Category Archives: Associations

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) conducted its 38th Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually with members attending the proceedings online while the Executive Committee (EC) presented the financial year’s report physically at The Park Hotel, New Delhi. Sharing updates, the association also put forward its expectations from the next union budget of the government which includes deemed industry status, removal of cascading effects of GST on tourism industry, withdrawal of TCS for overseas tour packages, extension of SEIS among other.  

Sharing an update on the association’s elections, Pradip Lulla, Acting President & VP, TAFI, says, “We have just concluded all our Chapter and National AGMs. We are now looking to have our national elections early next year. We are still working on the modalities of it and looking at either doing a postal ballot or conducting it virtually using a software.”

John Koldowski, Special Advisor, PATA and Professor, Leshan Normal University, Sichuan, China in a webinar has revealed that in terms of countries that are expecting economic conditions in home country will be better in 6 months, India is second in line after Greater China, with 6% more people optimistic about the same since September 2020. Koldowski was speaking at a webinar by PATA, titled, ‘IVAs into Asia-Pacific in 2020 and Expectations for 2021-2023. “Those regions and countries that believe it will be better in 6 months, Greater China leads the pack, then India, followed by Asia-Pacific and North America. In Europe, it is trending in the other way, as they are feeling a bit gloomier,” he said.

IATO Elections will be held on 6th March 2021. In a communication released by IATO, on behalf of Homa Mistry, Returning Officer, IATO Elections -2020, it was revealed that in a meeting called by him, it was decided to hold the elections on 6th March 2021. It was also decided to take a call whether to hold the elections with physical presence of the members or to be done online. This will be decided as per prevailing pandemic conditions at that time for which the call will be taken in the beginning of February 2021.

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has written to Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister of Tourism to request them to open tourist visas for foreigners to visit India; to make RTPCR tests mandatory for all arriving passengers with no quarantine; to absorb the costs of RTPCR test and waive it for travellers; should offer mandatory travel insurance for all incoming tourists, and allow travel to countries with which they don’t have air bubble agreement via flights through countries with which These agreements  are in place. Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, had commented recently, “This would allow airlines to offer connecting flights to countries that are allowing Indians to visit. Many countries, which are not connected directly, like South Africa, South America, etc., but people want to travel there. Hence, there is a need to open beyond air bubbles. This would allow footfall on both sides.”

India Tourism Mart (ITM), which was announced by the Tourism Minister to be held as a hybrid event, will not happen in November as was being planned earlier, revealed Subhash Goyal, Secretary General, FAITH. He said, “We had planned for the ITM to be held in November, but unfortunately, the Minister was not available owing to other commitments on those dates. We can now do it in end-December or beginning of January. We are in touch with the MOT for the same and will get a date very soon.”

Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, has said that they have written to MoCA and IATA that Jet Airways should not be given IATA membership till the time it is not known how they are working, what is their plan and how they would be moving forward. “They shouldn’t be allowed to become IATA members again for a couple of years, although they have filed for insolvency, which has rules and regulations,” she said.

A new team was elected unopposed for TAAI’s Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand Chapter during a mid-term election that took place in Lucknow. The new office bearers include SMA Sheeraz as Chairman, Swati Dimri as Secretary, and Mohammed Khalid Shah as Treasurer for the term ending July 2021. The chapter currently has 88 members.

The Assistant Director of Tourism in Leh, Jigmet Namgail, met with members of three tourism associations to discuss adventure and winter tourism – All Ladakh Tour Operator Association (ALTOA), Ladakh Mountain Guides Association (LMG) and the India Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). The team discussed the promotion of adventure and winter tourism in Leh. Ladakh government plans to set up a ski institute in Kargil to promote winter sports.  

Andaman Association of Tour Operators conducted an awareness meet on COVID-19 SOPs and guidelines under the leadership of M. Vinod, President at hotel Aries Grand on 7th Nov, 2020. Stakeholders from AATO, ACCI, hoteliers, boat owners and adventure sports operators participated in the meet. Chief guest Suneel Anchipaka, DC (SA) mentioned that A&N Administration is making all possible efforts to revive tourism in the Islands following all COVID protocols. He also mentioned that safety of the islanders is paramount and we will have to ensure that all precautionary measures are followed while conducting tourism activities in the Islands.