Namaste India Roadshow Showcases India to Irish Travel Trade
Last night, ITTN's Katie joined key travel trade and press at the Namaste India Roadshow with the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) hosted in The Pillar Room, Dublin. The evening began with a networking session, where trade had the opportunity to sit down with DMCs, tour operators, hotel representatives and more from across India in this beautiful restored Georgian event venue at the back of the Gate Theatre.
Indian Ambassador to Ireland Shri Manish Gupta was in attendance, speaking to the strong linkage between Ireland and India – both steeped in arts and culture, poetry and music, and valuing their gastronomy and history in equal measure. India is home to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites from the Taj Mahal to Agra Fort, to natural sites like Kaziranga National Park and the Western Ghats.
India welcomes 44,000 Irish tourists annually who can enjoy everything that the country has to offer from festivals like Holi (the Festival of Colours) in March and Diwali (the Festival of Lights) in autumn. While there are no direct routes between Ireland and India, Gupta said that when an airline wants to offer a direct linkage, they will have full support and co-operation. The alliance between our two countries is also a story of economic partnership, Ireland-India trade accounts for roughly 10 percent of the total trade between the European Union and India. While there are over 80,000 Indian nationals who live in Ireland and that people to people connection, said Gupta, is the most important part for him.
Closing out his speech the Indian Ambassador wanted to wish everyone a Namastē – spoken with a slight bow with hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards – a common greeting in India which literally translates as ‘salutations to you’.
Susan Craddock, recent founder of Ériu Media, took the stage to talk more about India as a destination on behalf of Incredible India. “The most incredible thing about India is that no matter how many times you visit, there’s always something new to experience,” Craddock said. She spoke to how much there is to discover beyond the traditional itineraries and how vast the country is from towering Himalayas to southern coastlines, deserts, and forest. The country is a vibrant tapestry where timeless heritage, ancient spirituality, yoga, and classic monuments meet rapid modern growth in technology and urban life. The gastronomy in each region varies greatly, as different ingredients are utilised to showcase each cultural hotspot. India is also a leading global destination for wellness tourism, anchored in its ancient healing traditions and supported by modern luxury and medical integration. Incredible India’s core mission is about strengthening their relationship with the Irish travel trade and the consumer, you can find more about them here:https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en
Paul Hackett, Founder of Click and Go Holidays, representing the Irish Travel Agent Association took the stage to thank all the suppliers in attendance and each representative for travelling such a long way to be there. Reflecting on the strong tourism link between both countries, Hackett said he and the ITAA look forward to working with their Indian counterparts to increase Irish tourism to the country.
There were over 14 suppliers in attendance, hosted by the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO): an organisation that was founded in 1982 and represents over 2000+ tourism industry members. It collaborates with international bodies and the Indian government to address tourism issues and facilitate travel.
Suppliers last night included:
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) that's home to iconic hotel brands like Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, Gateway, amã Stays & Trails, Ginger, Qmin and TajSATS. https://www.ihcltata.com/
ITC Hotels Limited a major Indian luxury hospitality group that operates over 150 properties across 90+ destinations in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. https://www.itchotels.com/in/en
Bihar Tourism that represents the north-easterly region offering ancient temples, vibrant flavors, and rich culture. https://tourism.bihar.gov.in/
Welcome Travels a DMC based in New Delhi, specializing in tailor-made and small-group journeys across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. https://www.welcometravels.com/who-arewe.html
Travel Inn a trusted partner in B2B travel, specializing in personalized, high-quality experiences across India https://travelinn.in/
Aura Voyages Private Limited a boutique travel and tour operating company based in New Delhi, India https://auravoyages.com/
Antara River Cruises offer imaginative and authentic bespoke journeys of 2–20 days along the Ganges https://www.antaracruises.com/
Compass Tourism a DMC based in Ahmedabad handling all the travel related services for Gujarat. https://compasstourism.com/about-us
Indo Asia Tours curates unforgettable journeys across the Indian subcontinent https://www.indoasia-tours.com/
Katha Tours a tour operator of northern India covering Delhi, Jaipur Rajasthan and Kerala https://www.kathatours.com/
Impression Tourism Services a tour operator offering hand-crafted experiences Across East And Northeast India Along With The Sub Himalayan Eastern Neighbors Of Nepal, Bhutan & Bangladesh https://eastindiatour.com/
Vasco Travels a Private Kashmir & Ladakh holidays from a Srinagar tour operator https://www.vascotravels.com/
Taj Hotels a chain of luxury hotels that operates a vast network of over 100 properties globally (with a wider IHCL multi-brand inventory spanning hundreds of locations) https://www.tajhotels.com/
Exotic Journeys a tour operator offering luxury travel, cultural heritage tours, and expert-guided wildlife safaris https://exoticjourneys.in/
Destinasia Journeys a leading DMC for travel to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Srilanka, Tibet and South East Asia. https://www.destinasia.travel/
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