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TAAI Convention 2007
TAAI looks at 'Growth through Evolution'
Sangeetha Neeraja - Chennai
Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) is holding its annual convention,
also known as Indian Travel Congress 2007, in Chennai from October 5 - 8. Chennai
waited 18 years to host this prestigious TAAI convention. According to Rajji
Rai, the convention chairman, this year's theme will be 'Growth through Evolution'.
The logo for the event is yet to be finalised but it will focus on the partner
state of Tamil Nadu and a 'chakra' denoting advancement, revealed Rai.
Speaking about the reason for choosing Chennai, C K Ashok, chairman (Southern
Region), TAAI and convention committee chairman, Tamil Nadu Chapter, said that
TAAI always had the fundamental tenet of hosting its conventions within India.
"The objective behind this is to showcase and promote opportunities for
the convention venue. This state has lot to offer as a tourist destination and
our focus is to showcase Tamil Nadu for its temples and heritage tourism, medical
tourism and rural tourism. We are also working closely with its department of
tourism."
Some of the issues that its business sessions will discuss include small time
travel agents and their concerns in this era of consolidation, with focus on
the providing a level playing field, personalised credit to corporates, single-window
systems providing value-added services, rationalisation of road taxes, uniform
proactive policies across India, etc. Ashok added, "The tourism ministry
and the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) played an instrumental
role in bringing this convention to Chennai. They called on all the leading
hoteliers and helped us work out an attractive traffic package." The nine
state hotels that have come forward to offer a 40-60 per cent discount in their
tariff rates include Le Meridian, Trident Hilton, Courtyard Marriott, The Park
Sheraton, The Residency, The Residency Towers, The Green Park, Accord Metropolitan
and The Park. Other highlights of the convention include the spouse programme
for those accompanying the delegates. The committee is still working on this.
TAAI is also focusing on inviting financial institutions to the convention.
Dr M Rajaram, IAS, managing director and director of tourism, TTDC, said that
the Tamil Nadu chapter of the convention managing committee is formed with 10
members with Ashok heading the team.
With inputs from Anupama Sushil, New Delhi
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