IATO discusses challenges upfront

IATO focused on its sub-committee proceedings and shared the progress with Services Export Promotion Council/Directorate General of Foreign Trade license renewal, visa fee and MOT Fam trip at its luncheon.

TT Bureau

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) discussed the concerns of members, sub-committees and shared the progress that the Executive Committee had made in the last month at its recently-held monthly luncheon meeting. EM Najeeb, Senior Vice President, IATO, said, “We had lots of queries on GST matters as well as the visa fee. The government’s decision to double the visa fee for foreign tourists has been strongly taken up with Ministry of Tourism (MOT) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). We have also decided to activate our sub-committee reports and recommendations and bring everyone at the same level and take the IATO activities forward.”

IATO also announced the appointment of Rahul Chakravarty as its CEO and the farewell of Gaur Kanjilal who served as its Executive Director for the last 14 years.

Updating about the SEPC/DGFT issue, Rajiv Mehra, Vice President, IATO, shared, “We can now apply online to get the SEPC license renewed. As soon as the new government comes in and we have the new rates available, we would be able to apply for DGFT. The revised rates for MOT Fam trips have also been circulated to all the members. The simplification of the procedure of getting the payments still needs to be achieved. We have written to the MOT for the same to avoid delay in payments.”

Mehra also shared that the association hopes for a reduction in visa fee after the elections. Informing about the meeting which IATO had with MOT, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and MHA in December last year, he said, “We had a positive reaction from MHA officials. We met them for the first time and have heard from them too. We have written back sharing our problems which need to be addressed soon. A regular correspondence has started with them.”

The association is also gearing up for IATO Convention to be held in September.