In an attempt to have a stronger common voice for the industry, about 10 national level tourism industry associations, including Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Hotel Association of India (HAI), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA), Indian Tourist Transporters Association (ITTA), Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) and the India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), have joined hands to form Federation of Association in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH). The objective is to foster tourism growth whilst evaluating opportunities and addressing challenges within the industry.
Parvez Dewan, Union Tourism Secretary, lauded the efforts of the associations in conceptualising FAITH and pledged the whole-hearted support of the tourism ministry to the Federation. He said that the Ministry of Tourism will be regularly brainstorming with FAITH to seek a better policy environment. However, the issue of multiple approvals and ministries will remain as everything can’t be handled by the tourism ministry alone. Though nothing is concrete yet, he added, the government is working on a few more measures like no off-season, promoting the Himalayas, and organising long festivals to promote tourism in India.
“FAITH is a consolidated an effort of the industry aimed towards creating awareness, particularly at the state level, on the economic imperatives of tourism. We aim to address and collectively brainstorm on the macro dynamics of the industry to ensure tourism gets its rightful place in India’s growth story,” Nakul Anand, Chairman, FAITH and President, Hotel Association of India, said.
Aashish Gupta, Consultant CEO, FAITH, presented the FAITH mandate focusing on a pro-active approach with the Central and State government that would entail strategic ideation, policy inputs, government plan discussions and global branding initiatives amongst others. Vivek Nair, President, FHRAI, stated that the new body will press for long standing demands of the sector, such as seeking infrastructure status for all the hotels.
In his Vote of Thanks, Sarabjit Singh, Vice Chairman, FAITH and Chairman, ITTA expressed his gratitude to all the founder members and to all those who had tirelessly toiled behind the scenes, since January 2011, to bring the idea of FAITH to fruition.
FAITH, a non-government, not-for-profit Indian tourism and hospitality-led and managed society, aims at being a catalyst for the growth and development of the travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, transport, convention, adventure and other related industries.
