The Beginning...

New York 1933: a bicycle tour arranged by John C. Dengler set the pace for a small company called Students International Travel Association. The company soon became popularly known by its acronym - SITA - and launched itself into the orbit of world travel. After resounding success in the U.S.A., SITA looked beyond the Atlantic to Europe and Asia - India. In 1956 the present Chairman Emeritus, Mr. Inder Sharma, set up the first office at New Delhi. Ever since, SITA has traversed a long way in the domain of travel & tourism to be known worldwide as a reliable and efficient agency with integrity and quality service.

The Early Years...

What began with a staff of just three soon made remarkable progress. Foreseeing a policy of Indianisation, in 1963, SITA was converted into a private limited company under the guidelines of the Companies Act 1956 and came to be known as SITA World Travel (India) Pvt. Ltd. With the rapid growth of incoming tours business, SITA soon spread its wings to foreign lands and starting in 1972 with its first office in Paris, the extension continued to Milan, Frankfurt, London, New York, Stockholm, Barcelona and Lisbon. At the same time SITA extended its sphere of activity to the neighbouring countries in 1982 in Sri Lanka and in 1984 in Nepal, where its offices make SITA the only agency with presence in three SAARC countries. Further in 1993, it became a fully owned Indian public limited company and came to be known as SITA World Travel (India) Ltd.

The Success Story...

Between 1970 and 1994, the company achieved a spectacular growth rate of 3062%. The foreign exchange earnings showed another spectacular increase of 6041%. This remarkable progress was the result of adhering to well-defined business principles and goals over the years as well as providing services backed by experience, network and reputation. A team of nearly 800 trained travel professionals offered round the clock service, throughout a vast network of 30 branch offices located at important touristic destinations in the region, with utmost dedication and commitment. Added to this was an overseas network of 8 marketing offices and an excellent rapport with the Government, International & Domestic Airlines and Hotels. In fact, being the biggest player in this industry helped SITA to enjoy very special rates with hotels all over India.

SITA Today...

In 2000 Kuoni Travel Holding, a Multi National Travel Conglomerate based in Zurich, Switzerland, acquired a 100 percent stake in SITA World Travel (India) Ltd., and this merger resulted in the creation of India's largest travel company known as Kuoni Travel India Ltd. SITA World Travel-Inbound Division is a part of Kuoni Travel India Ltd. It is the Number One Destination Management Company in India, SITA World Travel-Inbound Division has been handling incoming tourists to India from all over the world through a network of 30 offices in the region including associate offices in Nepal and Sri Lanka, 8 marketing offices abroad and five Strategic Business Units namely: SITA Incoming Services, Kuoni Indian Trails, E-Holidays, Tour Club and the newly created SBU MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Charters, Eco Tourism). Besides regular incoming services, SITA World Travel-Inbound Division also offers special services in Incentives, Conferences and adventure Tourism.

Awards and honours

• SITA's high performance has been winning it the Tourism Award, instituted by the Department of Tourism, Government of India, since inception in 1975. 

• SITA has won the Kerala State Award for Excellence in Tourism, 2000, constituted by the State Government of Kerala, for handling the maximum number of tourists in Kerala.

• In 1999-2000 SITA was awarded the first prize in category I for the highest foreign exchange earnings and bringing the highest number of foreign tourists into the country.

• SITA was proud to receive a special award - THE BEST TRAVEL AGENCY IN THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT for dedicated and committed services at the 1988 PATA Travel Mart in Singapore. This was decided on a vote count endorsed by the entire Travel Trade community in the Asia Pacific region.

• UK's leading Charter Operator presented their Gold Award in recognition of our support and status as best handling agent in the Indian Ocean.