34th IATO Annual Convention kick-starts in Visakhapatnam
K J Alphons, Minister for Tourism, Govt of India arrives at Vizag for the IATO convention
The 34th Annual Convention of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) kick-starts at Novotel in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The annual convention held from September 6 to 9, 2018, is conducted under the patronage of the Chief Minister N Chandra Babu Naidu. The minister will inaugurate the India Travel Mart at 6 pm at the hotel. The previous two conventions were held in Hyderabad in 1997 and 2003, both were inaugurated by the Chief Minister himself.
The three-day annual convention, with the theme, “20 million foreign tourists by 2020”, will also conduct an IATO Run for Responsible Tourism on the second day of the event. “This year’s convention theme – Mission 20 Million Tourists: Challenges & Possibilities – is inspired by the challenges our industry is facing to meet the target of 20 million tourists by 2020 as set by our Ministry of Tourism,” said Rajiv Mehra, Vice President, IATO.
Kadakampally Surendran, Kerala Tourism Minister arrives at Vizag for the IATO convention
“Vizag had been chosen as the venue for this year’s convention as we are hugely encouraged by the response of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who wants to give a big boost to the sector in the new AP, after bifurcation. The sector generates employment on large scale and the CM wants us to promote the State in a big way,” said Pronab Sarkar, the president of the association.
“Already many tour operators, members of the IATO, had already toured the State to familiarise themselves with the potential and issues relating to the sector. There is a need to attract more foreign tourists to Andhra Pradesh and we will apprise the CM of what needs to be done to achieve the objective,” he said.
K J Alphons, Minister for Tourism, Govt of India arrives at Vizag for the IATO convention
“The tourism infrastructure needs to be strengthened in the country and there is also a need for improving air connectivity to many places. There is also and to have more skilled tourist guides. There was also a need for more four-star and five-star hotels. “The new capital, Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Tirupati are the major tourist centres in the State,” said Pronab Sarkar.
Roughly 1,000 delegates are expected to attend the convention. “Earlier, IATO conventions were held in the united AP twice, the last one in Hyderabad 15 years ago, but this is the first convention after bifurcation and it will certainly give a big boost to tourism in the new AP,” said Rajiv Mehra, chairman of the convention.