TAAI Initiates Joint Tourism Promotion Between India and Pakistan

The Travel Agents Association of India's (TAAI) goodwill visit to Pakistan in March 2004 was hailed as red letter days in the history of TAAI as a delegation of sixteen visited Pakistan on the invitation of the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP). The delegation was warmly received by the vice-chairman of TAAP, Akhtar Mummunka along with Abdul Aziz Khan, an executive committee member of TAAP photographers and members of the press. Both TAAP and TAAI agreed that both the Associations would speak in one voice and believed that there was tremendous potential within the sub -continent and in this climate of peace and friendship both the Associations should promote the opportunity for the mutual benefit.

TAAI president, Balbir Mayal and Ram Kohli, a senior member of TAAI and president PATA - Elect also spoke on the occasion. At the interactive session with the media and members of TAAP, Balbir Mayal introduced the Indian delegation and shared with members the desire to hold a joint conference may be in end April or early May.

Mian Muhammed Aslam Iqbal, minister of tourism of Punjab and the members of Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab welcomed the TAAI delegation at the dinner hosted by the minister. A great deal of dialogue and interaction took place and the salient points that emerged were the following:

• Tourism to be taken seriously.
• Tourism between the two countries to be promoted vigorously.
• Both Associations will assist their ministries/governments to do away with impediments/obstacles and road blocks.
• Work towards a joint conference to be held in Lahore in end April or early May.
• Push for visas for organised group tours conducted by members of either association.
• Establish fixed itinerates on both sides of the border such as Lahore and its surrounding areas, Karachi and its surrounding areas, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai, Goa, Aurangabad and do away with police reporting for such organised tours.
• Work on an MoU between the two Associations which could be jointly signed at the joint conference.

With regard to the joint conference, Balbir Mayal mentioned that he could bring around 300 members of TAAI who could be interested in promoting tourism in Pakistan. He was of the view that if the visa regime is relaxed, Pakistan could possibly attract half a million tourist from India. He informed TAAP that the ministry of tourism, government of India was proactive and supportive of the initiative taken by TAAI to visit Pakistan. A small committee was then formed to prepare the resolutions on the points discussed which were to be announced later in the day.

The evening dinner was hosted by TAAP and attended by agents from all over Pakistan such as Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot etc. The delegation was driven to the Wagah border to watch the beating of the retreat and on the last day of the Pakistan trip, the High Commissioner of India in Pakistan Shivshankar Menon came all the way from Islamabad along with his wife only to meet the TAAI delegation.

Menon appreciated the gesture and stated that he was trying to relax the visa regime. Business visas are given within three weeks and emergency visas, (marriage is also considered as an emergency) are given within 48 hours. Presently, he said there is no provision for group visas. In regard to the joint conference he welcomed it and mentioned that Sapna Tiwari who was coming in as the First Secretary would be of help and assistance. He informed that in July, a bilateral trade meeting between the two countries was being held and suggested that TAAI and TAAP should to get their concerns addressed and have it on the Agenda through their respective ministries. The members of the delegation came back carrying very warm, pleasant memories and with a feeling of having had a fruitful and interactive experience with the TAAP.