TAFI’s 40th Convention in Greece: Celebrating Four Decades of Travel Trade Excellence
The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) marked a significant milestone with its 40th Convention in Greece, Rhodes, bringing together travel professionals for an international gathering of industry discussions, networking, and opportunities to strengthen tourism partnerships.
Set against Greece’s beautiful backdrop, the convention celebrated TAFI’s four-decade journey while looking ahead to the future of India’s travel trade. It gave Indian travel agents and tour operators a platform to engage with international tourism representatives, exchange industry perspectives, and explore new avenues for business collaboration.
Industry Leaders Take Centre Stage
A key highlight of the convention was the Panel discussion and panel session featuring leading representatives from TAFI, alongside prominent Greek and international travel industry figures. The discussion brought together diverse perspectives on tourism, industry collaboration, and the opportunities emerging for travel professionals in an evolving global marketplace.
The dignitaries present on the dais from left to right were:
- Mr. Nikolas Kavalieros, Managing Director, World of Travel Factory (WOTF) Group
- Mr. Amol Kataria, Deputy Convention Chairman, TAFI
- Mr. Hitank Shah, National General Secretary, TAFI
- Mr. George Hatzimarkos, Governor of the South Aegean Region and President of the Association of Greek Regions
- Mr. Abbas, President, TAFI
- Mr. Anil Kalsi, Vice President, TAFI
- Mr. Jay Kantawala, Convention Chairman, TAFI
Their participation underscored the importance of bringing together travel trade leadership, destination representatives and industry stakeholders on a common platform. The session formed part of the convention’s wider programme of engagement, encouraging dialogue on the changing dynamics of travel and the importance of building strong professional relationships across markets.
Global Destination Group was also honoured as a token of appreciation by Tafi.
Greece: A Destination of Opportunity
Hosting the convention in Greece offered Indian travel professionals an opportunity to experience the destination beyond its familiar postcard images. With its historical heritage, distinctive island landscapes, gastronomy, culture and hospitality, Greece offers considerable potential for the Indian outbound travel market.
The South Aegean region, in particular, presents opportunities for curated island holidays, luxury travel, cultural experiences and destination-led itineraries. Greater engagement between Greek tourism stakeholders and Indian travel agents can help introduce these experiences to a wider audience of Indian travellers.
The convention also highlighted the value of direct industry interaction. For travel agents, international gatherings offer more than networking; they create opportunities to develop destination knowledge, establish business relationships and identify partnerships that can translate into future growth.
Looking Ahead
For TAFI, the 40th Convention represented an important moment to celebrate its legacy while looking towards the next chapter of the travel industry. As Indian travellers increasingly explore international destinations and seek more personalised experiences, the role of travel professionals in connecting travellers with the right destinations and partners remains vital.
The Greece convention brought the industry together around this shared objective, reinforcing the value of collaboration, knowledge-sharing and international engagement.
Four decades of connecting the travel trade—and a new horizon of opportunities for the future.
Mr. Subash Goel of Stick Travel Group was also awarded the lifetime achievement award.
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