Apart from taking up industry issues and concerns and debating tourism ideas and that can put India on global tourism map, the annual IATO Conventions have also sought to put the host destinations in the tourism spotlight. And towards this end, post-convention tours have been an integral part for the IATO Conventions over the years.
These tours not only brings India’s inbound trade, most of whom are IATO members, face to face with the destinations’ tourism offerings but also give them a chance to assess the destinations’ tourism preparedness in terms of infrastructure, accommodation, connectivity and services etc. related to tourism. And not to forget that there are important inputs and learning that can be derived from tour operators who visit and explore various places and attractions across the host state.
Not to miss the opportunity the AP Tourism officials including AP’s Tourism & Culture Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena and CEO of AP Tourism, Himanshu Shukla, attended the IATO Monthly Meeting last week in New Delhi in order to once again invite the IATO members to participate in the convention in full strength next month in Vizag that they are hosting.
Expressing his delight on hosting the forthcoming IATO Convention, Shukla said, “We are really honoured that IATO has decided to organise its convention in Vizag. We wanted to do it in the year 2017 but because of prior commitments it could not happen then. But they accepted our request and are coming to Vizag in 2018 for their convention. We are very much looking forward to host you in the city of Vizag.”
While pointing that as such AP is a new state, the AP Tourism CEO said, “We have everything except Hyderabad. This is a new state with so many new and exciting destinations and we have already hosted three fam trips and many of you already know about us. But we want all the 1500 members of IATO to come to Vizag. Please come! Have a wonderful stay at Vizag. We would like to extend all kind of hospitality to you.”
Furthermore, he added, “We are organising fam trip post the convention. I have received the request of 200 people, but I am open to 500, even 1200 also. They will all be looked after. As such what has been discussed are destinations in and around Vizag. But we are open to new locations also. Kindly come to our new capital. It’s a history in the making where the land acquisition has been done without paying even one rupee. And when you are in Andhra Pradesh, don’t miss lord Balaji, and then only your journey will be completed.”
