Latest news with #IndianAssociationofTourOperators
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
Vacation rush to tourist hot spots in south India
Kolkata: As temperatures soar across India, tourists are increasingly turning to hill stations in south India for their summer getaways. Popular destinations like Munnar, Ooty and Kodaikanal have emerged as popular destinations for holidayers from Kolkata. Also in demand are Wayanad and Thekkady in Kerala; Yercaud in Tamil Nadu; Coorg, Chikkamagaluru and Nandi Hills in Karnataka; and Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh. Several of these destinations combine colonial charm with natural beauty, featuring tea plantations, scenic lakes, and pleasant weather throughout the summer months. "Hill stations like Ooty and Kodaikanal witnessed consistent footfall, with tickets being booked well in advance," said Indian Association of Tour Operators chairman (West Bengal) Debjit Dutta. The accessibility and well-developed infrastructure of these destinations make them particularly attractive to families and group travelers. Kerala's hill stations are gaining prominence among tourists seeking less crowded alternatives. Wayanad, with its lush forests and wildlife sanctuaries, has emerged as a favourite among nature enthusiasts. "Although not promoted as extensively as other destinations, Kerala's hill stations offer exceptional natural beauty," said Travel Agent Association of India chairman (east) Anjani Dhanuka. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "There has also been a rise in footfall in forests like Jim Corbett and Ranthambore. Goa remains an all-time favourite among travellers for all seasons. Gujarat saw a spike in tourism as the IPL final was held there," informed Travel Agents Federation of India managing committee member Anil Punjabi. Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim that are usually popular summer destinations have seen footfall plummet due to the terror strike at Pahalgam and landslide in Sikkim. Many are avoiding Uttarakhand because places here are also prone to landslides. Darjeeling closer home continues to be a top draw. But the Western Ghats region has seen increased interest from travellers looking for peaceful getaways that offer trekking, wildlife spotting, and other cultural experiences, said Paperboat Holidays director Arunodoy Dey.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IATO Calls for Formation of India Tourism Board with ₹1,000 Crore Budget to Boost Inbound Tourism, ET TravelWorld
Advt By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETTravelWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App The Indian Association of Tour Operators ( IATO ) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi , urging immediate intervention to revive inbound tourism by allocating a INR 1,000 crore budget under the Incredible India campaign and forming a central ' India Tourism Board ' under the Prime Minister's leadership. The move comes in light of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India remaining below 2019 levels during the last financial on internal assessments and consultations with inbound tourism stakeholders, IATO has concluded that India continues to underperform despite its natural and cultural appeal. The letter highlights the urgency of action, pointing out that the upcoming season offers a narrow window to reverse this Gosain, President of IATO, said, 'When global trade is facing unprecedented disruptions due to tariff wars and geopolitical shifts, tourism exports remain unaffected by such constraints. Unlike goods, India's tourism export (i.e. foreign tourists spending in India), which is non-tariff based, brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country. This positions inbound tourism as a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account with valuable foreign exchange, employment generation and balances forex trade deficit. Yet, regretfully the country is lagging in its effort to attract foreign tourists.'He further added that inbound tourism has strong soft power implications. 'Considering every foreign visitor to India becomes an ambassador of Indian culture, heritage, values and the immense multiplier impact it has in terms of employment generator and net revenue it earns, we still have not valued it as much as we should have. This sector alone has the potential to contribute 1–2 percent to the GDP and therefore this engine needs to fire,' Gosain stated.'To enhance FTA numbers besides the steps suggested above. We need simplified Visa facilitation , expanding the scope of e-Visas, fast-tracking group tourist visas and exploring Visa fees waivers for select countries. Further we need to incentivise international airlines and air charters to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 destinations,' he concluded.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Tour operators ask PM Modi for ₹1000 crore allocation to increase foreign tourist arrivals
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make an immediate budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore under the 'Incredible India' campaign and form an 'India Tourism Board' under the PM's leadership with the specific objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) in the country. The IATO is the national apex body of in-bound tour operators and works closely with the Government and other hospitality stakeholders on policy issues related to foreign tourist arrivals. In a letter to Mr. Modi, the IATO said, going by trends and following discussions with stakeholders, FTA in India has still not touched the 2019 level in the last financial year. Even though foreign tourist arrivals in India have seen a rebound post-pandemic, they are still below pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals reached 9.52 million, which was 87.09% of the pre-pandemic level of 10.93 million in 2019. The Ministry of Tourism reports that the 2023 numbers were 47.89% higher than in 2022 (6.44 million), but still significantly lower than the 2019 peak. Way below potential The letter dated May 28 said while the importance of in-bound tourism as a precious foreign exchange earner and soft diplomacy tool cannot be over emphasised, India as a destination that offers raw and natural beauty is performing way below its potential. 'These measures are required as the coming season is a few months away, and it can help boost inbound tourism in this financial year,' it said. Ravi Gosain, Ppresident of IATO, said, 'when global trade is facing unprecedented disruptions due to tariff wars and geopolitical shifts, tourism exports remain unaffected. Unlike goods, India's tourism export (i.e., foreign tourists spending in India), which is non-tariff based, brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country. 'This positions inbound tourism as a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account with valuable foreign exchange, by generating employment, and by helping to balance the forex trade deficit. Yet , regretfully, the country is lagging in its effort to attract foreign tourists.' He added that to enhance FTA numbers besides the steps suggested above, the steps required are: simplified visa facilitation, expanding the scope of e-Visas, fast-tracking group tourist visas, and exploring visa fee waivers for select countries. Further, we need to incentivise international airlines and air charters to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially to tier-2 and tier-3 destinations.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
IATO urges govt to set up tourism board; seeks ₹1,000 cr budget allocation
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), a key body representing domestic tour operators, said on Monday that it has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an India Tourism Board, along with a budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore under the Incredible India Campaign, to attract more foreign tourists. According to IATO, India is still not seeing the same number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) as it did before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019. "While the importance of inbound tourism as a precious foreign exchange earner and soft diplomacy tool cannot be over-emphasised, India as a destination with such raw and natural beauty is performing way below its potential," the association noted. Immediate action needed to boost inbound tourism IATO said that the upcoming tourist season is only a few months away, making it the right time to introduce such measures. "To step up, IATO has written to the PM, where it has urged immediate budgetary allocation of ₹1,000 crore under Incredible India Campaign and formation of India Tourism Board under the PM's leadership with the specific objective of increasing FTAs," the statement added. IATO President Ravi Gosain highlighted that unlike global trade, which is currently affected by tariff wars and geopolitical issues, tourism exports are free from such challenges. "Unlike goods, India's tourism export (i.e. foreign tourists spending in India), which is non-tariff based, brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country. This positions inbound tourism as a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account with valuable foreign exchange, and employment generation and balances forex trade deficit. Yet, regretfully the country is lagging in its effort to attract foreign tourists," he stated. To support the growth of foreign tourism, IATO has also recommended easier visa processes, which includes expanding the e-visa facility, faster approvals for group tourist visas and considering visa fee waivers for selected countries. "Further we need to incentivise international airlines and air charters to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 destinations," Gosain said. India's tourism industry: Outlook According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), India's tourism and hospitality sector is expected to yield revenue exceeding ₹5,12,356 crore ($59 billion) by 2028. Additionally, the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) is projected to reach 30.5 million by that year. India's Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated ₹2,541.06 crore ($291.07 million) to boost its tourism sector, focusing on upgrading infrastructure, developing skills, and making travel easier. The key initiatives include developing 50 major tourist destinations, providing MUDRA loans for homestays, improving connectivity, and expanding e-visa services. Travel and tourism are among the largest industries in India, contributing approximately $ 199.6 billion to the nation's gross domestic product. According to India's Tourism Minister, the country's tourism industry is projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20% over the next few decades, fuelled by the expanding middle-income group and rising disposable incomes. India's geographical diversity and rich cultural variety offer unique experiences, making it one of the top countries in terms of international tourism expenditure.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IATO urges PM Modi for Rs 1,000 cr boost to Incredible India Campaign
Indian Association of Tour Operators ( IATO ) said Monday it has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has requested for an immediate budgetary allocation of Rs 1000 crore under the Incredible India Campaign . IATO said it is also seeking the formation of 'India Tourism Board' under the PM's leadership with the specific objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals . These measures are required as the coming season is a few months away and can help boost inbound tourism in this financial year, the industry body said in a statement. As per trends observed by IATO and discussion with every other FTA( Foreign Tourist Arrival) stakeholder, it is assessed by the body that FTA in India has not still not touched the 2019 levels in the last financial year. "When global trade is facing unprecedented disruptions due to tariff wars and geopolitical shifts, tourism exports remain unaffected by such constraints. Unlike goods, India's tourism export (i.e. foreign tourists spending in India), which is non-tariff based, brings direct foreign exchange earnings into the country," said IATO president Ravi Gosain. "This positions inbound tourism as a stable, sustainable, and immediate contributor to India's current account with valuable foreign exchange, employment generation and balances forex trade deficit. Yet , regretfully the country is lagging in its effort to attract foreign tourists," he added. Live Events He said to enhance FTA numbers besides the steps suggested above the country needs simplified visa facilitation, fast-tracking of group tourist visas besides exploring visa fees waivers for select countries. "Further we need to Incentivise international airlines and air charters to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 destinations', he added.
