10th July, 2020
Subject :- Update on IATO Activities (Monday, 29th June, to Sunday, 5th July, 2020)

Dear Members,

Greetings

Please find appended relevant activities of our association for the period (Monday, 29th June to Sunday,5th July 2020)

Heading used are

  1. Writ in the Hon’ble Supreme Court 
  2. Communication / Letters that addressed key issues
  3. Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings
  4. Media Coverage

Request your feedback to further the content of our weekly report.  

 
1. Writ in the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India

IATO was getting constant calls and emails from members regarding Airlines not refunding their advance money paid on cancelled tickets due to the Covid Crisis Taking up the aforesaid matter on behalf of its members IATO filed an intervention application in the Hon’ble Supreme Court for full refund of advance paid to airlines.      
2.  Communication / Letters that addressed key issues

Wednesday, 1st July  

  • Refund of domestic airline unutilised/cancelled tickets for foreign tourists booked by members of Indian Association of Tour Operators due to cancellation of E-Visas and suspension of operation of International/Domestic flights due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19

IATO wrote to Mr. Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary Ministry of Civil Aviation citing the above subject due to whichforeign tourist could not enter India effective 1st February 2020 onwards 

Copies of the letter were marked to JS MOCA and DG DGCA

The letter has been put up on the IATO Website

  • IATO's comments / feedback on proposed revision of MDA Guidelines

IATO wrote to Mr P. Rangarajan, Asst. Director General - (OM & SM), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India on the aforementioned subject and offered its views on the key heads of Eligibility Conditions, Extent of financial support permissible, Number of applications permissible, Procedure for submitting applications and the period for which the Revised Guidelines will be effective.

The letter has been put up on the IATO Website

  • MSME Loan to Tour Operators and other tourism industry stakeholders registered under MSME and OD Limit 

Once again on date, IATO requested Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism (IC) on the above subject that the banks have blacklisted the hospitality, tours and travel sector for giving any loans and overdraft facility. IATO urged the Hon’ble Tourism Minister to kindly take up this matter urgently with the Hon’ble Finance Minister with an appeal to give directives to the Reserve Bank of India and all Banks that such kind of discrimination would not be permitted.

Copy of the letter was marked to JS Tourism.

The letter has been put up on the IATO Website

Thursday, 2ndJuly 

  • Meeting with Shri Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer, Niti Aayog on the issue of Inbound Tour Operators who bring in foreign tourists and earn valuable foreign exchange for the country, collapsing - needing urgent help to survive 

Team IATO and Presidents of ADTOI and ATOAI approached Shri Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer, Niti Aayog. 

IATO wrote, as well as the delegation requested for,1. Financial Support for Survival 2. Under MSME, Non-Collateral and Interest Free Loans for revival and 3. for increase in SEIS from 7 % to 10% for the tour operators. 

IATO thanked Shri Kant for giving an opportunity to meet him in his office. The letter and the tweet on the above have been put up on the IATO Website.

3.Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings

Monday, 29thJune

  • FICCI organised an interactive session with Smt Rani George, IAS, Secretary - Tourism, Government of Kerala on way forward for opening up Tourism in Kerala on Monday, June 29, 2020 from 1600 to 1730 hrs through Video Conference. 

         IATO participated on invitation

  • Revision of special baggage rates for foreign tourists booked by IATO members with Indigo

        Members were informed on Monday, the 29th of June regarding the above

  • IATO Elections 2020, Order by the Returning Officer

The Returning Officer presided over a meeting of the IATO EC and all contestants on 29th June 2020. Everyone across the board was unanimous in asking for postponement of IATO elections. 

Members were informed on Saturday, the 4th of July regarding the above

 

 Tuesday, 30thJune 

  • Zoom episode on Tourism in the coming months by Happy Hoteliers Club

 

The Zoom Episode was held on Tuesday,June 30, 2020, 12 noon-1.30 PM. IATO participated on invitation

  • ITDC webinar on “Preparedness of Hospitality, Travel & Tourism industry in the present scenario of COVID 19” on 30th June, 2020 from 15:00 hrs to 16:30 hrs.

 

  On invitation, IATO participated as a Panelist 

     Members were informed on Monday, 29th June.

Saturday, 4thJuly  

  • Update from the President -  IATO, ADTOI and ATOAI Meeting with Niti Aayog on 2nd July 2020 for Survival, Revival and increase in SEIS for the Tourism Industry 

   Members were informed on the above vide a circular on Saturday, the 4th of July.

  • Dekho Apna Desh Webinar was organized by MoT on the 4th July 2020 (1100-1200 hrs) titled “Women of India - Shifting Gears (Motorbike expedition by women Indian biker”

Members were informed on Thursday, the 2nd of July

4.  Media Coverage

Thursday, 2ndJuly 
 

  • Media coverage of the meeting of Team IATO along with Heads of ADTOI and ATOAI with Shri Amitabh Kant CEO Niti Aayog.

 

 

  http://tourismbreakingnews.com/iato-atoai-adtoi-delegation-meets-amitabh-kant-for-support-to-tourism-industry/ 

        https://www.livemint.com/news/india/tourism-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-seeking-relief-measures-11593696338977.html 

          https://www.business-standard.com/article/economic-revival/tourism-industry-seeks-govt-support-for-survival-meets-niti-aayog-ceo-120070201615_1.html 

        http://www.traveltradejournal.com/tourism-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-to-seek-government-support-for-survival-of-the-industry/ 

        https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/tourism-industry-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-to-drum-up-govt-support-for-survival/1884062

       https://www.cqai520.com/national/tourism-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-seeking-relief-measures/ 

       https://www.newsprimetimes.com/tourism-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-seeking-relief-measures/ 

      https://news.knowledia.com/US/en/articles/tourism-industry-seeks-govt-support-for-survival-meets-niti-aayog-ceo-d18e8acf65d3df433e9691a999f323aaf8385664 

    ewzz.in/business/tourism-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-seeking-relief-measures/15237134465083004542/15237134465083004542/

 

All the above UPDATES are available on IATO WEBSITE

With regards,

Rahul Chakravarty

COO