IATO Delegation on 17th December 2024, met with Mrs. Pravati Parida, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of Tourism Minister and Mr. Samarth Verma, IAS – Director Tourism, Government of Odisha, in their Office in Bhubaneswar to seek their support for the 40th IATO Annual Convention -2025. 

The 40th IATO Annual Convention will occur in August 2025 in Puri, Odisha.

The delegation consisted of Mr Rajiv Mehra, President; Mr Ravi Gosain, vice President; Mr Sanjay Razdan, honorary secretary; Mr J.K. Mohanty, chairman of the IATO Eastern Region; and Mr Gagan Sarangi, chairman of the IATO Odisha Chapter. 

Both the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Director of Tourism were very receptive. They were delighted to be the host state of the 40th IATO Annual Convention, which will take place in the city of Lord Jagannath. They assured me they would fully support IATO from the Government of Odisha. IATO also apprised them of its role in promoting inbound tourism to India and explained how the annual IATO convention will contribute to tourism growth in Odisha following our convention in Puri.

The IATO Delegation also inspected various hotels in Puri to secure accommodation for the convention delegates. Many new hotels have come up in Puri, and the IATO convention will provide them with an opportunity to showcase their properties in Odisha to the IATO members and other stakeholders joining the convention. 

Later, IATO Office Bearers also had an interactive meeting on 17th December 2024 at Hotel Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar, with the IATO Odhisa chapter Members to seek their cooperation and support for the convention. Members in Odisha were very enthusiastic and are eagerly waiting for the convention to take place in August 2025 in Puri, Odisha.