IATO Convention 2007

IATO to celebrate Indo-Japan, Indo-China Friendship Year

Anupama Sushil - New Delhi

Subhash Goyal President IATO

Since IATO will be celebrating its 25th year of existence, this year will be of special significance. In its effort to make it different, the association has invited tour operators from all over the world, especially Japan and China as this year is being celebrated as the Indo-Japan and Indo-China Friendship Year.

According to Subhash Goyal, the association's president, it has also invited many international tourism organisations to hold discussions on the problems the tour operators are facing in India vis-à-vis other countries. "This will help us to find strategies as to how Indian tourism can meet global challenges like internet and suppliers going directly to the overseas tour operators and many more," he said.

Business sessions

Session 1: 'Managing Growth in Aviation & Tourism'

It will concentrate on the taxation issue and reducing taxes in order to compete in the global market. Abolition of service tax and fringe benefit tax on the tourism industry, reduction in other taxes like luxury tax, passenger tax and ATF would be the primary focus. It will also talk about high hotel rates and why India has become one of the costliest destinations in terms of room rates.

Session 2: 'Global Warming and its Impact on Tourism'

This will discuss the threats facing the industry globally.

Session 3: 'Building of HRD & Capacity'

The focus here will be on the shortage of manpower in tourism, aviation and hospitality and also the lack of proper institutes for the same.

Session 4: 'E- commerce'

This will discuss internet not only being an integral part of any business but also posing as a threat to the tour operators. Tourism Master Plan 2020 and the kind of preparedness needed for the same will be most discussed. Goyal added that the three-day convention will also discuss other important issues like safety and security of passengers, aviation growth and the role of the concerned authorities. "Visa on arrival is another major concern of the tourism industry. This facility should at least be made available to the nationals of 16 friendly countries short-listed by the government until the industry's demand is met fully," he said.

Commenting on the measures that should be taken for a secure future of tour operators, Goyal said, "We as travel agents and tour operators of the hospitality industry have to gain from the new opportunities and put our act together. We have a long way to go in doubling our room capacity, putting our infrastructures at international standards, rationalise our taxes, and have one-window clearance. The only way we can achieve this is by putting the country's interest before ours, whether we are hoteliers, travel agents or tour operators. We must also not get bogged down by petty politics of TAAI, TAFI, IATO, HAI or FHRAI but work together as one industry in the larger national interest."