Sarawak to host TAFI Convention 2022 this September

Abdul Karim (fourth right) and Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan (fifth left) giving their thumbs-up as they pose for a group photo with representatives from TAFI, STB and BESarawak.

KUCHING, July 13: The Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) Convention 2022 is scheduled to be held in Sarawak for the first time from Sept 20 to 23 with the expected arrival of over 700 TAFI members from India.

The TAFI Convention 2022 will see collaborations between the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), Tourism Malaysia (TM), Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Business Events (BE) Sarawak.

Themed “Build Back Better” to strengthen the tourism industry and moving towards a resilient economic recovery, the convention will highlight sustainability, advanced greening efforts, conservation and responsible tourism during its sessions.

Recently, the managing committee of TAFI visited Kuching to do multiple site inspections and visited the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

TAFI site inspection at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

During the meeting, Abdul Karim stated his hope that the convention would be a catalyst to entice more visitors from India to Sarawak in the near future.

“The TAFI Convention’s theme this year, ‘Build Back Better’ is very much aligned with our post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 with Sarawak’s aspiration to empower the community and to ensure a sustainable environment, post-Covid.

“We look forward to organising this event together with TAFI with the sustainability factor being the heart of the convention,” he said in a media release today.

TAFI president Ajay Prakah emphasised that the Indian market is growing, and it is constantly looking for newer destinations, products and experiences.

“Sarawak has a great potential to become a popular destination in the Indian market because today’s generation is concerned about the planet, conservation and sustainability.

“With the support of Tourism Malaysia, STB and BESarawak, I think we are going to have a wonderful convention and we are looking forward to it,” he added.

Representing the Travel Trade in India, TAFI is a progressive and vibrant association with a nationwide membership base of 1,400 members and growing.

The majority of TAFI members are IATA accredited agents and contribute to more than 75 per cent of the outbound business in India. — DayakDaily