Indian Association of Tour Operators convention commences in Bhubaneswar

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K. J. Alphons, the new tourism minister in India, has asked the travel industry to come up with concrete, imaginative ideas to boost tourism to India.

In his first activity after taking over, the former bureaucrat told the 33rd annual convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators in Bhubaneswar on September 7 that there was no reason why India should not get 22 million tourists a year – the number of people visiting the Paris Louvre museum annually. Presently, only 8.8 million come, he regretted, adding that he will only come to the IATO convention next year, if this was achieved.

He also said, answering travel agents’ demands to clarify GST tax etc, that the government was looking at it.

The Minister heard the demand of the iATO president P Sarkar that tax on tax, as it is happening in India’s tourism, should not happen.

Chief Minister of host State, Odisha, Nsveen Patnaik, called for more international flights to the State and e-visa facility in Bhubaneswar.

Ashok Panda, Minister of Tourism in the State, said that they were ready now for more arrivals, with the infrastructure.

Market specific campaigns and Incredible India 2.0 were being developed, said Ms Rashmi Verma, the Tourism Secretary , government of India.

She called for joint efforts by Centre, States and industry to promote tourism.

The three day convention will debate on the unique challenges faced by tourism, said IATO president Pronab Sarkar, adding that more jobs will be created only of the tax structure was suitable.

Over 1000 delegates are attending the convention and tourism officials from 15 States are present.

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Anil Mathur - eTN India

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