Make group-landings viable: IATO
Clarifications from the Ministry of Home Affairs were sought to ensure that the group- landing permits are implemented effectively and all inbound players can make use of this facility.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had announced the revised procedure for foreign tourists in groups of four or more arriving by air or sea, sponsored by Indian travel agencies approved by the Ministry of Tourism, and with a pre-drawn itinerary in April 2013.
The inbound tour operators had been keen to make use of the scheme, but hadn’t used it due to the want of cer- tain clarifications. Here, the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) had taken a lead by requesting the MHA for required clarifications and volunteering to help the cause of attracting foreign tourists’ arrivals.
“We have sought clarifications from the Ministry of Home Affairs so that this can be implemented effectively and our members can make use of this facility. Here, the airlines also need to be informed that tourists might be taking flights without visa and they should be allowed to board. It can be with computer printouts, which confirm that they are part of the group and they have applied for CGLP. As per the Circular no. 423 of MHA, it is required to fill in the application online on www.indianvisaonline.gov.in. But, on the website, it is only visa form that too, mission specific and there is no visible provision for submission of group itinerary. It is important to understand, where the application is to be filed by the tourist and which documents to be submitted by him,” said Subhash Goyal, President, IATO.
“The format of undertaking to be given by tour operators should also be clarified to ensure nothing is left out. Moreover, the responsibility of the touroperator, in case a group member slips out, should be limited to reporting the matter to the nearest police station and/or FRRO regional or the central office. The tour- operator shouldn’t be held responsible beyond this,” he added. Goyal is also quick to highlight that IATO has always worked for inbound tour-operators as an effective platform.
“We, at IATO, always try to get detailed clarifications from the concerned ministries on issues related to different ministries. We then circulate them to members for their benefit.”
“Tour operators cannot dictate terms, but can give directions on behalf of the Indian Government. There are some certain rules followed all over the world, which have to be followed by the visiting tourists. It is not only in our country that we have to give directives to the tourists, on behalf of the government. There are var- ious reasons, largely the security reasons, which cannot be compromised. However, Visa- on-Arrival has been introduced for many countries, which was not there earlier. Similarly, more cities like Goa, Kochi, Trivandrum, Hyderabad and Bangalore have been added. So government now understands the value of tourism and its contribution in creating employment and revenue generation,” added Goyal.