IATO Holds its 43rd Annual General Meeting in New Delhi: Focus on Tourism Revival, Policy Advocacy, and Digital Transformation
The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) held its 43rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at The Claridges, New Delhi, marking over four decades of dedicated service to India’s inbound tourism sector. The event brought together leading stakeholders, policymakers, and members from across India to review progress, discuss emerging challenges, and outline the roadmap for future growth.
Delivering the Welcome Address, Mr. Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, extended a warm welcome to members and reaffirmed IATO’s unwavering commitment to promoting India as a premier global destination. He highlighted IATO’s strong policy engagement with the Government and key achievements during the year, particularly concerning GST rationalization, the reopening of the China market, and digital transformation initiatives. “IATO’s strength lies in its unity, credibility, and persistent advocacy,” said Mr. Gosain. “We remain committed to ensuring our members’ concerns stay at the forefront of national tourism policy discussions.”
Key Achievements and Policy Engagement
Mr. Gosain noted that following IATO’s sustained efforts, the GST Council introduced amendments benefitting the travel trade. The GST rate on hotels below ₹7,500 has been reduced from 12% to 5%, while the 5% rate on tour operator services remains unchanged. He reiterated IATO’s continued advocacy for:
- Granting Export Industry Status to foreign exchange-earning tour operators,
- A uniform 5% GST on passenger transport and restaurant services, and
- Recognition of tourism as a core service export at par with IT services.
He also emphasized opportunities arising from the reopening of the China market, urging faster visa processes, reinstatement of e-visas, and simplified biometric procedures.
Skill Development and Digital Transformation
Highlighting capacity-building initiatives, Mr. Gosain announced a series of First Responder and GenAI training workshops across major cities to help members enhance operational efficiency and technological readiness. He also unveiled IATO’s upgraded website, offering members personalized access to circulars, updates, and client queries, with upcoming social media promotions planned to expand visibility.
Annual Report Presentation
Presenting the Annual Report, Mr. Sunil Mishra, Honorary Secretary, IATO, paid tribute to late members of the fraternity and detailed IATO’s extensive advocacy, engagements, and achievements over the past year. Mr. Mishra underscored IATO’s strong feedback on the Union Budget 2025–26, particularly criticizing the sharp cut in the overseas marketing allocation for the Ministry of Tourism—from ₹33 crores to ₹3 crores. He called for a minimum ₹1,000 crores annual marketing budget to meet India’s target of 30 million foreign tourists by 2028, emphasizing the need for sustained international promotion through trade fairs, FAM trips, and digital campaigns.
“Without robust overseas marketing, India risks losing its competitive edge to regional peers,” he warned.
Key policy recommendations presented included:
- Removal of cascading GST in tourism,
- Implementation of Tax Refund for Tourists (TRT),
- Rationalization of hotel GST,
- Deemed export status for inbound operators, and
- Adequate allocations for tourism promotion and Marketing Development Assistance (MDA).
The Secretary also noted IATO’s active participation in major global travel marts—WTM London, FITUR Madrid, ITB Berlin, ATM Dubai, and GITB Jaipur—as well as strong regional engagement through chapter meetings in Srinagar, Andaman, and Mumbai. He further highlighted the success of the 40th IATO Annual Convention in Puri, Odisha, which drew over 1,100 participants and set the tone for future conventions in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (2026).
