Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and IATO Madhya Pradesh Chapter jointly organized a workshop and Panel Discussion in Bhopal which was attended by about 125 tourism professionals of Madhya Pradesh. Besides the Senior officials of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation and Office Bearers and Executive Committee members of Indian Association of Tour Operators, about 125 tourism professionals of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh region were present. The main objective of organizing this workshop in Bhopal was to gauge as to how we can increase the growth of foreign tourists in Madhya Pradesh, explore new destinations, circuits, collaborate with airlines & hotels  with support from IATO and its members and also to increase IATO membership base in the  state.   

Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary Tourism and Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board was the Chief Guest who inaugurated the workshop and spoke on  forging new relationship and collaboration, investment opportunities in tourism infrastructure, Connectivity, Spoke and hub model in tourism, the 3 world heritage sites of Sanchi, Bhimbetka and Khajuraho, Gwalior to be declared as the city of music, Partnership to be worked out among hotels airlines, Create the critical mass to catapult Madhya Pradesh to the next level, Madhya Pradesh as an emerging MICE and Wedding destination - both domestic and international, Create a eco system in our state for inbound, Need for 50 strong tour operators based out of Madhya Pradesh and Rural Tourism as an USP for Madhya Pradesh. 

Mr. Rajiv Mehra, President of Indian Association of Tour Operators, in his speech apprised the audience about Mr. Mahendra Pratap Singh being appointed as the Chairman IATO Madhya Pradesh Chapter and he also informed them about the 38th IATO Annual Convention going to take place in Aurangabad from 29th Sept to 2nd October and invited them to participate. He said that Madhya Pradesh to be promoted for Cuture Tourism also besides other facets like Wild Life and as per a feedback from Foreign Tour Operators, North east and Madhya Pradesh are in high demand. He mentioned that IATO has taken Connectivity as a thrust area.  Indigo to operate in Khajuraho – Varanasi Sector. This will be a big boost to tourism in Madhya Pradesh. IATO is pursuing with Indigo and Air India for last mile connectivity for the tourist destinations of Madhya Pradesh.