OTOAI virtually holds 8th AGM
hopeful for a better 2021 with more business opportunities
Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) held its 8th AGM on the virtual platform, briefing its members and media people on all that the association has been doing for the last one year. The AGM started by observing one minute’s silence in the memory of all the people who lost their lives in the pandemic.
Riaz Munshi, President, OTOAI, in his opening remarks said, “This has been an unimaginably difficult year for all of us. Never in our lives did we think that in such a fast-paced technology driven lifestyle there will come a time when everything will remain grounded and people will stay locked up in homes. However, I am hopeful that 2021 will bring better news for all of us. We all stand together in these tough times and OTOAI is there to help you every step of the way in whatever capacity we can.”
Shravan Bhalla, General Secretary, OTOAI, read out the ‘report card’ of OTOAI activities starting August 2019 and enlisted the various workshops, seminars, certifications programs, webinars, trade shows, roadshows etc. the associations have participated in during the last 15 months. “On April 1, 2020, we deferred the renewal fees for our members keeping the tough times in mind. However, as the situation got worse, OTOAI reduced the renewal fees for its members by 50% for the financial year 2020 – 2021 and introduced a special price for its new members.”
Sidharth Khanna, Treasurer, OTOAI, presenting the balance sheet, gave an overview of the ‘financial standing’ of the organisation and detailed that with the addition of 66 new members in 2020, the current tally of OTOAI members stand at around 500.
Himanshu Patil, Vice President, OTOAI, gave the vote of thanks at the end of the AGM and thanked all the members for their support during these tough times. “I am certain that soon travelling will start again and 2021 will bring in more business for all of us. The new term ‘Revenge Tourism’ will give our industry the much-needed boost and by 2022, outbound from India will be booming again,” he said.
Vineet Gopal, Jt. Secretary, OTOAI, who was moderating the entire virtual session, thanked the media for their continuous support and reiterated the optimistic outlook shared by all the members of the association for a better 2021.
OTOAI would like to wish all the members of the travel trade and media Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2021.
