The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) and Visit Qatar Q.P.S.C have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen tourism cooperation between India and Qatar. The agreement was formalised on 5 February 2026 during the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2026 at the Qatar Pavilion.
The MoU was signed by Himanshu Patil, President of OTOAI, and Jassim Mahmoud, Director – PR & Communications, representing Visit Qatar Q.P.S.C. The signing marks a significant step towards enhancing bilateral tourism engagement and expanding structured collaboration between the two sides.
The agreement outlines a joint commitment to position Qatar as a preferred destination for Indian outbound travellers. Key focus areas include destination marketing, exchange of market intelligence, coordinated promotional campaigns, and deeper engagement between Indian travel trade stakeholders and Qatar’s tourism ecosystem.
Industry stakeholders believe that the collaboration will create fresh opportunities across multiple travel segments, including leisure, luxury travel, MICE, destination weddings, and experiential tourism. With India continuing to be one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets globally, Qatar aims to strengthen its visibility and trade partnerships in the country.
The MoU signing at OTM 2026 underscores OTOAI’s ongoing efforts to build international alliances that benefit its member tour operators across India. The partnership is expected to facilitate structured trade interactions, curated familiarisation programmes, and enhanced business exchanges between the two markets in the coming months.
The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI is set to launch its Knowledge Series – I, a comprehensive full-day learning session designed to equip hospitality professionals with the latest regulatory and policy updates for the sector. The inaugural edition will be held on Thursday, 12th February 2026 at Amanora – The Fern | Series by Marriot, in Pune.
The timely initiative aims to address the evolving compliance landscape, covering critical topics such as the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, GST updates, Labour Codes and Tourism Policy. The session is structured to provide actionable insights and promote meaningful dialogue between industry stakeholders and subject-matter experts.
In a rapidly changing regulatory environment, continuous learning is not optional — it is essential for sustainability and growth. The Knowledge Series is designed to bridge the information gap and empower hospitality leaders with the clarity and confidence needed to navigate compliance requirements effectively.
Ernst & Young (E&Y) is the Official Knowledge Partner for this series. The Knowledge Series will be conducted every month across various towns and cities in the western region.
Session Speakers:
Labour Codes
- Mr. Tarun Pandey, Partner – Labour Code, Ernst & Young
- Mr. Anshul Shukla, Director – Business Consulting, Ernst & Young
DPDP Act & Information Security
- Mr. Abhijit Parab, Partner – Cybersecurity, Ernst & Young
GST
- Mr. Siddhartha Jain, Partner, Ernst & Young
- Mr. Akshit Saraogi, Director, Global Trade and Customs, Indirect Tax, Ernst & Young
Tourism Policy
- CA Julfesh Shah, Chairman, COSIA Vidarbha Former Vice-Chairman, WIRC of ICAI, Former Chairman, ICAI Nagpur, Maharashtra
The series will feature expert presentations, panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions, offering participants practical guidance on best practices and implementation. It is tailored for hotel owners, general managers, compliance heads, restaurateurs and senior hospitality professionals across the western region.
This is more than a seminar — it is a strategic platform for capacity building. Whether it is understanding recent amendments in law or preparing for upcoming policy shifts, the session will provide valuable takeaways to enhance operational resilience and regulatory adherence.
