Greetings from the All India Resort Development Association!
We are excited to present the second edition of "World of AIRDA", initiated earlier this year as part of our landmark 25th anniversary celebrations. This issue brings a wide range of content that covers recent developments, trends and ideas in the vacation ownership industry. You will find opinions of industry experts, exciting highlights of member destinations, travel tips and guidelines, and other information to help you take informed decisions while making holiday plans. Industry professionals will also like insights from industry experts, a listing of upcoming events, links to regulatory information, and some news highlights.
As mentioned in our inaugural edition, we plan to feature more stories from our members and other industry leaders. We hope to engage all stakeholders and make this newsletter a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas, enhancing value, and aligning our collective focus.
As we go forward, our format will keep evolving as new ideas, feedback and suggestions are generated. We are looking to gain traction across the vacation ownership/timeshare and tourism landscape; so please do spread the word around and forward the newsletter to anyone you think will be interested. We hope you enjoy this issue and find it both, informative and helpful - do let us know. Thank you for tuning in.
Dear Fellow Members & Readers,
As I write this message, the long-awaited monsoon season has embraced certain regions of India, symbolizing a time of inspiration and fresh starts. According to the predictions by the Indian Meteorological Department, this year's monsoon is expected to be normal, instilling hope for economic growth throughout the nation and providing a much-needed boost to the travel and tourism industry.
Now, let me delve a little into the evolution and current state of the Vacation Ownership/Timeshare industry in India.
The timeshare industry in India has experienced a remarkable evolution since its inception in the 1980s. Initially, timeshare offerings were based on long-term tenures of 99 years or 33 years. Over the course of the last four decades, the timeshare industry has undergone a remarkable transformation, with different companies now offering tenure options ranging from 3 years to 25 years, catering to diverse segments and age groups. To provide greater flexibility to timeshare members, the industry has introduced products with innovative formats such as fixed weeks, floating weeks, and point-based accommodations.
In the past decade, timeshare / vacation ownership companies have expanded their offerings by establishing partnerships and arrangements with renowned hotel chains. This has provided customers with greater flexibility and a wider range of choices, enabling them to stay at numerous hotels and resorts across different geographies. The concept of holidays has undergone a change to accommodate three generations of families who now not only have the opportunity to enjoy vacations together at the same destination, but can also include extended families and friends. Vacation ownership companies have played a significant role in developing resorts in previously unexplored locations, thereby increasing tourism destinations for the consumer and contributing to the local economy by creating employment opportunities in smaller towns and villages. Additionally, technology has played a significant role in enhancing the overall customer experience, from streamlined booking and itinerary planning to the exploration of new timeshare properties.
The Vacation Ownership/Timeshare sector in India holds immense potential for future growth due to its currently low penetration rate. Industry reports indicate that India is projected to experience a twofold increase in high-income (more than INR 27.5 lakhs/year) households by FY30. The combination of a rapidly expanding aspirational consumer segment and the low penetration of vacation ownership provides extremely fertile grounds for strong growth. This can be achieved through the development of new destinations and strengthened collaborations with State tourism boards, government bodies, and hospitality players.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our colleagues and partners in the Vacation Ownership, Timeshare, Travel, and Tourism industry. I am confident and optimistic that the Timeshare/Vacation Ownership sector has the potential to experience exponential growth in the next 10 to 15 years.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the importance of creating numerous magical moments of joy and happiness for timeshare members and their families. Let us strive to make travel an integral and cherished part of every family's life.
TTF Kolkata:
14, 15, 16, July 2023
TTF Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar:
23, 24, 25, August 2023
TTF Hyderabad:
9, 10, September 2023
TTF Delhi & BLTM:
29, 30, September 2023
The TTF series - India’s oldest and largest travel trade show network, focuses on providing effective marketing platforms to promote tourism in India.
August 2-5, 2023
India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR
In it’s 6th edition, India International Hospitality Expo is all set to welcome over 20,000 B2B buyers from across luxury hotels, resorts, homestays, restaurants, cloud kitchens and everyone in the hospitality and F&B space. The show has emerged as the most sought-after sourcing hub for Hospitality and F&B industry. This event will feature 1000 Exhibitors, 25,000 Visitors, 30,000 sqm. Area.
Bengaluru
July 28 – 30, 2023
Chennai
August 04,
06, 2023
IITM is India’s largest travel trade platform organizing varied B2B and B2C exhibitions and events. It is one of the leading travel & tourism Exhibition Company in India organizing a wide range of events in 9 major cities of India. It aims to amplify its reach to include in its ambit maximum number of domestic as well as international trade visitors and travel enthusiasts.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India aims to enhance the tourism sector by providing education, training, and certification through the CBSP Scheme. This initiative seeks to improve service standards and consumer satisfaction by offering training and upgrading the skills of tourism service providers. The objectives include maximizing the country's tourism potential, providing professional expertise to the local population, and creating employment opportunities in both urban and rural areas.
Details from the Ministry of Tourism
The Ministry of Tourism had launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2015 and sanctioned 76 projects under the Scheme to date. The Ministry has revamped the scheme to achieve "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" and unlock India's tourism potential. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 aims to develop sustainable tourism destinations, enhance infrastructure, promote human capital development, and implement policy reforms for responsible tourism. It represents a significant shift towards holistic and inclusive tourism development.
Details from the Ministry of Tourism
The PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive) scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience. It aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience. The growth of domestic tourism hugely depends on pilgrimage tourism.
Details from the Ministry of Tourism
