The 25th annual Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) convention was inaugurated by the minister of tourism & culture Ambika Soni along with IATO president Subhash Goyal here on Saturday.
The minister also inaugurated a women?s special issue of the Express TravelWorld, India?s foremost travel business magazine from the Indian Express Group, at the convention. The publication decided to salute women?s power in the Indian travel and tourism industry by dedicating the September issue of the magazine to the theme coinciding with the month of ?World Tourism Day?.
The inaugural session was followed by two major announcements?reduction in taxes for guesthouses and IATO extending help for completion of formalities in the ?bed and breakfast? scheme.
Speaking at the convention, the minister emphasised that the government was constantly looking for new ways to increase growth in the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, the IATO president called for an open-land policy in order to meet infrastructure demands of the growing tourism industry. He also sought rationalisation of luxury tax levied on the sector.
Lieutenant governor of Delhi, Tejinder Khanna, spoke about increased employment generation by the industry. He also pointed out various challenges lying at maintaining the unique flavour of the country and the city by offering ethical and practical commitment to all initiatives.
Also present at the occasion were Delhi tourism minister Arvinder Singh Lovely; Rajasthan tourism minister Usha Punia and Sikkim tourism minister RB Subba.