Tourism award for TBi

Trail Blazer Tours India Private Limited (TBi), owned and managed by the Katgara Group, has won the prestigious National Tourism Award for outstanding performance as an inbound tour operator Category II for the year 2013-14, achieving first position, according to an email received by Parsiana from their vice president of corporate communications, Meher Bhandara on September 21, 2015. Category II refers to those travel companies that have a turnover of between Rs 50 to 100 crores for inbound tourism. The award, the fourth for the company in eight years, was presented by Pranab Mukherjee, President of India to Jehangir Katgara, chairman and managing director and Homa Mistry, chief operating officer on September 18, 2015, states the press release.
Acknowledging the team work that made this award possible, Katgara mentions in the press release that "this achievement would not have been possible but for the contribution and commitment of our loyal and dedicated staff…”
Their aim being to "make travelling easier for the traveler,” Bhandara reveals, in response to Parsiana’s questions, that future plans include focusing on joint promotions and attractive packages to upcoming destinations like New Zealand, Yas Island and Indonesia. The company intends to make the most of its partnership with operators like Cosmos/Globus, German Tourism and partners in the Swiss travel industry.

Above from left: Homa Mistry, Mangesh Sharma, President Pranab Mukherjee and Jehangir Katgara

Twenty million tourists are expected to travel out of India in 2015, according to Bhandara who states that individual and family travel is booming on account of increased disposable incomes, easy availability of good travel deals and increased availability of airline capacity.” Trends, she says, include new niche segments like women only travel, ecotourism, adventure travel, wellness and sports tourism. Also, people tend to take shorter holidays and travel two or three times a year in India and overseas, she shares.
Emphasizing that TBi are the official travel agents from India for the World Zoroastrian Youth Congress in New Zealand in December this year, Bhandara mentions that "more Zoroastrians are travelling today, than ever before.” She however states that "there are not too many new Zoroastrian travel companies in the field, due to fierce competition prevalent in the industry.” However, as the travel field today is exciting and vibrant, she reveals that many young Zoroastrians seek employment with the established ones.
TBi today has evolved from Jeena Tours and Travel, the first Indian owned travel company set up in 1925 by the Katgaras, and currently has 12 offices across India and an international presence in eight locations.