IATO’s 41st Convention to focus on “India: The World’s Next Tourism Opportunity”; 1000 delegates expected
IATO
A major highlight of the convention will be the Indian Tourism Fair (Travel Mart), scheduled for September 11 and 12, 2026 at the convention venue.
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is set to organise its 41st IATO Annual Convention from September 10 to 13, 2026 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. President of IATO, Ravi Gosain announced the theme of the convention, “India: The World’s Next Tourism Opportunity”. Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach will be the host of the event.
Sanjay Razdan, Vice President, IATO, highlighted that the association is aiming to attract nearly 1000 delegates from across the country. He further added that curated post-convention tours will be organised to showcase Andhra Pradesh’s diverse tourism offerings, enabling stakeholders to promote these experiences in both domestic and international markets.
Sunil Mishra, Honorary Secretary will be the Chairman of the convention along with Deepak Kumarr Bhatnagar, Honorary Treasurer as the Co-Chairman of the convention, while Vijay Mohan, Co-Chairman- IATO Andhra Pradesh will be the coordinator.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Tourism & Culture, Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary (Tourism), Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General (Tourism), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India along with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu and Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism & Culture, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh will attend the convention.
Gosain informed that the event is being hosted with the support of the Government of Andhra Pradesh including Kandula Durgesh, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Cinematography, Ajay Jain, Special Chief Secretary (Tourism & Culture), Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, and Amrapali Kata, CEO, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority.
The three-day convention will feature high-powered business sessions, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and domain experts to deliberate on critical issues shaping the future of tourism. Blending business with engagement, the event will also host a series of vibrant activities.
A major highlight of the convention will be the Indian Tourism Fair (Travel Mart), scheduled for September 11 and 12, 2026 at the convention venue. This platform aims to facilitate meaningful interactions between IATO members, State Tourism Boards, and industry stakeholders, fostering partnerships and driving tourism growth.
