Sri Vijaya Puram, Jun 24: Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) has submitted a request to the Andaman & Nicobar Administration, appealing for the Department of Tourism’s continued and strengthened participation in major national and regional tourism fairs such as SATTE, TTF, and IITM. The association emphasized the critical role these platforms play in promoting the Islands’ tourism potential to a broader audience, including travel agents, tour operators, and prospective travellers across the country .
In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Department of Information, Publicity and Tourism (IP&T), AATO President Mr. M. Vinod highlighted the importance of showcasing Andaman & Nicobar Islands through a professionally designed pavilion that can accommodate local tourism stakeholders.
Significantly, AATO has also proposed a reduction in the current stakeholder participation fee from ₹30,000 to ₹20,000 or below. This, according to the association, would allow broader inclusion, particularly of small and local tour operators who currently find the existing fee structure unaffordable.
We believe that with increased and more inclusive representation, the visibility of the Islands will rise, leading to greater tourist footfall in the upcoming seasons, Mr. Vinod stated.
AATO is optimistic that the administration will consider this request favourably, ultimately benefiting the tourism ecosystem of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands by encouraging greater participation and collaboration from all Stakeholders of the industry.
