A delegation from the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), led by its President, Mr. Ravi Gosain, recently met with Smt. Pravati Parida, the Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Odisha. The purpose of the meeting was to formally invite her to the 40th IATO Annual Convention, scheduled to take place from August 22nd to 25th, 2025, at the Swosti Premium Spa & Resorts in Puri, Odisha. The IATO delegation included Mr. Sanjay Razdan (Vice President), Mr. Rajiv Mehra (Immediate Past President), Mr. J.K. Mohanty (Chairman, IATO Eastern Region), and Mr. Gagan Sarangi (Chairman, IATO Odisha Chapter).
During the meeting, Mr. Ravi Gosain conveyed that the Deputy Chief Minister graciously accepted the invitation to attend the convention. She also pledged her complete support, along with the backing of the Directorate of Tourism, Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC). Furthermore, she mentioned that special arrangements would be made to ensure smooth entry for IATO delegates to visit the revered Lord Jagannath Temple and highlighted the ongoing beautification efforts at Puri Beach in preparation for the convention. The Deputy Chief Minister also agreed to the IATO delegation’s request to accommodate delegates at OTDC properties for post-convention tours.
Following this fruitful discussion, the IATO delegation also met with Ms. Mansi Nimbhal, Director of Tourism for the Government of Odisha. They extended an invitation for her participation in the convention and sought her support, to which she assured her full cooperation.
With the strong support of Odisha Tourism, the 40th IATO Annual Convention is set to be held in Puri, Odisha, from August 22nd to 25th, 2025. Odisha is the host state for this significant event, and in addition to the host state’s presence, the convention anticipates participation from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and representatives from approximately 15 to 18 other states.
The Swosti Premium Beach Resort in Puri will serve as the venue hotel for the convention. All activities throughout the three days, including registration, the inaugural ceremony, business sessions, and evening programs, will be hosted at the resort.
According to Mr. Ravi Gosain, the convention in Puri is expected to draw around 1000 to 1200 delegates from across the nation. This will include senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism (Government of India) and various state tourism departments, industry leaders, tourism and hospitality professionals, and travel trade media representatives. Post-convention tours are being organized across different themes to showcase the diverse tourism offerings of Odisha to industry stakeholders, with the aim of promoting the state in both international and domestic markets.
