10th July 2020
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. Write 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, 1
st 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
1
st 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 ef ective. 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. A copy of the letter was marked to JS Tourism. The letter has been put up on the IATO Website
Thursday, 2nd July

? 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, 29th June.

? FICCI organized 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, 30th June
? 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, 29
th June. Saturday, 4

thJuly
? 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 4
th 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 2
nd of July

4. Media Coverage
Thursday, 2
ndJuly
? 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-s
upport-to-tourism-industry/
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/tourism-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-ka
nt-seeking-relief-measures-11593696338977.html
https://www.business-standard.com/article/economic-revival/tourism-industry-seeks-g
ovt-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-ce
o-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-s
urvival-meets-niti-aayog-ceo-d18e8acf65d3df433e9691a999f323aaf8385664
ewzz.in/business/tourism-bodies-meet-niti-aayog-ceo-amitabh-kant-seeking-relief-me
asures/15237134465083004542/15237134465083004542/

All the above UPDATES are available on IATO WEBSITE
With regards, Rahul Chakravarty
COO