilitated and
supported by the US Commercial Service here in Mumbai. VUSACOM
India activities will be spearheaded by its executive committee,
that comprises representatives from various travel segments.
The Objectives
- To provide a forum to discuss
travel and tourism topics.
- To develop and facilitate the
promotion of travel and tourism to the USA.
- To provide members an opportunity
of representing themselves through joint public relations
efforts, sales and marketing efforts and events.
- Through a consensus of the membership
to comment on proposed or required government legislation
and policy.
- Be the liaison between members
of VUSACOM India and the TIA.
The Need
Explains Charles D Pinto, US Trade Specialist, US Commercial
Service, “At a time, when the travel industry internationally
is going through a tough phase, we believe that VUSACOM India
will provide a cohesive and sustained effort to augment tourism
to the US. We will also aim to build VUSACOM India as a travel
association with a difference in a way that we will follow
an action-oriented culture and a clearly democratic governance.
VUSACOM activities will be ultimately focused on one goal
- to grow the outbound market to the USA.”
The Members
Membership to the India Chapter will comprise of companies,
corporations or other entities that provide or promote tourism
and travel from India to the US such as airlines, car rentals,
cruise liners, trade professionals, CRS companies, hotel companies,
transportation companies, and media.
The Future
Said Dharmendra Gursahani, managing director, Travelmartindia.com,
“VUSACOM India certainly has well strategised plans that
includes setting up regional chapters in other cities and
states of India. However, our first chapter will be Pune.
We do not want this association to follow a monotonous work
pattern so besides planning a number of seminars, events,
etc. We are also looking at organising lighter events in the
form of movie premieres, subsidised familiarisation trips
and much more. Our aim is to keep the industry abreast of
the relevant happening in and around the US.”
The other plans in the pipeline would
include:
- The upcoming visa seminar.
- Increase awareness in the Indian
market with regards to events in the US (For example: the
annual travel trade fair POW WOW).
- Hold an exhibition (buyer-seller
meet) from the US in India that will generate more information
on the destination and its offerings.
- Easier dissemination of information.
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The VUSACOM India Chapter recently
conducted its first ‘airline seminar’ on June
10, 2003 at USIS, Mumbai. The event saw the four major
US carriers - American Airlines, Delta Airlines, US
Airways, United Airlines - showcased their products
to the travel trade. The new developments on each airline
were as follows:
American Airlines
- The launch of its code-share
with Cathay Pacific, this summer will service destinations
like Hong Kong, San Jose, New York etc.
Delta Airlines
- The airline will soon be
moving to Terminal 2E at the Charles De Gaulle Airport,
Paris. This is a state-of-the-art terminal with all
facilities available.
United Airlines
- The airline has signed a
code-share with Lufthansa that can facilitate travel
from destinations such as Bombay, Delhi, Chennai and
Bangalore.
US Airways
- An MoU has been signed on
a code-sharing basis with Lufthansa
- Launched its transatlantic
fares in Southern India on Air-India and Emirates.
- Have entered into an marketing
and code-share agreement with United Airlines.
- Will be joining Star Alliance
by 2004. This will certainly increase their accessibility
from serving the present 128 to 133 cities.
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The VUSACOM INDIA Executive Committee Clockwise: Arun
Hattangadi, Frederick Divecha, Ravi Pikle, Sharukh Kapadia,
Rodney D’Cruz, Shubhada Mundul, Dharmendra Gursahni, Om
P Sahgal, Richard M Rothman, Lalit Sheth, Angus T Simmons,
Charles D Pinto and Medha Sampat |
Ravi Pikle lights the inaugural lamp at the launch function
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Lalit Sheth lights the inaugural lamp at the launch function
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Richard M Rothman lights the inaugural lamp at the launch
function |
Joining hands for a cause |
Zubin Karkaria makes a brief presence |
Ravi Pikle and Lalit Sheth signing member certificates
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Rodney D’Cruz among the first to receive his certificates
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Nalini Gupta shares a light moment with Angus T Simmons,
US consul general |
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