The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) recently raised a series of urgent calls for bolstering India’s inbound tourism under the banner of #InboundTourism and #IncredibleIndia. The apex tourism body stressed that now is the time for decisive action if India is to reclaim and accelerate its global tourism standing.
Among the issues flagged, IATO emphasised the need for a huge push in marketing and promotion across the world. It argued India must project a coherent, year-round image as a destination and invest accordingly in international campaigns. In tandem, the association raised the critical requirement of infrastructure development and cleanliness to match the expectations of global travellers and address bottlenecks in destination readiness.
The organisation also highlighted the importance of guides, trained manpower and meet & greet services at airports, noting that the first impression often sets the tone for inbound tourists’ experiences. According to IATO, suitably trained staff and well-managed arrival services are key to delivering on the “incredible” promise.
On the global marketing front, IATO called for an effective global campaign as a facet of promotion into India — capable of engaging source markets beyond the traditional ones. It proposed deepening presence in new geographies and using digital, roadshow and partnership-driven models of outreach.
Further, the association urged the government to strengthen foreign Embassies/High Commissions by installing dedicated tourism officers, so that India’s narrative is actively advanced overseas. Finally, IATO asked for funding support to Embassies/High Commissions for tourism promotion into India — suggesting that diplomatic missions be equipped with resources to run destination campaigns.
