The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) will organise its 41st Annual Convention from September 10 to 13, 2026, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, under the theme “India: The World’s Next Tourism Opportunity.” The flagship convention is expected to bring together nearly 1,000 delegates, including tour operators, policymakers, tourism boards, hospitality leaders and industry stakeholders from across the country.
Announcing the convention, Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, said the theme reflects India’s immense potential to emerge as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. He also announced that Sunil Mishra, Honorary Secretary, IATO, will serve as Chairman of the Convention, while Deepak Kumar Bhatnagar, Honorary Treasurer, will be the Co-Chairman. Vijay Mohan, Co-Chairman, IATO Andhra Pradesh, will coordinate the event. The Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach has been designated as the official venue, where all convention activities, including registration, the inaugural ceremony, business sessions and evening programmes, will be held.
Gosain informed that N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and Kandula Durgesh, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Cinematography, have accepted IATO’s invitation to attend the inaugural function on September 10. IATO also looks forward to the support and participation of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Tourism & Culture, Bhuvnesh Kumar, Secretary (Tourism), and Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General (Tourism).
The convention is being organised with the full support of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Ajay Jain, Special Chief Secretary (Tourism & Culture), and Amrapali Kata, CEO, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, have extended their cooperation to ensure the successful hosting of the event. Highlighting the convention’s scale, Sanjay Razdan, Vice President, IATO, said the event will feature curated post-convention familiarisation tours showcasing Andhra Pradesh’s diverse tourism offerings, enabling delegates to promote the state’s attractions in domestic and international markets.
With its forward-looking agenda, strong government support and extensive industry participation, the 41st IATO Annual Convention promises to be a landmark gathering that will strengthen collaboration across the travel trade and reinforce India’s position as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
