Ministry of Tourism plans to revise guidelines of National Tourism Awards

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India is planning to revise guidelines of National Tourism Awards for the year 2010-2011, according to a reliable source from the Ministry. MoT is undertaking the revision exercise in order to instate more awards to recognise new segments in the travel and tourism industry. A closed-door meeting will be held on December 20, 2010 to discuss and formulate new guidelines for National Tourism Awards for 2010-2011. The meeting, according to the source is most likely to be chaired by Devesh Chaturvedi, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism and will be attended by prominent stakeholders from the tourism industry, top office bearers of travel and hospitality associations and ministry officials. The National Tourism Awards for 2010-2011 ceremony is likely to be held early next year. 

Explaining the need for revising the guidelines, the source said that Indian travel and tourism industry is witnessing lot of changes and new niche segments, destinations, category of hotels have emerged. “The Ministry wants to expand the scope of the Awards to make them more inclusive and enable it to recognise and reward players of such new segments and categories,” informed the source. 

Speaking about the move to revise the guidelines, Vijay Thakur, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) said that the Association will be participating in the meeting on December 20, 2010. Apart from the suggestions for the new guidelines, he said that the Association will urge MoT to confer National Tourism Awards only to those who follow all the specific criteria in tourism business. “MoT should set up more specific criteria for selecting each recipient,” claimed Thakur. 
As per the current guidelines MoT presents National Tourism Awards to travel agents and tour operators including best adventure tour operator, best domestic tour operator, most innovative tour operator, best MICE operator, tourist transport operator, best hotels in different categories, outstanding performers in publishing and meritorious students of the institute of hotel management and Indian Institute of tourism and travel management etc.