Collaborative Efforts to Redefine India’s Tourism Landscape

Jyoti Mayal: ‘Together we can transform the travel & tourism landscape in India’

Mrs. Jyoti Mayal, the President of TAAI, is again running for re-election at the upcoming polls scheduled for September 30 in Mumbai. During an exclusive media briefing at Le Meridien, Mrs. Mayal shared valuable insights and personal anecdotes from her journey as TAAI President from 2019 to 2024 and her vision for the future.

Reflecting on her career, Mrs. Mayal recounted how she entered the travel industry through her husband, Mr. Balbir Mayal. She quickly fell in love with the world of tourism. Over the years, she mastered the industry’s nuances, taking on several key roles within the association before assuming the presidency in 2019.

“When I became President, I had a clear roadmap for moving the association forward. We organized a six-city roadshow with Turkish Tourism, and the first Management Committee meeting during my presidency took place aboard the Cordelia cruise, where all members enjoyed luxury experiences. But then Covid hit, and I was faced with an unfathomable set of challenges,” she recalled. “Just a month after the pandemic began, my members grew anxious about refunds, payments, and whether their businesses would survive. I put aside my health, family, and home to dedicate myself to resolving not only my members’ issues but those of the entire travel industry. I brought IATA on board to safeguard our members’ interests. Looking back, I participated in over 1,200 webinars during the lockdown.”

Under Mrs. Mayal’s leadership, TAAI, often called the “Mother Association” due to its long-standing history, secured refunds worth ₹5000 crore during the lockdown. TAAI also has 28 MoUs, 18 of which were achieved during the pandemic. From advocating for the postponement of the implementation of TCS to rationalizing GST, Mrs. Mayal reached several key milestones, including hosting two of the most memorable conventions — one on a spectacular cruise ship and another in Sri Lanka, where the President inaugurated the event.

She added, “Despite the controversies and politics surrounding the upcoming TAAI elections, I remain unaffected as my conscience is clear. While one candidate’s nomination was cancelled and another faced uncertainty, I decided to allow the second nomination, as I believe in fairness rather than indulging in dirty politics or baseless allegations. My work speaks for itself, and I’m not worried about the election outcome. My focus remains on empowering and educating our members and ensuring the security of their businesses.”

“As we navigate through these transformative times, it is crucial that we unite to strengthen and elevate our travel and tourism sector. My vision for our industry is built on empowerment, transparency, and sustainable growth, with a particular focus on ensuring the survival and success of smaller enterprises,” she added.