16 May 2020

To All Members

Subject : Update on IATO Activities (4^th May to 9^th May 2020)

Dear All

Please find appended the Update on IATO Activities (4^th May to 9^th May 2020). It has been divided into two sections : Communication / Letters and Webinars /Panel Discussions/ Meetings.

In each of these, date wise activities have been recorded for your perusal and views. 

Update on IATO Activities (4^th May to 9^th May 2020)

Dear Members

Greetings

We are back with the pertinent issues and activities of your association for the above period. Your valuable feedback will help us to usher in the additional inputs as deem fit

Please find appended the activities at IATO for the period 4^th to the 9^th of May 2020 for your perusal.

1.Communication / Letters

5^th May

• Following the VC meeting held on 4^th May with NITI Aayog, IATO wrote to Mrs. Sanyukta Samaddar, Joint Secretary NITI Aayog on the subject Identification of problems, effective solutions and formulation of plans for the tourism industry – Covid-19 referring meeting held with the “Empowered Group 6” on 4th May 2020. Copies were marked to Mr. Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer, Niti Aayog and Mr. T. Kabilan, Director (NE States), Niti Aayog and Secretary MOT.

6^th May

• IATO was following up with Ministry of Tourism for refund of participation fee paid by our members for ITB 2020. After about 2 months of follow- up, it was informed to us by the Ministry that refund is being made and same was informed to the members on 6^th May 2020 and the members were requested to submit their bank details for receiving the refund

• On the 6^th May 2020, IATO sent a circular toAll Members on VISA RESTRICTIONS IN RESPONSE TO COVID -19 attaching a copy of Office Memorandum dated 5^th May 2020 issued by Ministry of Home Affairs Government of India regarding Visa Restrictions in response to Covid -19 so that they may inform their foreign counterparts/clients accordingly.

• On the 6^th May 2020, the Returning Officer took a meeting regarding IATO Elections. An order by the Returning Officer regarding IATO Elections 2020 was sent to the members. The next meeting will be scheduled for end June.

7^th May

• On the 7^th May 2020, IATO sent a circular toAll MembersUpdating them on IATO Activities for the period (20^th April to 2nd May 2020)

• IATO was receiving, many emails and telephone calls from the members about the renewal of their membership for the financial year 2020-21. With the present national lockdown with partial relief in some states/zones, when tourism business has come to standstill, to provide some relief to members, IATO on Membership Subscription for the Financial Year 2020-21, wrote to the members on the 7^th of May that the EC has decided to defer raising the invoice for renewal of membership till 1^st July 2020. However, members who wish to pay now can send email to accounts@iato.in and info@iato.in 

8^th May

• On the 8^th May 2020 an update regarding additional guidelines issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India for quarantine of returnees from abroad / contacts / isolation of suspect or confirmed cases in private facilities received from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India was sent to all members as an attachment.

2.Webinars /Panel Discussions/ Meetings

4^th May

A meeting was called by Niti Aayog on 4^th May where President FAITH and all the tourism & hospitality associations heads were invited. IATO was represented by the President.

5^th May

• On May 5th: Presentation for IATO Members on the topic The RARE India Community and a path towards Sustainable Tourism was made by Shoba Mohan (Members were informed about this on the 4^thof May)
  • Dekho Apna Desh Webinar organized by the Ministry of Tourism on 5^th May 2020, on 'Punjab Beyond the Brochure” (Members were informed about this on the 4^th of May)

6^th May

• SEPC Webinar on "REBOOTING AND REINVENTING: TRAVEL AND TOURISM BUSINESS CONTINUITY POST- COVID 19" on 6th May 2020 (Members were informed about this on the 4^th of May

• ICPB webinar on ‘International Meetings Industry: Managing Catastrophe – Driving Recovery', on 6th May 2020.(Circular sent to members on the 5^th of May)

7^th May

• The Ministry of Tourism organised a webinar on Goa on 07th May 2020 under the Dekho Apna Desh webinar series. Details of the same along with registration link were given (Members were informed on the 5^th of May)

• IATO was on the panel at the Invitation for Webinar from PHDCCI. - on 'WAY FORWARD FOR TOURISM SECTOR POST COVID-19 ERA on 7th May 2020. (Members were informed on the 4th of May). IATO President was one of the speakers.

Rahul Chakravarty

COO