IATO convention returns to MP after 22 years

President of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Subhash Goyal announced that the 31st IATO Annual Convention is going to be held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh from August 20-23. 

Goyal said, “We had several destinations in our mind and it was really difficult deciding on the venue. We had narrowed our search to Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.”

Sharma appealed to members to make the most of this national convention. He appreciated IATO’s efforts in promoting tourism and supporting the ministry in all <g data-gr-id="47" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">it's</g> initiatives in tapping overseas markets.

Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Lalit Panwar said that measures like e-tourist visa taken up by the government recently had started yielding results. He requested IATO members to give it wide publicity and encourage tourists to make use of this facility.

Ashwani Lohani hailed IATO’s decision to hold its annual convention in Indore.  He also appealed to members to attend the convention in large numbers and attend the <g data-gr-id="41" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">post convention</g> tours especially being designed for the members.

Madhya Pradesh—home of Indian tiger, religious places like Mahakal temple in Ujjain, Buddhist stupa in Sanchi and the palace hotels in Bhopal, boating at <g data-gr-id="51" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">Bheda</g> Ghat and tourist spots in Jabalpur, Bhopal, Pachmarhi and Khajuraho are great attractions of the state. IATO Convention here will help Madhya Pradesh showcase its tourist potential even further,” said <g data-gr-id="52" style="display: inline; color: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; -webkit-background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAA+gAAAACCAYAAADLlPadAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAK0lEQVRYhe3OMQEAIAwDsA6DHPh/ZoTJ2JMoSPW7PwAAAMCqsx0AAAAAkgHerQKHq3BtYQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==), url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAACCAYAAACZgbYnAAAABmJLR0QA/wD/AP+gvaeTAAAAEklEQVQImWP4vGvnfyYGBgYGABl4A2hm/SKhAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); background-size: 0px 2px, 100% 2px; background-position: 200% 100%, 0px 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat, no-repeat;">Lohani</g>.

“10th IATO convention was held at Khajuraho in 1993 and we are returning to Madhya Pradesh after nearly 22 years. Madhya Pradesh Tourism has been very active in marketing various tourists’ attractions in the state. With our convention, there will be Indian Travel Mart”, said Pronab Sarkar, IATO Chairman. 

“More than 1200 delegates are expected for the three-day event. They look for hitherto unexplored destinations”, said Sarab Jit Singh, Senior vice president, IATO.

IATO also felicitated a 25-member delegation from Nepal headed by Ashok Pokharel, President, Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) and also a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) and Association of Tour Operators of Andaman (ATO) for promotion of Tourism in Andaman.

While concluding Goyal said that 10 top outbound tour operators from China selected by Air China are expected to attend the convention apart from tour operators from neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.