Travel Industry Loses A Pioneer

Obituary

Adi Katgara

Adi Katgara, founder director, Travel Corporation India Pvt Ltd (TCI) and partner of Jeena and Company passed away on March 5, 2004. He was celebrated as a pioneer in the field of travel, tourism and freight forwarding and remained dedicated to the development of both industries in India.

Born on July 10, 1928, Katgara started his career in 1947 with Jeena and Co, the first Indian travel agency, established in 1900, which is a leading freight forwarding company today. A visionary and pioneer in the development and promotion of tourism, Katgara was a well known personality in the field, both within India and internationally. Over the years, he served in various senior capacities on the boards of industry associations and advisory committees.

Katgara was associated with the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) for a period of over 50 years and was unanimously elected director of the international division of ASTA in 1976. He was the first Indian and Asian to have held this prestigious position. In recognition of his services to the industry, he was honoured by numerous prestigious organisations and received several awards: 'Pioneer of the Pacific' and the 'Award of Merit' from PATA.

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) conferred on him its highest honour, the prestigious 'Agastya Award' and the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), the 'Hall of Fame Award'. In 1997, Katgara was presented with the very first 'International Travel Agent of the Year' award at the ASTA World Travel Congress.

He also received a special award from TAAI, commemorating 50 years of his service to the travel and tourism industry. Other notable association posts he held included the chairmanship of the tourism sub-committee of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the tourism committee of the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) for a number of years.

He was also associated with ASSOCHAM and FICCI on their tourism advisory committees. Katgara’s indomitable spirit combined with his largesse was an inspiration to the industry and his grand vision for tourism in India, which motivated the industry as a whole, will be cherished and perpetuated.