Update on IATO Activities (Monday 17th August to Sunday, 23rd August 2020)
31st August 2020
To All Members,
Subject : Update on IATO Activities (Monday 17th August to Sunday, 23rd August 2020)
Dear Members,
Greetings!
Please find appended relevant activities of our association for the period (Monday, 17th August to Sunday, 23rd August 2020) Segments covered are
* Communication / Letters that addressed key issues
* Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings
* 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:18,20,21,22 August_
Tuesday, 18th August
* IATO Inputs/suggestions for Revision in Guidelines for Grant of Recognition by MoT
IATO on date wrote to Ms. Meenakshi Mehta, Joint Director General Ministry of Tourism, on the above subject. Thursday, 20th August
* Webinar held today the 20th August 2020 on the subject “ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT – ISSUES CONFRONTING TOURISM & TRAVEL INDUSTRY”.
On date IATO thanked, Mrs. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism for organising the above informative webinar and raising important questions of the industry with Mr. Devendra Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of MSME and his team during the webinar.
Friday, 21st August
* Clarification needed on news article appeared in Economic Times with the heading “WTTC appoints ATTOI as nodal agency for ‘Safe Travels’ stamp in India”
On date IATO wrote to Mr. Sumitro Kar, Executive Director, The World Travel & Tourism Council India Initiative on the above issue
* IATO on behalf of its Executive Committee and members thanked Mr. Sujesh Chandra Sinha, Second Secretary (Consular & Culture), Embassy of India, Baku, Azerbaijan, Mr. Florian Sengstschmid, CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board and H.E. Shri B. Vanlalvawna, Ambassador of India in Baku, Azerbaijan for organising the Online interactive meeting with Tour
Operators from Azerbaijan that was virtually organised on 21st August 2020
Saturday, 22nd August
* 36th IATO Annual Convention in Ahmedabad
On date IATO wrote to Mr. Nirav Munshi, Manager (Commercial), SIHM, Gujarat Tourism in response to his email of 21st August 2020 seeking to know from us the possibility if the 36th IATO Convention can be held in January 2021 in Ahmedabad. IATO requested that its proposal to have the Annual Convention in September 2021 may be considered favorably so that
there is enough time for the situation to become normal and a big gathering of tour operators from all over India can be organized that shall do justice to Gujarat Tourism.
2.Webinars/ Panel Discussions/Circulars/Meetings
_Segment 2 update sequence by date:18,19,20,21,22 August_
Tuesday, 18th August
* FICCI Webinar on 'The Future of Tourism Post COVID-19’, August 18, 2020
IATO was invited and participated as a Distinguished Speaker at the webinar.
* Result of Draw of lot for Virtual PATA Travel Mart being held from 23rd – 27th September 2020
Draw of lot was held at the IATO office at 12 noon on Tuesday, the 18th August 2020, about which the concerned members were prior informed on the 17th of August. The result was announced on the 18th of August and those members who had applied were informed on date.
Wednesday, 19th August
* A Webinar was conducted by India Tourism Bangalore on Wednesday, 19th August 2020 at 11.30- 12.30 Hrs IST.
Members were informed on the 17th of August.
* A Draw of lot was held at the IATO office at 12 noon on Wednesday, the 19th August 2020 for the Online interactive meeting with Tour Operators from Azerbaijan on 21st August 2020
All 31 members who had applied were informed on the 18th of August. Selected members were informed on the 19th of August.
Mr. Sujesh Chandra Sinha, Second Secretary (Consular & Culture), Embassy of India, Baku, Azerbaijan was also informed on the 19th of August with the list of the IATO members who are to participate in the interactive meeting.
Thursday, 20th August
* ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT - DEKHO APNADESH WEBINAR ON MSME FOR TOURISM & TRAVEL INDUSTRY
Webinar on 20th August 2020 (Thursday) from 1100-1200 hrs on the topic ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT – ISSUES CONFRONTING TOURISM & TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
This was further to the email regarding the webinar being organised by the Ministry of Tourism on 20th August 2020 at 1100 hours on our issues with MSME.
Mr. Devendra Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India was the presenter himself with his officials. Who gave a detailed presentation and later all the questions were replied by the officials. The Video link of the same webinar is given as under:
https://digitalindia-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yXBrYipUTD2w9ZfK7OSNww
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Members were informed on the 18th of August
* Members questions/queries on MSME to be sent to IATO office by 5 pm on Friday, the 21st August 2020
As a follow up on Ministry of Tourism, Government of India organised Webinar at 1100 hours today, the 20th August 2020 that focused on issues related to MSME Sector & its classification, Registration Process for MSMEs, Credit / Finance Schemes of Ministry of MSME for Services sector, Public Procurement Policy etc. members were requested by IATO on the above subject so that a comprehensive Questionnaire covering all queries can be put up to ADG Tourism.
Friday, 21st August
* Online interactive meeting with Tour Operators from Azerbaijan was organised on 21st August 2020
Indian Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan and IATO organised an Online Interactive Meeting on JIO MEET on 21st August 2020 at 1130 hours to 1330 hours, where tour operators from Azerbaijan and tour operators from IATO participated
* Webinar on the topic "Meghalaya is an Adventure lover's dream come true" in connection with Dekho Apna Desh on 21st of August, 2020 at 04:00 PM.
Members were informed on the 20th of August.
Saturday, 22nd August
* Dekho Apna Desh Webinar organized on Saturday, 22nd August 2020 (1100-1200 hrs.) on “Cultural Heritage of Hyderabad”.
Members were informed on the 20th of August.
3. Media Coverage
_Segment 3 update sequence by date:19 August_
Wednesday, 19th August
The August 2nd fortnight issue of TravTalk covered views of IATO on “New process for airport pass”
http://travtalkindia.com/pdf/2020/TTAug2nd20.
Thanks & regards,
Rahul Chakravarty
COO
www.iato.in