India's Biggest Travel Show, TTF&OTM, Opens In New Delhi

• Promises to take visitors “Around the World in 3 Days”
• Over 300 exhibitors from 27 countries

The country’s biggest travel show, TTF&OTM, was inaugurated today at the Ashok Hotel, by Shri Sultan Ahmed, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India, in the presence of senior diplomats and a large number of dignitaries and officials from the travel and hospitality industry from all over India and abroad.

India is a coveted outbound market, currently with 12 million Indians travelling overseas annually, and a growth rate of 12-13% per year projected till 2015. This is reflected in the fact that 27 countries are represented at TTF&OTM New Delhi. The importance of domestic tourism, the backbone of the Indian tourism industry, is underscored by the participation from 17 Indian states.

Travel and Tourism is a key driver of economic growth globally. According to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Country Report for India, this industry contributes 8.6% to GDP, which is expected to increase to 9% 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 importance of the sector and the strong and steady growth trends have resulted in a healthy 20% increase in the number of participants at TTF&OTM New Delhi as compared to last year, i.e. 300 vis-à-vis 250.

Canada & China have a big presence as Partner Countries, while the Feature Countries are Macau and Philippines. The other overseas participants are from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Dubai, Ecuador, Egypt, Hungary, India, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand and Uzbekistan.

From India, Partner States like Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala are participating with large private delegations. Karnataka, West Bengal and Punjab are the Feature States this time, while Delhi is the Host State.

The other states represented include Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

TTF&OTM is an ideal forum for tourism organizations to aggressively launch their travel trade and consumer marketing campaigns in the New Year for a good summer season ahead.

Most of the destinations, international as well as domestic, are making an aggressive pitch for the Indian Tourist with attractive displays and eye-catching exhibits showcasing their attractions. Culture, nature, adventure, cuisine, history, antiquities, shopping, events etc. are all showcased here.

Besides doing up their stalls attractively, participants are also organizing marketing and cultural presentations to add value to their participation, and give visitors a feel of their destinations.

Participants at TTF&OTM include 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.

TTF&OTM provides the Indian travel industry a platform to network and transact business with their counterparts from all over India and abroad. It also provides Delhiites with a one-stop opportunity to make their national and international travel and holiday plans. It helps them evaluate various options available and decide on standard or customized packages suiting their budget and individual needs and interests. TTF&OTM boasts of a committed visitorship of travel trade members, corporate and business travel decision makers, as well as leisure and holiday travelers.

Continuing the trend of public-private partnership in destination promotion, many of the countries and states are participating along with private operators. Prominent among these are the large contingents from China, Philippines, Macau, Canada etc. Among the Indian states, the largest delegations are from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Kerala, and Gujarat. While the countries and states do generic destination promotion, the private sector organizations strike deals, and transact the actual buying and selling of tour packages, hotel rooms and transportation, with the travel trade, business travelers, MICE sector, groups and FITs.

TTF&OTM is timed just before the peak vacation season, when prospective tourists make their travel plans. This is also the time when the travel operators contract business with their suppliers, and launch their packages and brochures.

Last week, the TTF&OTM Mumbai received an overwhelming response from exhibitors and visitors, emerging as the biggest-ever travel mart in India.

TTF&OTM is India’s only travel mart focusing exclusively on the Indian Tourist. About 10,000 visitors including travel trade are expected to visit this one-of-its kind tourism extravaganza in New Delhi.

It is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India and many other industry bodies.

The event is on till Saturday, 26th February, and promises to take visitors “Around the World in 3 Days” – or less. Two days 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.

The Partner Organisations of TTF&OTM 2011 New Delhi are: Official Tour Operator – SOTC, Official Trade Publication – TravTalk, and Online Partner – Travel Techie.com. TTF&OTM is organized in 7 other major travel markets in India, besides New Delhi - Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Surat. Fairfest Media, the organizers of TTF, have launched their maiden international foray, the OneWorld Travel Mart (www.oneworldtravelmart.com) OTM, San Francisco, from 26th - 29th May 2011.