IATO Convention To Be Held In Cochin, August 26 - 29

Agenda To Focus On Southern States

Jyoti Koul - New Delhi

The 21st IATO annual convention, to be held over three days beginning August 26, 2005, has finalised Cochin as its venue. The conference will be held in the Cochin Convention Centre.

The main focus of the event will be to promote and showcase the southern states of India. Over 1000 delegates are expected to attend the convention.

Speaking exclusively to Express Travel & Tourism, Major Murli Dhar, senior vice president of IATO, said, "After receiving an invitation from several destinations, we have zeroed in on Cochin. We still have to decide the theme. A lot of aspects have to be evaluated before we select the topic for this year's convention but we are sure that we will highlight taxation in an aggressive manner."

Dhar added that the association was busy sending a team of officials to find out about the hotels in Cochin and their tariff rates. "This team will also meet the senior tourism officials in the government," he said. IATO is yet to entrust any of its office bearers to take over as chairman of the convention committee.