Kerala - Kochi   

‘Strategy to override slowdown needed’

Derek Moore

KOCHI: Players in the tourism sector must let creativity run riot, think out of the box, offer fabulous deals and enter into worldwide partnerships, to woo travellers during uncertain times like the present when most countries are facing a slowdown. There was consensus on how to override recession, at the two-day annual conference of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), U.K., that began here on Friday.

This is the first time that the event is being held in India.

The association has as members around 150 medium and small travel companies based in the U.K.

Among the many presentations at the conference were those that highlighted innovative activities in which guests have lots of involvement.

“Partnerships with other tour companies help get new audiences. It makes people talk of you,” said a delegate in her presentation. With audio-video support, she showed how her firm organises ‘wacky, crazy’ parties and festivals in off-beat locales, so that the guests feel very much involved in the revelry.

After the forenoon session got over, the delegates left to Fort Kochi by boat to play cricket with a regional team. Post-conference tours too have been arranged.

Speaking to The Hindu, association chairman Derek Moore said that travel companies which are part of AITO provide guests with guaranteed, quality service.

“For this, we provide the companies with mentor support. Thus, AITO companies are better run. Our companies cater mostly to Free Independent Travellers (FITs), who spend much more than the average tourist in different locales.”

He spoke of how the U.K. is still reeling under recession, despite the rest of Europe being in a better position.

The Kochi meeting is expected to bring significant gains for the host destination, as it has brought together business owners, key decision-makers and reputed operators from the U.K., the biggest inbound market for Kerala and the rest of India, opined Venu V., the Secretary of Kerala Tourism.

Kerala Tourism has arranged a ‘Meet Kerala Trade Partners’ programme for interaction between the U.K. delegates, tour operators and hoteliers from Kerala, to explore business opportunities.

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