The forthcoming IATO election has brought FAITH into renewed spotlight, but not for good reasons. ‘Team for Change’, led by Divine Voyages’ Lally Mathews, has expressed serious disenchantment with FAITH’s relevance and capability in effectively taking up issues and concerns of IATO and its members’ interests. And serious as it is, the team has also alleged that taking up most of the issues through FAITH has undermined the stature and standing of the association and that “IATO has lost its identity” because of its attempt to reach out to the government under the banner of FAITH.
Furthermore, in a no holds barred attack, the team has also raised some serious disillusionment with the current IATO representative, questioning the representative’s competency, understanding of tourism business and, albeit discreetly, if the representative is a ‘real’ tour operator himself. IATO is currently represented in FAITH by its immediate Past-President and EC Member Subhash Goyal. Goyal has been the longest serving IATO President, position he has held for about 15 years or seven terms, between 1994-2000, 2003-2007 and 2012-2015.
Informing that he had opposed the idea of IATO joining FAITH when it was formed around eight years ago, Mathews said, “IATO was doing all by itself and the Ministry (MoT) had recognized it. One of my points that I put forward when I was opposing for FAITH is that IATO is going to lose its identity. Which correctly if you all agree with me today, IATO has lost its identity. They are piggybacking on FAITH for a lot of things. So, I intend to go ahead solo as far as possible.”
Mathews also added that “wherever there is a common interest programme done by FAITH, we will support it.” “I am not saying I am totally against it, but my idea is to go solo. IATO will follow itself for our problems and deliberations with the Ministry.” Mathews was speaking at media briefing that ‘Team for Change’ had organised in the run up to the March 06 IATO election recently.
Incumbent Sr. Vice President, EM Najeeb, who has contesting for the same position, has also questioned the current committee’s wisdom in approaching the government through FAITH with a long list of demand for help in the aftermath of Covid crisis at a campaign meeting with IATO members last Saturday.
He said that all representation given to the government was through FAITH that consists of ten associations and with every association giving three-four points, he argued that the government would barely pay attention if there are 30-40 points running into several pages. He said, “They can’t do anything even if they wanted to.” Instead, he suggested that IATO should have given its own representation with a single point agenda.
Contest the forthcoming election for the post of Secretary, Mudgill said that they are not walking out from FAITH “right now”and that “if FAITH comes around it is for the best.”
“What I promise on behalf of the entire team is that this time our representative in FAITH is going to be effective, person who knows tourism. Our representative in FAITH is a total failure. IATO should have called that representative who could not bring FAITH to our point of view immediately back. We will send a person who understands the plight of the members, who understand the business and who is a real tour operator,” Mudgill said.
“We don’t want to kill any organization. We will stand by them as long as they are moving in the right direction. If they are not moving in the right direction, we will raise our voice,” he further added.
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