Andhra Pradesh will host IATO meet in Vizag from September 10 to 12, says Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh

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Andhra Pradesh Minister of Tourism and Culture Kandula Durgesh. | Photo Credit: File Photo

Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh on Thursday said that Andhra Pradesh would host the 41st national annual convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) in Visakhapatnam from September 10 to 12.

Speaking at the Secretariat in Amaravati, Mr. Durgesh said the event would bring leading tourism representatives, tour operators, hotel managers and policymakers from across the country onto a single platform and serve as a great opportunity to promote the State’s tourism sector.

The IATO, a leading organisation in inbound tourism with more than 2,068 members across the country, had launched a special drive to increase the participation of tourism stakeholders from Andhra Pradesh, he said, and informed that the ₹10,000 (plus GST) one-time admission fee payable by the tour operators, hotels and tourism stakeholders from Andhra Pradesh had been completely waived.

“But this concession will be available for applications submitted until December 31, 2026,” the Minister informed, adding that the convention registration fee, which was normally ₹6,000 for the IATO members and ₹8,500 for non-members, had been reduced to ₹3,000 for delegates from Andhra Pradesh.

Eligible local tourism representatives could apply online through the official IATO portal — https://iato.in/Register/form — without paying any initial admission fee, he said.

Mr. Durgesh said more than 1,000 leading tour operators, domestic travel companies, destination management companies, hotel industry representatives and airline representatives were expected to attend the convention. “This will provide tourism stakeholders in Andhra Pradesh an opportunity to showcase their hotels, resorts and tourist destinations at the national level, without promotional costs, and establish direct business relationship with leading tour operators from across the country,” he said.

The Minister urged owners and managements of hotels and resorts, tour operators, travel agencies, homestay operators, transport operators, tourist guides and aspiring entrepreneurs to make use of the opportunity, obtain IATO membership and participate in the convention.

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