20^th May, 2025

To All Allied Members (Tour Operators & Travel Agents)

Dear Friends,

Sub: Regarding Change of Status from Allied to Active Category in IATO and MoT recognition for eligible members.     

It is observed during interaction on various WhatsApp Group, there are many of our members (tour operators and travel agents) who are recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and earning foreign exchange but their membership is in Allied Category. According to the criteria for Active membership all Allied Members, who are recognized by the Ministry of Tourism Govt. of India as Tour Operators including Adventure Tour operators and Travel Agents and have the foreign exchange earnings as mentioned above can apply for change of status from Allied to Active members.

For Active membership following is the criteria

Quote “ A firm or company having an established place of business in India and recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India as Tour Operator including Adventure Tour operator / Travel Agent and its major substantial part of activity of promotion of tourism and foreign exchange earnings in a year is minimum Rs. 25,00,000 (Rupees Twenty Five Lakh only), shall be eligible for membership as an active member of the Association provided an application is made and accepted by the Executive Committee.  However, requirement of foreign exchange earnings for the applicant from North East and Andaman & Nicobar Islands will be minimum Rs.  5,00,000 (Rupees Five Lakh only). Only one office of a firm or company shall be admitted as an active member of the Association. The Active Members shall have the right to vote in the proceedings of the association/IATO Elections.” Unquote

Members who are eligible to wish to change their membership status from Allied to Active, may please send an email on email id operations@iato.in and contact@iato.in to get the application and full details.

2.       It is also observed that there are many tour operators/travel agents who are eligible to get Ministry of Tourism, Government of India but have never applied for MoT recognition.

Therefore members those who are eligible to MoT recognition, need to first register on Nidhi Portal  https://nidhi.tourism.gov.in/ before applying for Ministry of Tourism recognition. After registration on Nidhi Portal, you will receive an login id & password for your company enabling you to apply for MoT Recognition on the link .  In case if you are not registered on Nidhi Portal, you will not be able to apply for MoT recognition.  Please note, Registration on Nidhi Portal is required once only and once data is filled up, it will remain in the data base on Nidhi Portal forever.

Once you have done registration on Nidhi Portal and have taken Ministry of Tourism, Government of India recognition you will be eligible for the following

1. To avail Ministry of Tourism Government of India benefits/scheme announced from time to time 
2. To participate in MOT Domestic Fam Trips
3. To apply for IATO Active membership (if you have foreign exchange earnings of at least Rs. 25 lakhs) 

Above will surely be beneficial to the membership.

Thanking you and with best regards,

Sincerely,