IATO the apex inbound tour operators body of the country held its 39th annual convention in Bhopal. This year’s convention which began on August 30 and ended on September 1, was inaugurated by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and CM of Madhya Pradesh Dr. Mohan Yadav. It saw a record participation of 1200 members from across the country and senior representatives of tourism ministries from thirteen different states of the country.
The three-day event had different sessions related to boosting foreign tourism in the state as well as in the entire country. Ways and means for developing new tourist spots and improving facilities around the existing and popular tourist spots were discussed. Alongside challenges faced by the sector, possible solutions were discussed in the multiple sessions held during the convention. The next convention will be held in Puri, Odisha.
Speaking at the inauguration Union Tourism and Culture Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “Since time immemorial India has been an attraction for the world and the footsteps of foreign travellers and their travelogues about their visits is its proof. Multiple tourism opportunities abound in our country and combined with the present government’s impetus on improving rail, road and air connectivity, inbound tourism should receive a big boost. Would urge all the tourism sector stakeholders to join hands and tap the opportunities.”
While speaking at the inauguration MP CM Dr. Mohan Yadav said, “ The state is endowed with multiple UNESCO world heritage sites and some of the monuments are such that their design is a challenge for experts even today. About our fauna, what to say, you can find Tigers on the roads in Bhopal. The state is rich in wildlife, cultural and religious tourism and has huge potential to attract foreign tourists.”
During the convention leading lights of the Tourism and Hospitality industry, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal MD and CEO of Indian Hotel Company Limited and the Late Shri M.L Razdan of Razdan Holidays (posthumously) were honoured with the Hall of Fame award this year.
At the opening, IATO President Rajiv Mehra and Vice President Ravi Gosain explained in detail the role of IATO in the tourism sector particularly related to the inbound sector. They promised that IATO would leave no stone unturned to increase the inbound tourism in Madhya Pradesh. Further to showcase the rich heritage and culture of the state, a presentation ‘Manmohak Madhya Pradesh Heartland of India’ directed by Maitrei Pahari was made.
The convention saw eight business sessions which included topics like ‘Resurgent India Inbound’, ‘Discovering the Undiscovered’, lesser-known destinations, marketing and promotion of inbound tourism, the future of AI in Inbound tourism, and legal challenges for women empowerment. Speaking at one of the sessions Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary and MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board said that the government has initiated steps to create 50 new tourist destinations to control the footfall over the overcrowded destinations. He also emphasized coordination between different stakeholders for the better outcome of policy initiatives.
Multiple other senior representatives from different states made presentations and showcased their lesser-known destinations. Besides the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, and the Host State, Madhya Pradesh, there were 12 other states participated in the convention i.e. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
The concluding session was graced by the Deputy CM of MP, Shri Rajendra Shukla who emphasized the need for branding. The state tourism minister Shri Dharmendra Singh Lodhi used the occasion to inform the gathering about the initiatives taken, like developing the Kuno National Park as a tourist destination, converting lakes into tourist destinations, developing 1000 homestays and various other measures.
To mark the conclusion of the convention ‘Run for Responsible Tourism’ was held in which more than 500 members participated. Further, post the convention special Fam tours were organised to showcase the known and new destinations.
Said Mr Rajiv Mehra, President of IATO, “The convention which is held in different cities of the country every year, is organised to showcase the specific city’s as well as that state’s tourism potential and drawing in more foreign tourists with innovative strategies and help in boosting local economy. The response we received this year was unprecedented and we look forward to replicating this success at our next convention in Puri, Odisha”
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