Orissa to host IATO conference in August

Bhubaneswar, Jun 08 (UNI) About 1200 tour operators from different parts of the country and abroad are scheduled to participate in the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) conference, scheduled to be held here in August next.

The IATO officials, who visited Orissa on May 5 last and again on June six last, had held preliminary rounds of discussion with state Tourism Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Secretary and Director, Tourism, hoteliers, tour operators, airlines representatives and other stakeholders.

The IATO conclave to be held from August seven to August ten will give Orissa a special slot in the business session as well as in the introductory session for presenting its tourism potentialities and investment opportunities.

IATO had also assured that Orissa will figure prominently in the brochure programmes of all tour operators in international market.

This would give the state a platform to be in the international tourism topography in a big way.

Special arrangements had been planned for tour operators for the familiarisation tours to different destinations and elaborate plan to showcase Orissa's art, craft, culture, tradition, dance and cuisines, to be figured on the agenda of IATO conclave.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had given his kind consent to inaugurate the major international tourism convention, while Orissa Governor M C Bhandare would grace the valedictory ceremony.

Among other dignitaries, Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Ministry officials, experts from the trade and other industry partners would also participate the conclave.

The tour Operators would themselves explore Orissa as an exciting destination with the pre and post-convention tours, organised by Orissa Tourism to Golden Triangle, Budhist Diamond Triangle, Bhitarkanika, Chilika Lake, textile circuit in Nuapatna&Sadeibareni and tribal zones of the state.

UNI DP SJC DB2010