“The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India stands firmly with the Government of India and the vision shared by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this period of global uncertainty. For us, the country comes first—always. As responsible citizens and as representatives of the travel fraternity, we fully support every effort aimed at keeping India safe, strong and economically resilient.
At the same time, we must respectfully highlight that tourism is often the first casualty in any crisis. It is among the first sectors to be hit and, unfortunately, among the last to recover. The Hon’ble Prime Minister’s appeal to citizens to defer non-essential foreign travel and choose domestic tourism, made in the larger national interest amid concerns over fuel prices, foreign exchange and global disruptions, will naturally have a significant impact on the outbound travel community.
While we cannot fully ascertain all the circumstances that led to this important national call, we recognise the seriousness of the situation and the need for collective responsibility. However, we are also deeply concerned about the livelihoods of thousands of travel professionals, tour operators, travel agents and allied service providers who depend on outbound tourism.
In light of this, OTOAI has initiated the process of seeking an audience with the Prime Minister’s Office to place before the government the concerns, challenges and practical realities of the travel trade. We hope to arrive at a balanced and reasonable way forward that protects national interest while also safeguarding the people and businesses connected with our industry.
We stand in solidarity with our members and with every stakeholder of the tourism fraternity. We assure them that OTOAI will make every possible effort to represent their concerns responsibly and constructively.
In the meantime, we urge everyone to stay united, undertake only necessary travel, travel responsibly, and continue to uphold the spirit of service, resilience and patriotism. These are difficult times, but with unity and understanding, we will overcome them together.”
The Outbound Tour Operators Association of India
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