The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announces the appointment of Mr Ashwini Kakkar, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Thomas Cook India Limited…
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announces the appointment of Mr Ashwini Kakkar, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Thomas Cook India Limited, as the second Chairman of the WTTC India Initiative. The decision to elect a new Chairman, whose role will be to oversee and assist the goals of the Initiative, comes after the very successful 5th Global Travel & Tourism Summit held in New Delhi, India in April 2005 and the conclusion of Mr Lalit Suri’s two-year tenure as Chairman of the Initiative.
Mr Jean-Claude Baumgarten, President of WTTC, explains that “WTTC has been working in India for almost six years, over which time a great deal has been achieved regarding open skies policies and triggering discussion of the challenges facing India’s Travel & Tourism industry development. We are delighted that Mr Ashwini Kakkar is taking over the mantle of Chairman of the Initiative, given his committed involvement since the outset of WTTC’s activities in India. In turn, Mr Ashok Pahwa, who previously held the position of Director General, Tourism, Government of India and Managing Director of the Indian Tourism Development Corporation, will take over the role of Secretary General. I shall continue to visit India twice annually for the convention of the WTTC India Initiative ‘Retreats’.”
The WTTC India Initiative was launched in February 2000 under the patronage of Mr PRS Oberoi, a global Member of WTTC. The Initiative now represents 23 Members, all of whom are key players in India’s Travel & Tourism. With the leadership of the Secretary General and the proactive involvement of the Members, the Initiative continues to move from strength to strength and address issues of concern to the industry at a high level.
Recognizing the potential for Travel & Tourism in India, WTTC Members share a common vision, which is to promote Travel & Tourism as a whole – its economic impact, its potential for jobs and its responsibility to the environment. WTTC’s aim is to raise awareness and achieve recognition amongst the major policy-makers throughout India. The strength of the World Travel & Tourism Council is that it allows its Members from all sectors of the industry to come together and speak with a unified voice.
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