IATO requests to reduce entrance fee at all ASI monuments for foreigners - need support to revive

IATO requests to reduce entrance fee at all ASI monuments for foreigners - need support to revive

3rd June 2020

Shri Anand Kumar

Secretary

Ministry of Culture

Government of India

502-C Shastri Bhawan

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: IATO requests to reduce entrance fee at all ASI monuments for foreigners - needs support to revive  

As you are aware, the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) is India's National Apex Body of Tour Operators with the membership of over 1700 across the country. Our membership consists of inbound tour operators, travel agents, tourist transport operators, hotels, airlines, state tourism departments and other stakeholders in the tourism & hospitality industry. The Membership of IATO controls over 90% of all inbound tourism into India. All our active members are recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India who is earning valuable foreign exchange for of the country.

Due to pandemic of Covid-19, Inbound tourism to India at present is zero since February 2020 as all international flights are cancelled and all visa/e-visa were suspended in the month of February/March 2020.

We hope the international flight operation will start soon and Visa/E-visa for tourists will be issued to the intending tourists. We hope inbound tourism to our country will re-begin to some extent. 

As you are aware countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, etc. are very proactive and they have already started marketing their tourism products with lucrative offers being made by them.

In order for us to counteract and compete with our neighbouring and other South East Asian Countries, we need to offer very competitive tourism packages for which we need full support from the government. We have requested the Ministry of Tourism to support the industry by waiving off the Visa Fee for the tourist's visa/e-visa to India for all foreign nationals.

I am writing this letter to request if Ministry of Culture/ Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) could reduce the entrance fee for foreign nationals for entrance at ASI Monuments and they could be charged the same entrance fee which is being charged from the nationals of SAARC countries till 31st March 2022.  

This will help inbound tour operators to reduce the package cost and also will give a message globally that India is ready for welcoming the foreign tourists. We assure you that with your help, we shall revive and bring a good number of tourists within a very short period. This will also help save many young professional workers job in our Industry.

May I request that our above request may kindly be considered favourably to help inbound tourism to revive as early as possible.

Thanking you and with best regards,

Sincerely,

Pronab Sarkar

President

(M) 9811102111

 

Copy to: -

Mr, Yogendra Tripathi

Secretary Tourism

Ministry of Tourism

Government of India

New Delhi

 

Mrs V Vidyavathi

Director General (ASI)

Archaeological Survey of India

Dharohar Bhawan,

24 Tilak Marg

New Delhi 110001

 

Mrs Meenakshi Sharma

Director-General Tourism

Ministry of Tourism

Government of India

New Delhi