Tag Archives: tour operators

IATO all set to organise its 38th Annual Convention in Chhattrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra

The 38th IATO Annual Convention is going to take place from 29th September – 2nd October 2023 in Chhattrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra and the theme of the convention is: Inbound Tourism and Emerging sustainable trends, informed Rajiv Mehra, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). WelcomHotel by ITC Hotels Rama International will be the venue hotel and all the activities on all the three days i.e. registration for the convention, inaugural function, business sessions and evening programmes will be held at Rama International. Mehra also said that Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde have confirmed to inaugurate the inaugural function. “We shall also have Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Girish Dattatray Mahajan, Minister of Tourism, Govt of Maharashtra, Ambadas Eknathrao Danve, Leader of Opposition and senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism Govt of India and Govt. of Maharashtra,” said Mehra. “Many state tourism departments will participate and we expect about 15 states to participate in the convention. Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister will join for the valedictory session on 1st October 2023,” he added.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is India’s National Apex Body of Tour Operators with membership across the country. It’s membership consists of the nation’s inbound tour operators, travel agents, hotel chains, airlines, tourist transport operators, travel press and media, tourism educational institutes and State Government Tourism Departments/State Tourism Development Corporations. The Membership of IATO controls over 90% of all inbound tourism into India. IATO’s Annual convention is regarded as one of the most important events on the Indian tourism calendar and attracts over 900 delegates each year.

Mehra informed that various post-convention tours and spouse tours have been arranged for the delegates to showcase Maharashtra which will include visit to Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Shirdi, Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Lonar Crater, Shani Shingnapur Temple, Trimbakeshwar Temple, Sula Vineyards etc. “This will help our members who have not seen these places to include in their itinerary and promote in Domestic and international markets,” pointed out Mehra.

Rajnish Kaistha, Senior Vice President and Chairman of the convention said that they have overwhelming response from the members and expect about 900-1000 delegates from all over the country to participate which will include senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and States, industry leaders, tourism and hospitality professionals, travel trade media. There are 5 post convention tours being organised on various sectors as has already been informed. “This year also we expect larger participation from the state Government as every state is keen to re-instate inbound tourism to their respective states. Last year we had participation from 18 states. During the 3 days convention there will be deliberations on burning issues during the business sessions being finalised and we will have experts in all fields,” said Kaistha.

During the convention IATO is also organising a Marketing Innovation Competition at ITC Rama International. The main aim of Marketing Innovation Competition is to encourage creativity and quality of Video CDs, posters and brochures to the State Governments, tour operators, hotels and travel media. The awards are to honour outstanding work giving due importance to creativity, thus giving recognition to designers and producers.

Sanjay Razdan, Hony. Secretary and Co-Chairman of the Convention said that besides the serious discussions during the business sessions,they will have IATO Run for Responsible Tourism on 1st October and awards would be given in various categories to the winners and runners up. “Also we will have evening entertainment programme on all three days and delegates will enjoy taking time off from their busy schedule throughout the year. During the convention, IATO is also organizing Indian Tourism Fair (Travel Mart) on 30th September and 1st October 2023 at Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Rama International, Chattrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), venue of the convention, which will give an opportunity for our members to interact with the state tourism department and other stakeholders who are exhibiting to interact with each other and promote tourism,” said Razdan.

‘The pandemic led to a remarkable increase in awareness about the North East’

The North East region of India has emerged as a must-do travel destination in the past couple of years, especially with a range of adventure activities available. Amit Periwal, Director, Clubside Tours and Travels Pvt Ltd and Chapter Chairman, East India, ATOAI, spoke to Disha Shah Ghosh about their offerings for the region, challenges and the expansion of their geographical footprint.

Q. The awareness about the tourism opportunities in the North East is still not very profound. Tell us about some of your offerings for travel in this region.
In the past, the North East has remained a secluded and hidden gem in the tourism circuit. However, the pandemic brought a silver lining as it encouraged people to explore their own country when international travel was restricted. This period led to a remarkable increase in awareness about the North East.

Our programmes cater to diverse interests, including cultural explorations, tribal tours, spiritual journeys, wildlife, adventurous treks, and delightful culinary tours. Each state in the North East boasts its own distinct festivals, and our immersive festival programmes ensure guests can revel in the region’s vibrant celebrations. Whether it’s immersing in cultural traditions, connecting with indigenous tribes, seeking spiritual solace, or relishing the rich biodiversity, our tours offer something unforgettable for every traveller.

The adventure travel segment in India is still a small pie of the ocean. Which are some of your top selling products in that space?
Adventure Travel is the fastest growing segment in India. Everyone now wants some element of experience which becomes a take away and something they can remember forever.

Achievement of having done something which has an element of risk is always very satisfying. The East and North East gives us the opportunity to cater to a bouquet of adventure activities from soft adventure like hiking, to medium and high altitude trekking, overnight camping experiences, wildlife and now with our operations in Andamans we are also catering to all water adventure activities as well.

Q. You have offices in offices in Kolkata, Darjeeling, Siliguri, Guwahati and recently opened one in Port Blair. Tell us about the importance of these locations for your business.
These locations are the main entry and exit points for East and North East. The international airports in East India are in Kolkata, Bagdogra and Guwahati and recently in Port Blair also the new terminal building of the international airport has been inaugurated. For us to ensure the quality of service delivery, these locations become very important strategically. We operate in a lot of remote areas with limited infrastructure, it’s always very important to ensure that the tourists are well informed, and know what to expect when they visit the secluded locations and being present in the entry points gives us the opportunity to set the expectations well for the rest of the tour.

How complex is organising a customised adventure tour, in India, and overseas, especially since it’s a niche segment?
Organising a customized adventure tour, whether in India or overseas, is a complex endeavour. It requires attention to safety protocols, in-depth product knowledge, and effective client expectation setting. Mitigating risks and having well-defined evacuation plans are crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of participants. Dealing with limited infrastructure and connectivity in remote areas demands careful planning and coordination. Building strong local partnerships with experienced guides is vital for a seamless and exceptional adventure journey. Despite the challenges, the rewarding outcome of providing clients with unforgettable experiences and personal growth opportunities makes it all worthwhile.

Q. What initiatives are being taken by ATOAI East Chapter?
We have conducted a First Aid, Survival, Rescue and CPR training at HMI in Darjeeling in January. This was initialised by ATOAI East Chapter with support from India Tourism Kolkata Office. Grp Cap Jai Kishan (Principal HMI) was very supportive and agreed to conduct the course at HMI with professional trainers. We are also planning to conduct a refresher course for the participants in the next few months.

The G20 Tourism meet on adventure was also held in Siliguri and Darjeeling. This was a great opportunity for us to showcase our region and the potential of adventure tourism in the country to government officials, adventure tour operators, travel bloggers and adventure enthusiasts.

We also have another Certification course for Adventure First Aid, CPR and Wilderness Responder to be conducted in Siliguri in January along with a seminar and a buyer – seller meet exclusively for adventure in the region so we will start planning on that soon.

UTDB announces incentive for tour operators for International Yoga Festival 2023

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) has announced a financial incentive scheme of up to INR 5 lakh per tour operator for tour operators booking international tourists for the upcoming International Yoga Festival (IYF) 2023 to be held at Rishikesh from March 1 to March 7.

This incentive will be offered to tour operators for bringing international tourists to the festival. For this, UTDB has decided to provide incentive to these tour operators from INR 10,000 per international tourist up to a maximum of INR 5 lakh.

This scheme is intended to provide benefits to tour operators accredited by the International Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Ministry of Tourism (MOT) and UTDB. Under the scheme, an incentive of INR 10,000/- per international tourist has to be claimed with necessary documents for which, the tour operators accredited by these organisations will have to submit proof of marketing promotion for IYF 2023. In addition, they will have to submit to UTDB the details of booking and registration of international guests participating in the International Yoga Festival 2023, copies of their passports and valid visas and hotel bookings etc. Application for incentive amount claim must be made compulsorily before 15 March 2023, after the completion of the Yoga festival.