ITANAGAR, 13 Sep: The Arunachal Pradesh chapter of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) stressed the need for greater collaboration between Arunachal and the national tourism industry to boost the state's tourism sector.
Speaking at the 41st IATO annual convention in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Bengia Mrinal, the chapter's in-charge, said that such collaboration is needed for expanding market access, improving connectivity, developing quality tourism products and strengthening the state's presence in domestic and international markets, and positioning the state more prominently in domestic and international markets.
During the convention, the Arunachal team showcased the state's tourism potential, including its natural beauty, culture, wildlife and birding, while highlighting its vast potential in adventure, tribal and experiential tourism, according to a release.
The convention also provided the Arunachal team with opportunities to interact with tour operators, hoteliers, transport operators, technology companies and tourism departments from across India, opening avenues for future collaborations, destination marketing and increased tourist movement to the state, the release said.
Arunachal also participated in the 'IATO Run for Responsible Tourism', organised as part of the convention, where Liyum Loyi of Siang Adventure secured the second position in the women's category.
Organised under the theme 'India: The World's Next Tourism Opportunity', the four-day convention, which concluded on Sunday, brought together around 1,000 delegates, comprising leading tour operators, travel professionals, hotel and hospitality brands, transporters, destination management companies, technology and allied service providers, policymakers, senior government officials, and representatives of state tourism departments from across the country.
The convention, one of the most important gatherings on India's tourism calendar, provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, explore business partnerships and deliberate on emerging opportunities and challenges confronting the Indian travel and tourism industry. It also featured high-level business sessions, destination presentations, networking opportunities and the Indian Tourism Fair (Travel Mart).
Senior representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and state Tourism Departments also participated, providing an important platform for policy dialogue and destination promotion.
For Arunachal, the convention offered an opportunity to strengthen the state's engagement with the national travel trade, and to showcase its immense potential in nature, adventure, culture, wildlife, birding, tribal and experiential tourism.
"The 41st IATO annual convention thus served not only as a national platform for discussing the future of Indian tourism but also as an important opportunity for Arunachal Pradesh to strengthen its presence within the country's travel-trade ecosystem," the release said.
It added that Arunachal, with its unparalleled landscapes, rich indigenous cultures, biodiversity, adventure opportunities and unexplored destinations, is increasingly emerging as one of India's most promising tourism frontiers, and that participation in platforms such as the IATO convention is expected to further strengthen its visibility among the national and international travel fraternity.
