IATO has urged PM Modi to allocate ₹1,000 crore for the Incredible India campaign and establish an India Tourism Board. It seeks simplified visas, faster group visa approvals, visa fee waivers, and airline incentives to boost foreign tourist arrivals. These steps aim to revive inbound tourism, especially with the upcoming tourist season approaching.
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The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) urges the Prime Minister for ₹1,000 crore to boost foreign tourist arrivals and strengthen inbound tourism recovery.
The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), a key industry body representing tour operators in India, has approached the Prime Minister with urgent requests.
Their primary concern is that foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India have not yet recovered to the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. They believe immediate action is required to revitalize inbound tourism, especially with the next tourist season approaching.
Financial Boost for "Incredible India Campaign" => They urge the government to allocate an immediate ₹1,000 crore to the "Incredible India" campaign, to promote India as a tourist destination. A larger budget would allow for more extensive and impactful global marketing efforts.
Establishment of an "India Tourism Board" => IATO advocates for the creation of a dedicated India Tourism Board, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. This indicates a desire for high-level attention and a more coordinated, powerful body to push tourism strategy and implementation, to increase foreign tourist arrivals.
Simplified Visa Facilitation => Making the visa application process easier and more user-friendly for potential tourists.
Fast-Tracking Group Tourist Visas => Expediting the visa process for tourists traveling in groups, which can often be a cumbersome procedure.
Exploring Visa Fee Waivers => Waiving visa fees for tourists from select countries to make India a more attractive and accessible destination.
Incentivizing Airlines => Providing incentives to international airlines and air charter services to improve air connectivity to key tourism circuits. Enhancing connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 destinations, which have tourism potential but lack adequate air links.
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