This edition is one of IATO’s most attended, held at the Taj Lakefront starting August 30.
The IATO’s 39th Annual Convention in Bhopal kicked off on 30th August at the Taj Lakefront, Bhopal. The inaugural event featured a dazzling performance celebrating the diverse cultures of India. This edition is reported to be one of the most attended conventions in IATO’s history, with around 1200 delegates participating.
The event began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the exhibition area, followed by a lamp-lighting ceremony. Among those present were Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Culture & Tourism, Government of India; Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture Tourism, Religious Trust, Religion Department, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh; Sheo Shekhar Shukla, IAS- Principal Secretary (Tourism), Govt. of Madhya Pradesh and MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board; Rajiv Mehra, President – IATO; and Ravi Gosain, Vice President & Covention Chairmain – IATO, amongst others.
The dignitaries shared their insights with the travel trade fraternity on the current state of inbound and domestic tourism and discussed new directions for the future.
During the event, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasized that IATO has not only been a leader in the tourism sector but has also consistently provided social assistance in times of need. “With the way India is growing, I believe we will witness a 5X increase in tourist arrivals over the next five years. But where will we accommodate them? We need to create more destinations, and for this, the government needs the support of stakeholders and the private sector. We are working to curate a holistic tourism experience”
He further added that the world’s perspective on India has changed. The opportunities in domestic tourism are now immense, driven by the rise in disposable income among the middle class. The discussions at IATO and the resulting takeaways will surely open new avenues for growth in the Indian tourism sector. “The states must step forward and focus on enhancing the tourist experience through healthy competition and dialogue. India currently holds a 7% share of the global market. We need to work together to increase this share in the coming 2-3 years,” he stated.
CM Mohan Yadav also added, “Madhya Pradesh has immense potential in tourism and can attract visitors from around the globe to this beautiful heartland of India. With the esteemed guests present here, we aim to showcase to the world just how stunning Madhya Pradesh truly is.”
“This edition is one of the highest attended conventions of IATO. The industry is eager and has already begun receiving support from the Ministry under the leadership of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat”, shared IATO President. Mehra requested the tourism minister to address concerns, including the MDA scheme that has been discontinued for the last four years, and the need for overseas promotion and participation in international travel marts.
“The theme of our 39th edition, ‘Resurgent India Inbound,’ reflects our mission to surpass pre-COVID figures and the industry’s collective vision. Madhya Pradesh has immense potential to offer the world, which we aim to showcase through post-convention tours, allowing us to include these destinations in our future itinerary packages.”
Ravi Gosain, further addressing the audience, stated, “The theme ‘Resurgent India Inbound’ is not just a slogan but a vision to highlight the vast potential India holds in the global tourism landscape. We envision this theme guiding the growth of Incredible India, encompassing sustainability, responsible tourism, spiritual tourism, and more.”
During the inaugural event, the Hall of Fame Award by IATO was presented to the late M. L. Razdan of Razdan Holidays, with the award being accepted by his daughter-in-law, Anita Razdan. Puneet Chhatwal, MD and CEO of IHCL, was also honored with a Hall of Fame recognition during the event.
