• The membership of the association shall be open to organizations of good professional reputation and standing, who have been associated with tourism and / or travel industry for at least one year.
• All applications for membership must be made as per prescribed form, to be proposed by one active member and seconded by any other member of the Association. Both the proposer and seconder members’ organization shall not be members of the Executive Committee. In case the application is proposed by the Regional /State Chapter Chairman, there is no requirement of the recommendation of the active member. Membership subscription of both proposer and seconder must have been paid till 31st March for the previous financial year.
• The applications for membership shall be considered by the Executive Committee in a duly convened meeting and approved by a majority of two third of the members present.
• Each company can nominate maximum 3 persons i.e. MD/Full time Director/Owner/Partner/Senior Official of the company (General Manager and above), who would be the authorized representatives of the company for all activities of IATO. They would also be entitled to vote in the elections on behalf of the company. However, the representation would be done by only one person at a given time in any of the meetings, events. Only one person can vote in the elections. In case of any paid employee is nominated as representative of the company in IATO, he should be on regular pay roll of the company. Any person being nominated as representative must have completed minimum one year in the company except in case of a new company or in case of change of ownership. However, representation of any person can be revoked by the company and other person can be nominated subject to eligibility as above.
• In case of any court case or any dispute, involving the members of the executive committee or IATO, legal advice may be taken by the EC. Legal expenses on this account would be borne by the association.

The membership of the association shall be composed of

The Executive Committee may at any time create different classes of members and may provide for entrance fees and subscriptions and define their respective rights and privileges. The Executive Committee shall have power to dispense with the payment of the entrance fee/membership fee, if they deem fit. The decision of the Executive committee will be final in all cases.

• Active Members:- A firm or company having an established place of business in India and recognized by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India as Tour Operator including Adventure Tour operator / Travel Agent and its major substantial part of activity of promotion of tourism and foreign exchange earnings in a year is minimum Rs. 25,00,000 (Rupees Twenty Five Lakh only), shall be eligible for membership as an active member of the Association provided an application is made and accepted by the Executive Committee. However, requirement of foreign exchange earnings for the applicant from North East and Andaman & Nicobar Islands will be minimum Rs. 5,00,000 (Rupees Five Lakh only). Only one office of a firm or company shall be admitted as an active member of the Association. The Active Members shall have the right to vote in the proceedings of the association/IATO Elections.
• Allied Members:- Any firm or company, which is regularly engaged or associated with tourism and travel industry such as carrier companies, hoteliers, restaurants, excursion agents, transport contractors, forwarding and clearing agents, shipping companies, state tourism corporations / organizations, hotel marketing representatives/ agencies, trade publications / educational institutions/ company /corporation / organization in operation for a minimum period of one year and having minimum turnover of Rs. 10 lakh per annum and Rs. 5 lakh per annum for applicants from North East Region and Andaman & Nicobar Island. In case of GreenShoot/Start ups approved by MoT, they can apply for allied membership soon after MoT recognition is granted. This will be valid for initial period of 3 years. The allied members shall have the right to participate in the activities of the association except to vote. They shall have no right to vote in the proceedings of the association/IATO Elections.
• Associate Members: Any other office including overseas offices of an active or allied member shall be eligible for associate membership of the association. They shall have no right to vote in the proceedings of the association. (NO CHANGE)
• Overseas Allied Members: Any international firm or company or tourism body, which is engaged or associated with tourism and travel industry for at least one year with minimum turn over equivalent to Rs. 10 lakh per annum shall be eligible for membership as overseas allied member of the association. These members shall have the right to participate in the activities of the association except right to vote. They shall have no right to vote in the proceedings of the association/IATO Elections.
• Affiliate Members:- Any company/firm providing services other than mentioned in Allied Category may apply to be an Affiliate member. They shall have no right to vote in the proceedings of the association/IATO Elections.
• Provisional Members: Any person who has at least 20 years’ of experience, working in any IATO approved company, and opens up his own company would be eligible to be a Provisional Member. It would be valid for one year only. Such members shall have to apply for regular membership as per eligibility. They would have no right to vote in the proceedings of the association/IATO Elections.
• Honorary members: The Executive Committee may invite persons, who are Hall of Fame Awardees and distinguished members of the society and / or who have distinguished themselves by their services to the tourism and Travel Industry in the National or International field, to become Honorary Members of the Association. Such members will be invited to the association by the unanimous vote of all the members of the Executive Committee. They shall have no right to vote in the proceedings of the association/IATO Elections.

The Executive Committee may at any time create different classes of members and may provide for entrance fees and subscriptions and define their respective rights and privileges. The Executive Committee shall have power to dispense with the payment of the entrance fee/membership fee, if they deem fit. The decision of the Executive committee will be final in all cases.

For Change of Membership Status from Allied to Active difference in annual subscription plus GST is to be paid.

EC is empowered to decide and review/ increase the membership fee from time to time.

• A member may resign from membership of IATO and upon acceptance of its resignation by the Executive Committee, it shall cease to be a member.
• The annual subscription of member shall become due on 1st April of each year. If the subscription is not paid within 60 days from the due date, the member shall deem to be a defaulter. If any member fails to pay its subscription beyond the period of 60 days from 1st April of each year, the Hony. Secretary shall issue a notice calling for payment through certified post/email of such dues within 30 days and if the payment is not made within the said 30 days from the date of receipts of the notice, the member shall cease to be a member of the Association. If desired, the said member can request to re-instate its membership after clearing all the dues.
• A member who causes damage or prejudice to the Association or who does not comply with the rules and regulations of the Association or misbehaves with fellow members in public (including on Social Media), or cheats any member or any other such act, the EC is empowered to suo-moto take notice of such act and issue a show-cause notice and grant such erring member 10 days' time to submit reply. After receiving the reply, the EC shall convene a 3 member independent Committee who would consider the reply and also grant an opportunity of hearing to the member. The Committee would then submit their findings in writing to the EC. The EC shall then take into consideration of the Committee and take a decision accordingly with regard to the membership. The decision shall be communicated to the erring member in writing.
  If a member has to be expelled from membership, the same shall be done by a resolution of the Executive Committee to be Passed at a duly convened meeting and supported by at least ¾ of elected members present. The voting on the resolution shall be by Secret Ballot. The President shall have a casting vote.
• If any complaint is received from a member against another member for not following the business ethics and for defaulting in making payments for the services availed/sought from the fellow members, the EC shall issue a show cause notice to such defaulting member and grant such defaulting member 10 days' time to submit reply. After receiving the reply, the EC shall convene a 3 member independent Committee who would consider the reply and also grant an opportunity of hearing to the member. The Committee would then submit their findings in writing to the EC. The EC shall then take into consideration of the Committee and take a decision accordingly with regard to the membership. The decision shall be communicated to the erring member in writing.
  If a member has to be expelled from membership, the same shall be expelled from membership of the Association by a resolution of the Executive Committee to be Passed at a duly convened meeting and supported by at least ¾ of elected members present. The voting on the resolution shall be by Secret Ballot. The President shall have a casting vote.
• A Member or the EC Member of the Association may be issued a show-cause notice and may subsequently be expelled/ suspended on account of disciplinary action taken by the Association on following acts of a Member that shall be construed as ‘Misconduct”:
  • Conviction of the Member or EC official by the Court for criminal and/ or economic offence.
  • Any act of the Member or EC official against the interests of the Association or Travel and Tourism industry.
  • Writing, posting, forwarding any post that defame, malign, damage the image of the Association/ its Executive Committee, on any social, print media including Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Instagram etc.
  • Writing any circular, article, comment through letter/ email/ circular to the Members/s or EC officials of the Association, that contain derogatory, abusive, insulting and defamatory language about the Association, its Executive Committee or the members.
  • Noncompliance of any of the directions of the Executive Committee duly approved in the General House.
  • Unruly behavior or activity of the Member or EC official during any meeting/ conference/ conclave/ FAM / event/convention etc. of the Association resulting in disruption of the meeting/ conference/ event or bringing disrepute or damage to the name and cause of the Association.
  • A Member being declared Proclaimed Offender or Undischarged insolvent or bankrupt by court.
  • Any other act of the Member or EC official that may cause financial loss/ disrepute/ administrative difficulties in carrying out aims and objects of the Association.
  • Any act of the member or EC official disregarding/ violating the terms and conditions/procedures/Rules and Regulations contained in MOA and Bye laws of the Association.
• Procedure for dealing discipline related issues:

The Executive Committee may at any time create different classes of members and may provide for entrance fees and subscriptions and define their respective rights and privileges. The Executive Committee shall have power to dispense with the payment of the entrance fee/membership fee, if they deem fit. The decision of the Executive committee will be final in all cases.

• Constant and continuous interaction with the Tourism Fraternity.
• Access to the latest information on crucial industry issues.
• Have special facilities like issuance of Airport passes, participation in Government Tourism delegations, facility of assistance under the MDA Scheme, participation in Trade events subject to recognition by the Ministry of Tourism Govt. of India
• Provides a national level forum for addressing Important Issues with the Government, Media and Foreign Missions
• Grievance handling cell to resolve the matters amicably.