VIJAYAWADA: The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) —the apex body for travel trade in the country — in association with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department, would organise its 34th annual convention at Hotel Novotel in Visakhapatnam from September 6 to 9. Disclosing details before media persons here on Tuesday, Minister for Tourism Bhuma Akhila Priya underlined the role of tour operators in promoting tourism.
The objective of hosting the IATO annual convention is to promote tourism in the State rather than attracting investments. Andhra Pradesh’s strength is basically culture-oriented. But new forms like ethnic tourism, Buddhist tourism, eco-tourism, MICE tourism have gained momentum in the State, she said. The IATO has the membership of over 1,700 tour operators, travel agents and hoteliers, who play a major role in guiding foreign tourists to AP. Out of the total, 1,100 tour operators from different parts of the country and abroad would participate in the four-day convention. As part of their visit, the tour operators would inspect the tourism sites and chalk out an action plan for promoting tourism in the State.
Holding the convention in newly formed Andhra Pradesh would be able take the tourism to a new level, she added. IATO president Pronab Sarkar said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons would inaugurate the convention on September 6. On September 7, the body would organise ‘IATO Run for Responsible Tourism’ at 6 AM- -starting from Beach Road, followed by panel discussions regarding tourism promotion in the State and domestic markets.
Plans were also being evolved on how to maintain global standards to attract tourists from different countries and put the state in the international tourism map, he said. AP Tourism CEO Himanshu Shukla said the department has identified 40 destinations in the State to develop as tourism spots. In the first phase, 10 destinations would be developed with basic amenities. Remaining 30 destinations would be developed in the next phases, he said. The AP Tourism would also take advices from IATO regarding the tourism policy to be drafted in the State, he added.