The World Travel and Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII) has appointed Deep Kalra, Founder and Chairman of MakeMyTrip India Pvt Ltd as Chairperson and Dr Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson and Managing Director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, as Vice Chairperson for the upcoming 2024-2025 term. Kalra succeeds Dinesh Khanna, Executive Director of Eastern International Hotels Ltd, who served as Chairman of WTTCII for the 2022-2023 term.
Expressing his respect for the organisation’s legacy, Kalra stated, “It’s an honour that the members have entrusted Dr. Suri and me with the responsibility of leading this organization.” He highlighted WTTCII’s collaboration with states, mentioning their involvement with the Goa Tourism Board and a recently formalised strategic MoU with the Government of West Bengal. Kalra emphasised the importance of impactful partnerships with states and collaboration with the central government to support tourism initiatives.
Jyotsna Suri remarked on the evolution of India’s tourism landscape since WTTCII’s inception in 2000, emphasising the progress made under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Tourism. She expressed excitement about contributing to the tourism revolution, focusing on collaboration at the national level, and paying continued attention to states. Dr. Suri highlighted WTTCII’s recent whitepaper, urging states to streamline business environments and foster increased investments, employment, and local livelihood opportunities.
Sujit Banerjee, former Union Secretary of Tourism and Secretary General of WTTCII, has joined the Advisory Board of the GSTC India Working Group. Banerjee emphasised past collaborations with industry associations to create balanced policies and a competitive business environment. He expressed anticipation for partnering with the GSTC India Working Group to advance India’s tourism sustainability agenda and position the country as a global focal point for sustainability initiatives.
