To All Members, 

Sub: Update on various important issues and action being taken by IATO till 22nd March 2021

Dear Friends, 

While thanking all our members once again for the support you have extended in peacefully organizing the IATO Elections and electing the new EC, I would like to give you an update on the actions that we have taken or propose to take in the next couple of days.  

I would also like to inform all our members and assure them that we all the elected Office Bearers/EC Members will work as one team and our common agenda will be to work for the a) Benefits of our members and b) Revival of Tourism.

1.    Following are some of the issues which we are working on :- 

·       Release of SEIS for 2019-20 and to impress upon the government to continue SEIS for 2021-25 in foreign trade policy. This is being followed up aggressively at all level with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Tourism officially and also through personal contacts.

2.    Following issues have been taken up with Ministry of Tourism:-  

·       Restoration of e-Tourist Visa and announcement of international flights. 

·       Priority for Vaccinations:- Tourism Industry Professionals who are frontline workers in Tourism industry to be included in priority list for Covid -19 Vaccination. 

·       MDA Guidelines: – To remove clause of minimum foreign exchange earnings of Rs. 2 crores in Revised MDA Guidelines Effective from 1st January, 2021

·       In MoT guidelines for recognition of tour operators:- In Qualifications requirements, relaxation should be given for requirement of qualified staff and those who are having diploma/degree/certificate course from Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council should be considered as qualified staff.

·       Linking of IATO Website with Ministry of Tourism website for leads generation and getting queries- This issue is being taken up with the Ministry once again as this is pending for a long time. 

·       Overseas Marketing and promotions to start by MOT – Our Ministry is already working on this and regular meetings are being called by the Ministry and IATO inputs are being given in the meetings. 

·       Incredible India Road Shows:- IATO requested Ministry of Tourism to give responsibility of organising Incredible India Road Shows overseas on cost reimbursement basis. 

·       To enhance product knowledge:- Requested MoT to arrange Fam Tours for IATO members all over India.

3.    Following are the other issues, which are being taken up with the concerned Ministries directly and through Ministry of Tourism 

·       MSME Loan - To introduce ECLGS 3.0

·       Removal of TCS on foreigners on package tours out of India services

·       Airport entry passes – With IATO’s efforts, airport entry passes are being issued. However, we have asked Ministry of Civil Aviation to give us the revised guidelines/criteria which we can circulate to our members. 

The newly elected Office Bearers met Shri Arvind Singh - Secretary (Tourism), and Mrs. Rupinder Brar- Additional Director General (Tourism), Govt. of India and took up the above issues with them for resolution.

4.    Besides the above following are the action being taken by IATO:-  

·       Amendments in IATO Memorandum of Association – Inputs/suggestions have been asked from the active members to give their suggestions by 25^th March 2021. We have received valuable inputs from some of our members. These will be favourably considered by the EC on its merit. 

·       IATO Regional and State Chapter Chairmen and Sub-Committees will be reviewed. 

·       Official WhatsApp Group is being made for the active members to start with, by this weekend.

5.    The most important decision which the new EC has taken for the members is giving extension for paying the Annual Subscription till 31^st March 2022 and waiving off the Annual Subscription for the financial year 2021-22 for which our Hony. Treasurer has already informed our members the following:- 

·       All those members who have paid their annual subscription for the financial year 2020-21, their membership will be automatically renewed for the financial year 2021-22 and they will not be charged the annual subscription for the financial year 2021-22. Membership certificate for the financial year 2021-22 will be sent to all such members automatically.

·       Members those who have not yet paid their annual subscription for the financial year 2020 -21 can pay till 31st March 2021 or even till 31st March 2022. There will be no cancellation of Membership till 31st March 2022.

·       However certificates for both the financial years will only be issued on receipt of the annual subscription for the financial year 2020-21.

·       For the financial year 2021-22, the exemption of Membership Fee will be applicable only to tour operators, travel agents, transport operators and hotel representation companies who have paid for 2020-21, as there was no business for them in 2020-21.

·       However, annual subscription for the financial year 2021-22 would be charged from the Hotels and other stakeholder whose business has revived.

·       Members have been requested to pay their annual subscription for the financial year 2020-21 and get the exemption for financial year 2021-22 along with the membership certificate.