On December 17, 2024, a delegation from the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) met with Mrs. Pravati Parida, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister of Odisha, along with Mr. Samarth Verma, IAS, Director of Tourism, Government of Odisha, in Bhubaneswar. The meeting focused on garnering support for the 40th IATO Annual Convention, scheduled to be held in August 2025 in Puri, Odisha.
The delegation, led by Mr. Rajiv Mehra (President), included Mr. Ravi Gosain (Vice President), Mr. Sanjay Razdan (Hony. Secretary), Mr. J.K. Mohanty (Chairman, IATO Eastern Region), and Mr. Gagan Sarangi (Chairman, IATO Odisha Chapter). Both the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Director Tourism expressed enthusiasm for hosting the prestigious event in the city of Lord Jagannath. They assured their full support and acknowledged the role of IATO in promoting inbound tourism to India.
The IATO representatives highlighted how the convention would contribute to boosting Odisha’s tourism industry, particularly post-event, by drawing attention to the state’s rich cultural and natural heritage.
The delegation also inspected several hotels in Puri to arrange accommodations for convention delegates. With numerous new properties established in the region, the convention will offer an excellent platform for these hotels to showcase their facilities to key stakeholders in the tourism sector.
Later that day, the IATO office bearers held an interactive session with members of the IATO Odisha Chapter at Hotel Swosti Premium, Bhubaneswar. Local members expressed great enthusiasm and pledged their support, eagerly anticipating the convention’s success in August 2025.
This event marks a significant step toward strengthening Odisha’s position as a leading tourism destination, with the IATO Annual Convention expected to attract national and international attention to the state.
