Putting together the achievements of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) in the year 2014 in a letter from the Pesident’s desk, Subhash Goyal, President, IATO stated that the association has become the real voice of the entire tourism industry. “Even though the year 2014 was very challenging in terms of inbound tourism to India due to various reasons including visa problems, security issues etc., we managed a growth of about 9 per cent compared to last year. This our country could achieve with your hard work and the excellent support from the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India,” he added.
Goyal listed some of the association’s biggest achievements of the year, including the introduction of the Tourist Visa on Arrival enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization for 43 countries for the tourists arriving at nine international airports in India; delay in the biometric process for visa in France, which has deterred a lot of group cancellation in the peak season; the setting up of a ‘Tourist Help Line’ to address and guide the tourists during any emergency; e-ticketing for monuments Taj Mahal in Agra and Humayun Tomb in Delhi and Swatch Smarak programme of ASI; the Swachh Bharat Campaign; training of escorts in the Chinese language under the Skill Development Programme; conducting the Ministry of Tourism Fam Tour; 12 overseas roadshows; CENVAT Credit for tour operators; linking the IATO website with MoT website; and online application for the renewal of MoT Recognition.
Goyal further added that, besides, the above, there are some issues where the association’s efforts are continued, including Export Industry Status for the tour operators; exemption of Service Tax on the foreign exchange earning; revision in MDA guidelines; revision in guidelines for the Guide Training Programme; inclusion of more countries in Tourist Visa on Arrival scheme; biometric for all tourists on arrival in India; increased baggage allowance to 20 kgs on all domestic sectors for international tourists; renewal of licence for Rail Tourist Agents; and filling up the vacant posts in overseas offices.
“IATO is also organising a luncheon meeting in New Delhi and has invited Lalit K. Panwar, Secretary Tourism, Govt. of India; Somasundaran, Secretary Civil Aviation, Govt. of India; B.K. Prasad, Additional Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs; Girish Shankar, Additional Secretary (Tourism); Usha Sharma, Additional Director General (Tourism); Suman Billa, Joint Secretary (Tourism), among other officials from the Ministries. This will be a good opportunity for our members to interact with them and thank them for their sincere efforts being made for promotion of tourism and supporting IATO. We are sure, in the next one year, there will be sea change in international tourist arrivals and our members will generate good business due to revised visa regime,” concluded Goyal.
