ETW STAFF – New Delhi
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) will organise its 29th Annual Convention from 8-11 September, 2013 at Le Meridien, Kochi (Kerala). The theme of the convention is ‘Tourism – Innovations & Partnerships’. The subjects for the business sessions are being finalised. Arun Anand is the chairman and Lally Mathews and EM Najeeb are the co-chairmen for this year’s convention. This was announced by Subhash Goyal, president, IATO recently.
“Kerala has set an unprecedented growth in tourism. Thanks to the initiatives taken by the Kerala government under dynamic leadership of chief minister Ommen Chandy. With IATO’s support most of the states where we had our earlier conventions achieved a rapid pace of development. We usher the state into a future of progress and prosperity. This has been a reality in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra where we had our previous conventions,” said Goyal.
Anand added, “Every year, we try to promote a new state and work for an integrated growth. We have also earlier been to Kerala and this year, Kerala was in our mind from very beginning for our annual convention due to sea change in the tourism scene in Kerala. The state with its infrastructural developments holds lot of prospects and potential for inbound tourism.”
Mathews mentioned, “Our objective of innovating and re-innovating to build our members trust, consumers interest to the destination being focused, establish connection with decision makers in the state and one to one basis promote the new destination products, to draw-out special strategies to attract customers with value additions, launching new products which offer unique experience of the state and create job opportunities for locals in motivating us for this selection.” Najeeb stated that the unique tourism potential of Kerala with its beaches are being developed in a big way. Post convention tours have been drawn up to give a real experience of Kerala.
