To All Members,

Subject :Update on IATO Activities (Monday, 21st September to Sunday, 27th September, 2020)

Dear Members

Greetings

Please find appended relevant activities of our association for the period (Monday, 21st September to Sunday, 27th September 2020)

Segments covered are

  1. Communication / Letters that addressed key issues
  2. Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings
  3. Media Coverage

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

  1. Communication / Letters that addressed key issues

Segment 1 update sequence by date:22,24, September

Tuesday, 22nd September  

  • Familiarization Tour to India for the officials of Embassy of Vietnam under Hospitality Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to promote tourism to India.

On date IATO informed H.E. Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to India on the aforementioned and apprised that once the proposal submitted to the Ministry is approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for hosting fam tour tours for the Embassy Officials, these will be handled by the members of Indian Association of Tour Operators.

  • Nomination of IATO Members for participation at the India Tourism booth at virtual ITB Asia 2020

On date IATO informed Ms. Sudeshna Ramkumar, Assistant Director, India Tourism Office, Singapore details of seven (07) members who have been nominated by IATO for participation at the India Tourism booth at virtual ITB Asia 2020, who were selected by draw of lot.

Thursday, 24th September

  • IATO hands over memorandum to Smt. Meenakshi Sharma, DG, Ministry of Tourism highlighting woes of the industry

5 IATO office bearers called on DG tourism in her office at 1230 hours on 24th September 2020. IATO requested the government for immediate relief which should include 1. Raising of SEIS Scrips percentage from 7% to 10% for the tour operators for financial year 2019-20. 2. The special non- collateral, interest free long term (5 to 10 years) under MSME loan scheme to be provided to all categories of tour operators and not just the one which have already taken loans. 3. The moratorium on the loan taken to be extended for two years with no penal interest being charged. 4. Further the government has been urged to provide one time grant for payment of salaries up to 80 percent based on balance sheet of 2018-19.

These are one of the worst time ever for tourism industry and it pleaded government for help as without aid and support at this juncture from the government their survival is not possible and the industry which contributed billions of Rupees in better time to economy and employed crores of people would be wiped out.

Submission of Intrastate itineraries to the Ministry of Tourism for promotion of Domestic Tourism

On date IATO wrote to all State Chapter Chairs on the aforesaid subject and asked them to provide 3-4 intrastate itineraries of their respective state.  IATO has already submitted 14 itineraries. However, it has been asked to provide more itineraries to the Ministry from all the states.

 

  1. Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings

Segment 2 update sequence by date:22,23,25,26,27 September

Tuesday, 22nd September

Draw of lot for participation of those who have shown interest in Virtual ITB Asia was held on Zoom at 1130 hours on Tuesday, the 22nd September 2020

Those Members who had shown interest were informed on 21st September. Total 54 members had sent their expression of interest and 07 members were selected. Draw of lot was done on Zoom.

Wednesday, 23rd September

  • Little Indian Family of Explorers” Webinar organized by ITO, Bangalore on 23rd September 2020 at 4 PM.

Members were informed on the 21st of September

  • Regarding Save Tourism Campaign

All Tour Operators & Travel Agents (Active and Allied) were informed on date of the unanimous decision was taken by the EC for the 27th September 2020 Save Tourism Campaign programme

Friday, 25th September

  • Gujarat Travel and Tourism Excellence Award 2020 was organised on the 25th September 2020 04.30 PM onwards.

Members were informed on the 23rd of September

Saturday, 26th September

  • Online Quiz Contest was organized by India Tourism Bangalore on the eve of World Tourism Day 2020 on 26th September, 2020 at 4:00 pm IST.

Members were informed on the 10th September

  • Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series: Episode 55: Rural Tourism: From Previous Niche to Future Norm was organised on the 26th September 2020 at 1100-1200 hrs. 

Members were informed on the 24th September

Sunday, 27th September

  • WORLD TOURISM DAY DIGITAL QUIZ -2020

India Tourism Bangalore organized the final of WORLD TOURISM DAY DIGITAL QUIZ -2020 on 26th September at 4:00 pm.

 Members were informed on the 25th of September

  • World Tourism Day 2020 event (1200 - 1300 hrs) organised by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

The event was chaired by Shri. Prahlad Singh Patel, Hon'ble Minister of State for Tourism and Culture and the Chief Guest of the programme was Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister for Petroleum, Natural Gas & Steel.

Members were informed on the 26th of September

  • The Future of Travel & Tourism and Strategies to Revitalize the Industry ’from 1630 - 1830hrs IST on Sept 27, 2020 jointly organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Members were informed on the 26th September

  1.   Segment 3 update sequence by date:25,26,27 September

Friday, 25th September

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/a-call-for-safe-and-clean-travel-destinations-ahead-of-world-tourism-day/article32687555.ece

  • Tourism body seeks urgent relief amid covid disruptionrism -handed memorandum to DG Tourism

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/tourism-body-seeks-govt-urgent-relief-amid-covid-disruption-11601020842128.html

 

Rahul Chakravarty

COO

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