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EVENT ROUND UP
18 TRAVELBIZ MONITOR OCTOBER, 2024
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IATO Convention 2024

Desperate stakeholders, arguing Tourism!

Shayan Mallick | Bhopal inbound tourism and the initiatives that are required.
While welcoming Union Minister Tourism and Culture at the
ndia’s inbound tourism paints a very gloomy picture ahead. In the inauguration, Mehra expressed hope that under the new Tourism
absence of adequate promotion, initiatives and funding, the inbound Minister’s leadership, the industry will get full support from the
recovery was far from satisfactory the last year. However, and to Ministry and overseas promotions will restart. He also requested
Ithe industry’s absolute chagrin, 2024 has been no different so far, the Minister to re-instate MDA scheme for the tour operators which
probably even worse than the last year, amidst some clear indication has been discontinued for last 3-4 years. “This has resulted in tour
that we would likely miss the bus in 2025 as well. operators not being able to do overseas promotion and participate in
Furthermore, as if a host of unfriendly measures like shutting down overseas travel marts,” Mehra lamented.
overseas Indian tourism offices, discontinuation of scheme that earned Reinstatement of schemes such as SEIS that not only motivates
the inbound operators incentives on the foreign exchange they earned, and rewards inbound operators on the foreign exchange that they earn,
among others, were not enough, the 2024-25 Union Budget further but also aids their individual overseas marketing efforts, an efficient
plunged the industry, already tottering on the brink, in abject misery. and better-funded Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme,
The recently concluded, 39th edition of IATO Convention, was putting up trained manpower at embassies overseas to undertake
organised at a time when eyes and expectations are on the post-Covid effective promotional work, undertaking different overseas promotion
recovery and the growth thereafter. And in that context, probably the initiatives and regular interaction with foreign tour operators through
biggest highlight of the event was the lingering scrutiny throughout the roadshows, better budgetary support to Ministry of Tourism, advance
three-day event of the government’s commitment to inbound tourism, planning and information for overseas promotion, development of
voiced amply and repeatedly by stakeholders representing IATO and new source markets, organising destination showcase thorough
other industry associations and stakeholders. familiarisation trips for FTOs, journalists and influencers, prominently
There were some very strong suggestions, opinions, and demands, figured in various discourse and suggestions that took place at the
made during the events by the likes of IATO President Rajiv Mehra; IATO Convention.
Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO, The Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL); The three-day event, themed ‘Resurgent India Inbound’ was
Ajay Bakaya, MD, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts; Vikram Madhok, MD, organised along with a number of business sessions sought to not only,
Abercrombie & Kent, Amaresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman, ICPB and Board among others, highlight the immense socio-economic and job dividend
Member – FAITH; among others, with regard to the current state of that the country can benefit from by leveraging inbound tourism, but

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