The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) will hold its national annual convention in Bhubaneswar from September 7 to 10.
An IATO release said that Odihsa Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda during IATO’s last annual convention in Chennai in September 2016 had proposed for the meet in Odisha.
The IATO convention is one of the most important events on the Indian travel calendar and it attracts between 1,200 – 1,400 delegates each year. It also attracts strong participation from other States as well as numerous senior dignitaries from the political and administrative arms of Central and State Governments. The convention is the main gathering of stakeholders in the tourism industry and the grounds for forming strategies and policies for the coming year. The event also attracts wide spread trade and main stream media coverage, said IATO president Pronab Sarkar.
Vice president Rajiv Mehra mentioned that during the convention several activities will be organized, besides the business sessions like Indian Tourism Fair (Travel Mart).
IATO Odisha Chapter chairman Gagan Sarangi expressed his happiness that the convention is once again going to be organized in Odisha after 8 years. last time the IATO Convention in Bhubaneswar was held in 2008. Thereafter, many developments have taken place and it would be good for the stakeholders to see the new tourism products and the developed infrastructure in Odisha, he added.