Bangalore: OneWorld Travel Mart (OTM), an international travel show, opened at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, with the promise of “Around the World in 3 Days”.
OTM promises to be a great networking opportunity for the travel trade. It is also a much-awaited event for travel-loving Delhiites.
With over 350 exhibitors and participants from 27 countries and 22 states, OTM has seen an 18 percent growth over last year, necessitating the move from Ashok Hotel to Pragati Maidan.
The three day travel show with clear focus on outbound travel provides an annual opportunity for organizations from around the world to showcase their products to a large cross-section of travel trade industry and consumers, in all major outbound markets in India.
This year OTM is having large participation from China, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, the partner countries. Philippines, Zimbabwe and Syria are also making sizeable presence as feature countries. The other participating countries include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Dubai, Ecuador, Nepal, Latvia, India, Mexico, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Peru, Seychelles, Taiwan, Turkey, Thailand, Tanzania, USA, and Uzbekistan.
From India, partner states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Kerala are participating with large private delegations. Jharkhand and Punjab are the feature states this time, while Delhi is the host state.
The key players in the tourism industry including national and state tourism boards, theme parks and attractions, hotels and resorts, travel agents, tour operators, online travel agencies, airlines, cruise-lines, railways, ground transportation agencies, MICE operators, travel-related financial products, and travel media are marking their presence this year.
Mr. Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman and CEO, Fairfest Medi Ltd said, “We are excited to organize a travel show which not only caters to India alone but is a global forum. Travel and Tourism is a key driver of economic growth globally. India is a coveted outbound market, currently with 12 million Indians travelling overseas annually, and a growth rate of 12-13 percent per year projected till 2015. According to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Country Report for India, this industry contributes 8.6 percent to the GDP, which is expected to increase to 9 percent by 2020. The Travel and Tourism sector currently employs 4.9 crore people, or 1 in every 10 jobs and this is projected to increase to 5.8 crores or 1 in every 9.6 jobs by 2020.”
The gala event is the ultimate platform for face-to-face interactions with the service providers to evaluate information as per individual needs and make instant bookings in a hassle-free manner.
Keeping in view the upcoming peak holiday season, and to spur Delhiites to take that much-needed break, most of the participants are offering the best deals and discounts, unavailable otherwise.
OTM is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the Host State – Delhi, as well as travel industry bodies like Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators (ADTOI) etc.
The first one and a half days of OTM are reserved for travel trade and business visitors, while for the rest of the period the fair is open for all, including those who want to pack their bags for the next holiday season.
“Over the past years we have been receiving a heartwarming response which is a clear indicator that the Indian tourism industry is on a path of consolidation and steady growth, despite the global economic challenges prevailing currently. We expect to outdo the 15,000 footfall it received last year, which included 10,000 trade visitors,” he added.
