TravTalk India Online Magazine
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Western region has requested India Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism to restart issuing e-visas for international tourists, in time for the upcoming season. During the session, they brought up some key points, including the question of e-visas for inbound clients.
Hazel Jain
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, through IndiaTourism, has been conducting intensive workshops with the travel trade to encourage them to sign up for its E-Recognition programme for travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators. The recognition as an approved travel agent shall be granted by the Ministry of Tourism initially, for five years.
It recently conducted another one of its virtual sessions on this for the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) members. It was the initiative of IATO’s western region and saw more than 50 members participate in this. NS Rathor, Chairman, Western Region for IATO, says, “The main focus of this educational seminar was to increase our membership. We also want to increase their awareness and educate our members about how to become an MOT-certified service provider and avail the benefits of the various MOT schemes and Market Development Assistance (MDA) for domestic tourism.”
Rathor adds, “Some key points were also brought up during the session, including the question of e-visas for our inbound clients. Since international travellers start planning six months in advance, this would be the tight time to open up e-visas which would allow them to plan for the upcoming tourist season. It is important that our next steps are planned so that inbound tourism can open up smoothly and safely. We also brought up the issue of promoting India through social media by each and every members and how MOT can compensate us for that.”
Sharing some of the highlights of this programme’s benefits, Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director (West & Central Region) Indiatourism Mumbai – Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism, says, “This is a stamp of standard by the Government of India. It is a big marketing tool as well and lends credibility to the service provider. We have received many queries from foreign tour operators and those from other states in India asking if a particular agency is reliable or not. We go back and check our database and give a go-ahead if they are in our database. This is where this recognition also helps. Agencies also automatically get a listing in the MOT website.” He described how the government has relaxed guidelines to facilitate all new as well as experienced travel agents to register and be recognised by with the Ministry and also answered various questions asked by the participants. Dhattareyan also gave words of encouragement to participants, not to be disheartened by the scenario.
