Remarkable Rao from Incredible !ndia
I.R.V Rao, Assistant Director of India Tourism for West Asia and Africa, has provided dedicated 29 years of service to the Indian Government, bringing him great responsibilities with power and position. He has been a pillar of strength for his government
I.R.V Rao’s passion for travel and tourism led him to work with the Ministry of Tourism as it would ensure him job satisfaction coupled with both growth of self and organisation. Given his cordial and social attitude and philanthropic ways, Rao chose the Tourism Ministry to begin his career as an Information Officer.
When he first stepped into the Ministry of Tourism in 1988 as an Information Officer, he got many an opportunities to directly liaise with tourists. As Assistant Director, I.R.V. Rao’s role is most challenging as he has to compete with different countries. Backed by the unique offerings of India Tourism, Rao and his team at the Dubai office have made both the ministry and the country proud.
Achievements
Rao began his professional career in Manipur state in the North East region of India. Once his years’ tenure was over he was relocated to Goa. He completed 10 long years serving the government and tourists by earning a lot of appreciation. Some of the noteworthy incidents in his career during the early 1990s were that he helped many tourists in the capacity of an Information Officer. He successfully helped trace the missing son of a German tourist from Stuttgart, for which the then-Director General Ashok Pradhan (IAS) gave him an appreciation letter. Devoid of technological support back then, Rao and his team had to base their investigations on human interactions and relations, and wired telephones.
During his stint in Goa, Rao helped many tourists in his capacity and received accolades from the Ministry of Tourism as well as tourists. Another noteworthy incident was when two ladies from Australia requested a hotel room on New Year’s Eve in Goa, which is peak season for tourism in the state. However, Rao became the man of the hour as he managed to get the rooms through his cordial relations with industry players. “We need to help foreign tourists to ensure that they are very well equipped with lot information, ensuring safety and security. We conducted a programme ‘Safe and Honourable’ tourism in order to update all the stakeholders of hospitality, travel and tourism. This programme implemented by the Ministry of Tourism was one of its best received ones,” Rao states.
His subsequent posting was at Aurangabad (Maharashtra, India) where he served for five years and then he was sent to Canada for a period of three and half years. Upon his return, he was promoted as Assistant Director and was posted at Mumbai for two and a half years. Rao was re-posted to Aurangabad for three years and finally embarked on Dubai nearly four years ago. He operates out of India Tourism office in Dubai but overlooks West Asia and Africa as well. Here, Rao’s role consists of promoting India as a preferred tourist destination in the West Asia and Africa region among locals, expats, NRIs and even encourage travel trade and media to organise tourism packages and experience India through roadshows, and familiarisation tours. India Tourism also supports the travel agents by providing brochure support, joint advertising, online advertising and provide sufficient tourism promotional material to promote India. They also conducted ‘Know India’ seminars in various GCC countries for tour operators and airlines.
India-UAE relations
His Highness Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day this year. This strengthened the bilateral ties even further and according to one of the MoU’s signed, Indian passport holders with a valid US visa or Green Card will be granted visa-on-arrival in the UAE from May 1, 2017. This facility was only available to Japan as other 161 countries must apply online and secure the approval before embarking a flight.
Changes in the tourism industry
In the 1980s and 1990s Indian tourism industry boomed after ‘Visit India Year 1991’. This was a turning point in the Indian tourism industry. All stakeholders worked together to promote India both internationally and domestically. Earlier, they had very few approve travel agents and tourist guides in India but after the tourism boom, the ministry started its own institute IITTM in Gwalior to produce more trained manpower required for the travel and tourism industry. After the IT boom and internet services in India it became quite easy for tourists to book their tours, hotels etc on their own saving their time and money India offers a wide range of tourism products which is unique and not available in most countries in the world. For example Yoga originated from India and many flock there to learn the actual art of yoga. Ayurveda is one of the oldest treatments recognized by the world; UAE, Europe, America. India is the only country with over 6 luxury trains, 77% of Himalaya mountains and flora and fauna in Kashmir and the national parks with endangered species are just a few of what India can offer to ensure more visitors from all over the world.
As Assistant Director, Rao’s role is most challenging as he has to compete with other countries. Backed by unique offerings of India Tourism, Rao and his team at the Dubai office have made both the ministry and India proud I.R.V. Rao Assistant Director of India Tourism for West Asia and Africa