ASTA India Chapter is an extension of ASTA International in India. Once a company applies for the membership of ASTA, they automatically become the members of their respective chapters worldwide. Annual membership fees for ASTA India Chapter is Rs. 1500 which is from April to March. This fees is separate from the International membership you pay annually. ASTA India Chapter has been actively involved in organising FAM Trips of ASTA US agents to India as well as arranging some educational seminars in India.

The ASTA India Chapter is now the largest ASTA Chapter outside the US, with 168 members.

Over the past few years, the chapter has organised various activities.

The India chapter had very successfully arranged a FAM trip in India in April 2006, where we had over 40 US agent come to India. They met the ASTA India Chapter members over three days of lunches and dinners. The ASTA India chapter also took part in the Montreal, Orlando and Las Vegas Trade Shows. At all these events it has been our core focus to give exposure to our members. All our events have not only been open for any member to join in, but all the material we have distributed has always contained all membership information. At the last three Trade Shows we have been taking a booth space and arranging various activities such as offering door prizes and special trips for the US agents. These have worked fairly well.

We also had a very successful chapter Road Show in Southern California in September. There were 8 companies from India and we had a tremendous response for the local travel fraternities in San Diego and the Long beach areas. We took this momentum onto to Las Vegas where there were almost 18 Indian companies at the India stand at the Trade Show.

Amongst our other activities have been -

1.Developed and designed an exclusive website for the ASTA India Chapter- www.astaindia.com , all the Indian members are listed in the website which is also linked with the main ASTA website.
2.Participated in the ASTA Montreal Congress 2005, the Indian member delegation went to Montreal and distributed the specially developed CDs to all the participants.
3.A presentation on India as a tourism destination was also made by the participating members in the Montreal congress.
4.Distributed a special CD during the Montreal congress which had all the Indian members contact details alongwith their company profile.
5.Participated in ASTA Orlando Congress 2006 and made a presentation on India.
6.Distributed 500 Jute bags containing the address and website of ASTA India Chapter to the delegates.
7.Distributed the CD's containing members profile and contacts.
8.ASTA India chapter participated in the Las Vegas Trade Show last December (2007).
9.A delegation of 10 ASTA India Chapter members went on a roadshow specially organised in cooperation with India Tourism LA. The delegation made presentations in San Diego and Orange County.

Upcoming events:

1.ASTA India Chapter is considering participation in IDE (international Destination Expo) in Lyon from April 12-16, 2008.
2.Organising a FAM trip in coordination with Air India and India Tourism New York. The FAM Trip will be in May 2008, where over 30 US agents will come to India.
3.ASTA India chapter will be organising special networking dinners for its members during the FAM trip in May.
4.Organising two seminars – one in Delhi and one in Mumbai on the Handicapped / Disabled travel in association with SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality) to explore the possibilities of introducing this sector in India to the members.
5.ASTA India chapter will also be participating in The Trade Show in Orlando from September 7-9, 2008.