FTCCI Felicitates Two City’s Tourism And Travel Professionals On Their National And International Recognitions

Hyderabad: The Tourism Committee (THMMICEE–FTCCI Tourism Hospitality Media MICE Events 2024-2025 Committee) of FTCCI honors three city travel professionals for their achievements and national and international recognitions. They are R Sunil Kumar, who was elected as the National President of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), and Mr. Hari Kishan Valmiki, who was elected as the Deputy Auditor of SKAL International.

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R. Sunil Kumar, the city’s most sought-after travel professional and a globally acknowledged leader and trainer, was elected President of TAAI, the oldest and largest association representing the travel agent fraternity in India. Sunil was also President of it from 2015 to 2019. This Hyderabad-based globe trotter has been actively engaged in Travel & Tourism Industry for over 35 years and specializes in subjects of Aviation, Tourism & MICE. He spends enormous amounts of time in people development and imparts skills to help build and develop leaders. Sunil has addressed several travel & tourism industry seminars and conferences across the world. His in-depth study and perspective of the future industry path have been most apt.

The other travel professional who was honored was Hari Kishan Valmiki, the founder and Managing Partner of Valmiki Travel and Tourism Solutions.  Currently, he is a Junior Auditor at SKAL Asia.  He was recently elected and elevated as Deputy Auditor, SKAL World for the term 2025-2026. He will assume office in January 2025. 

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Skål International is an Association of Travel and Tourism Professionals that encourages and creates a network of contacts around the world. It is the only international body uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. This 92-year-old body promotes friendship between tourism professionals.  It has a presence in 83 countries, in 300 clubs all over the world, and has 12,411 members. 

Valmiki is the past Chairman of the Tourism Committee of FTCCI.  He has been serving the industry in various capacities and has traveled to over 75 countries.   

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Giving his opening remarks, R. Ravi Kumar, Senior Vice President, FTCCI said this felicitation recognizes our commitment to excellence and fostering growth in the tourism sector.

Responding to the felicitation, Mr R Sunil Kumar said it is the 75^th year of TAAI and there couldn’t be a better time than this once again to head it.  TAAI is India’s premier, nodal, largest, and oldest Travel & Tourism Association, he added

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Speaking further he spoke about the most exciting and challenging times of the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.   India beat out major tourist destinations like South Korea, Egypt, and Australia to be the 22nd most visited country in the world and 8^th in the Asia Pacific region. 

The year 2019 was the best in terms of several foreign tourists visiting India.  Nearly 10.93 million people visited us during that year.  But, the numbers came down heavily after the covid. We have lost a lot of tourists. An aircraft manufacturer recently admitted that they had to deliver 530 aircraft to India, that is one delivery every week over the next 10 years. That is how dynamic the industry is, he said. 

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Travel and tourism have been important social activities of human beings from time immemorial.  said Valmiki Harikishan addressing the gathering after his felicitation.  The journey from a human being to being human is the process of evolving from a self-centered individual to one who embraces empathy, compassion, and kindness toward all beings. Travel and Tourism play a vital role in this transformational journey. 

Mr. Vijay Mohan Raj, Co-Chair, of the THMMICEE Committee, Sameera Travels, Director, Hyderabad Cricket Association Centre of Excellence gave his introductory remarks. And urged all the disciplines of different verticals to be united as one tourism and travel sector so that the government will take us seriously. 

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He gave an example that India has 93000 travel agents/ ticketing agents of which just 45oo are recognized and the rest are unorganized.  We must make this into an organized industry, he added.

Mr Ashish Goyal, Addl Director General, National Museum, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India & Director, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad said the Culture and Tourism has a symbiotic relationship in India. Our diverse culture attracts tourists to our shores thus increasing tourist footfall and helping the local economy. Many foreigners are fascinated with our ways of life and festivals. For example, during the ‘jatra’ like Samakka jatra in Telangana, we have visitors from other countries. Also, the Bonalu and Bathukamma festivals of Telangana during monsoon and Dussehra time respectively draw tourists from other countries as they enjoy the color, pomp, and festivity of these events.

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Speaking about our PM’s ambitious tourism promotion campaign ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice’, Mr. Ashish Goyal said the Campaign seeks public feedback on the best tourist attractions in India across various categories.  It encourages citizens to vote for their most preferred tourist destinations across the country and it starts conversations and encourages people to explore our country.

Mr Ashish Kumar, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, and Advisor THMMICEE Committee FTCCI delivered a keynote address. Tourism is an important pillar in the national and state economy.  MICED is a key element of Tourism.  As an airport, we don’t compete with any.  Airport only is a conduit to come to the state.  As an airport, we promote the city and state, he said.

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It is the most vibrant city. The growth is immense.  Our per capita GDP is the highest among the states in India.  We are the fastest-growing among all the metro airports in India.  In the last 9 months, we have been clocking 15% percent growth while others are in single digits.  We must promote inbound tourism.  The inbound tourism needs to be developed, he said. 

Work together to take forward the common goal of building tourism for the development of the stage. 

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Mr. K K Maheshwari, Vice President, FTCCI proposed a vote of thanks.

Rakhi Kankaria, Chairperson of THMMICEE, and several travel and tourism professionals of the same graced the occasion.

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