Volume 1 Issue 3 October 2019 24 pages For Private Circulation Only XYZThe Business called A tourism industry communication by Indian Association of Tour Operators Volume 1 Issue 1 May 2019 24 pages Synergy is the key: Glimpses of the TOURISM MINISTER CONVENTION Quick tips and UPDATES ON GST Cover depicts Dal Lake, Kashmir C1 ONVENTION September 2019 IATO SPEAKS IN KOLkata: A great success Contents PM's Thoughts Explore Inside Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India IATO urges all its members and their M Narendra Modi has stressed the Pneed to focus on festival tourism vendors to fully support Prime Minister in India and also urged Indians living abroad to promote traditional festivals. While extending Diwali greetings to the Narendra Modi's initiatives: nation, the PM said that our festivals have 6 11 enormous scope for promoting tourism. Noting that Diwali is now also celebrated in several countries with the participation of their Governments, Modi said that India presented multiple possibilities for festival tourism as it is a “land of festivals”. “We must try to promote our festivals including Holi, SWACHH BHARat ABHIYAN Diwali, Onam, Pongal and Bihu; and invite people from other states and (Clean India Mission) countries too to join the festivities,” 14 22 PM Modi said. He said that every state and region in the country have their own festivals and people from foreign Pg. 6 IATO CONVENTION Pg.18 TAXING TIMES nations have a very keen interest in 35th annual convention in Quick tips and them. “In our country, every region has Kolkata, a great success updates on GST so many diverse festivals which the Indians living abroad must promote so as to facilitate festival tourism in India.” Pg.19 MEMBERS RENDZEVOUS Pg. 11 ACHIEVEMENTS New membership He said that Indians living abroad have IATO's efforts bear fruits an important role in helping to boost approved festival tourism in India. PM Modi also urged the people to be compassionate Pg. 12 THEN & NOW Pg.20 NEW INitiatiVES and generous during the festive season Postcard from paradise Action in place to resolve to ensure that the less privileged also industry issues become part of the celebrations. "Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have Pg.16 UPDATES Pg.22 IN CONVERSatioN the potential to be the biggest tourist State Chapter Chairmen hub. Remember, there was a time when Synergy is the key: Kashmir was the favourite destination working in tandem PS Patel of Bollywood filmmakers. In the future, I am confident that films, regional and global, will be filmed in J&K," BAN ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC Cover Picture Courtesy: DDP Archives PM Modi said. Honorary Secretary IATO Speaks is a publication of Indian News, Media & PR Committee Rajesh Mudgill Association of Tour Operators (IATO). All information is derived from sources, we feel Neelam Thakur (Convener) reliable and passed on to the members without Atul Rai Editorial Board any responsibility on our part. IATO assumes Neelam Thakur no responsibility for returning any unsolicited Harish Chopra matters. Jurisdiction is restricted to Delhi. Manish Poddar Atul Rai Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Manoj Matta Harish Chopra IATO Speaks is owned by IATO and printed & 310, Padma Tower II, 22, Rajendra Place, Manish Poddar published on their behalf by DDP Publications Pvt. Ltd. & is printed at Modest Print Pack New Delhi - 110 008 Manoj Matta Pvt. Ltd., Delhi Tel : 91-11-25750028, 25754478, 25738803 E-mail: [email protected] IATO SPEAKS October 2019 3 President's Message President's Message facing and the suggestions to overcome such problems. Delhi – Patna - Delhi and Delhi – Varanasi- Khajuraho- With the help of Ministry of Tourism, Government of Varanasi -Mumbai sector from November 3, 2019 and We are indeed grateful India and personal attention of our Hon’ble Tourism Air India will restart its daily flight on Delhi- Varanasi- to the Government of West Bengal Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel, this vision document was Khajuraho- Varanasi- Delhi sector from October for making the 35th IATO annual shared with all state governments and Finance Ministry, 29, 2019. On our request and follow ups along with convention achieve the results Home Ministry and Commerce Ministry to press upon Aurangabad Tourism Guild , you will be pleased to our concern. This helped a lot in recent changes made know that after 21 years, Air India is commencing it had visualised. by the Government on e-Visa and also reducing GST operation of flights on the Mumbai - Aurangabad from 28% to 18% & 12%. We are still having our pending – Udaipur – Aurangabad – Mumbai sector w.e.f. demand of GST to remove cascading effect on tour October 16, 2019, which will operate thrice a week i.e. operators’ services and make it on added value. Second Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. pending demand is to treat tour operators services at and hospitality industry as this was hampering the par with exporters as deemed export services and get IATO members were invited by Uday Singh growth of Indian tourism industry and we were not the same benefits as exporters. Kumawat, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, able to compete with our neighbouring countries due Government of Bihar to offer suggestions for increasing to higher taxation. Hospitality industry also pressed We presented two videos, one on women safety and tourist inflow to Bihar. You will be happy to note that we Pronab Sarkar the demand to reduce the highest GST on hotels and other a thematic on tourism products for promoting gave ten valuable inputs that were much appreciated our efforts have borne fruit, the GST Council took the destinations - Incredible India. The same is available by the authorities and they assured us to take it further decision in favour of tourism and hospitality industry on IATO website for your information and use. for developing the tourism potential areas in future. In Dear Friends, to reduce the rate of GST on hotel accommodation the service to our valued members we took up some and outdoor catering services. We are sure the move I feel proud to let you know that on IATO request, major issues with concerned authorities that have e had a very successful 35th annual convention will give a boost to the Indian tourism industry and Vistara is going to start operation of its daily flights on been highlighted in your newsletter. Wat Kolkata where over 1000 delegates, 15 state will bring job opportunities in the sector. We at IATO governments, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India are ensuring that the benefit of reduction of GST is May I request you all to continue sending your and our host state West Bengal added the fervour and passed on to the end users who will get the benefit feedback to us so that with each issue we come up with business sense with their participation. The inaugural of this announcement as with this substantial relief nascent features that shall cater to the excellence of ceremony, the strong content of the business sessions, in GST rate on hotel rooms, the package cost will Jenu Devan, MD & Commissioner of brand IATO and in the service to our valued members. learned speakers, motivational talks, India Tourism reduce. This is good news for all inbound, adventure, Tourism, Govt. of Gujarat announced Mart, social evenings and six-well designed post- MICE and domestic tour operators, where India has Wishing you the best in all your efforts and a very convention tours were the much talked about facets been losing out to neighbouring countries. Talking during his address at the inauguration prosperous Happy Diwali. of the convention. We were honoured to have Prahlad about other platforms Ministry of Tourism with IATO of the IATO convention that Gujarat Singh Patel, Minister of State for Tourism, Government organised international roadshows that were attended will host the 36th IATO annual of India as the Chief Guest at the valedictory session. by members in significant numbers. The upcoming convention in September 2020. We are indeed grateful to the Government of West roadshows in China and Colombo are expected to Bengal and the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister witness active participation by our members. Pronab Sarkar of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee for making the President convention achieve the results it chalked out. We We put up our sustained efforts at ITM 2019 to make are thankful to Goutam Deb, Minister-in-Charge, it a successful event. IATO actively participated in Tourism Department, Government of West Bengal, selecting foreign buyers and was also part of Fam Atri Bhattacharya, Principal Secretary (Tourism), Tour Committee, Transport Committee and Exhibitors Government of West Bengal, Meenakshi Sharma, DG Committee. IATO gave valuable inputs to overcome all Tourism, Government of India, Rupinder Brar, ADG the issues that were of major concern for the members Government relaxes e-visa policy for Chinese nationals Tourism, Government of India and all the dignitaries last year. We have incorporated all suggestions of our from 15 state governments, the members of the press members given last year and tried our best to bring he Government has announced multiple-entry e-business visa will and media and the members of IATO for their support ITM 2019 to the members satisfaction level. We are Tsignificant relaxations in its continue to be issued from the online and participating in this grand event open to more suggestions from our members for ITM e-Visa policy for Chinese nationals, platform of Indian visas. to make it fruitful to our members next year again. the Indian embassy in Beijing has In the past two months, your association had announced. “October 2019 onwards, It is anticipated that this unilateral significant achievements to speak about.