IATO set for convention

EM Najeeb, Senior Vice President, Indian Association of Tour Operators, speaks at length about various initiatives and the upcoming convention.

TT Bureau

Q. What is the latest update at IATO? What is the association currently working on?

IATO is pursuing its objectives of working for the professional welfare of the tour operators’ community in India and aggressively promote tourism industry in the country. With our new set of office bearers, we are now looking at forming a set of sub-committees to look into different responsibilities. Once the members join the sub-committees, full-fledged activities will be mobilised.

The National Annual Convention of IATO is on the cards and the association will be focusing on the same for an effective conduct. The Global Travel Mart 2018 by the Federation of Associations in India Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) is also going to be a major event for us.

Q. What steps have IATO taken to pacify tourists’ anxiety about the Nipah virus?

Professional association bodies of doctors along with the Ministry of Health and local hospitals have joined hands to contain the problem. IATO and the tourism industry requested the government to give out statements on measures taken against the disease.

Q. What are the plans ahead for IATO?

IATO will be initiating various activities to create value for members, strengthen relationships with stakeholders in tourism and systematically engage in promotional measures such as roadshows and events in marketing a destination. The Ministry of Tourism has joined hands with FAITH for organising Global Travel Mart 2018 from September 16-18 at Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi.