India becoming a favored tourist destination for the global traveler

UBM India and the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) announced the most eagerly-awaited event for the Indian travel trade industry, India Travel Trade Expo, which will be held from February 18-20, 2010 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.

According to the latest Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) research released by the World Travel and Tourism Council, India’s travel and tourism industry was estimated to have generated approximately US$100 billion in 2008. This figure is expected to go up to almost US$275.5 billion by 2018, growing at an average of 9.4 percent over the next 10 years. Moreover, according to TSA research, travel and tourism is expected to contribute 6.1 percent to India’s GDP and provide almost 40 million jobs by 2018.

As the financial capital of India, Mumbai features on every India travel itinerary. With good air along with good road and rail connectivity, the city attracts tourists from all over India and overseas.

India as a country offers exciting and diverse experiences to tourists. Each state has its own unique traditions, culture, and cuisine. Apart from this, the country has excellent beaches, backwaters, Ayurvedic health resorts, ancient monuments, world heritage sites, forts, palaces, hill stations, and wildlife. We have all heard about the heritage palace hotels that make you feel like maharajas and maharanis, a truly luxurious living experience found only in India, and something that overseas tourists look forward to. Good hotels to suit all budgets are available all over the country. India now also offer homestays, where you stay with a family as a member of the household and enjoy their hospitality and traditional ethnic cuisine. The Indian railways now run special luxury trains, each with unique themes that cover most of the important state tourism circuits. Truly, India has them all.

“It has been a dream of TAAI to promote business opportunities in the Tourism Industry in India and also to protect the interests of our membership at large by providing for an unique platform for networking and to take their business to the next level. This is what we aim to do with ITTE 2010,” said Mr. Iqbal Mulla, Hon. treasurer and chairman – Marts & Special Events.

“This is indeed a historical moment for all of us when the nodal travel and tourism association (TAAI) in partnership with the leading global business media company (UBM) have today announced the creation of ITTE 2010 – the biggest, best, and most unique travel mart and exposition,” said Mr. Rajji Rai, president, TAAI.

“TAAI is [one of] India’s oldest associations in the tourism sector of the country. Its role in the growth of tourism in India is commendable. By bringing and organizing the India Travel Trade Expo 2010 in Mumbai, the TAAI will be contributing in furthering the growth of tourism in India especially at a time when global recession has affected this sector all over the world. This event falls immediately after the ‘Visit India Year 2009’ and will help in [keeping alive] the interest of potential tourists to make India as a preferred destination for a visit. I wish this event all the success,” said Ms.Sujata Thakur, regional director, Indiatourism, Mumbai.

“This country is well-known for its hospitality and welcomes guests with open arms. India loves to share her rich heritage and culture with her guests and believes in the philosophy, guest is God,” said Mr Gandhi, managing director, UBM India Pvt., Ltd.

A booming economy and an increase in disposable income have led to a massive growth in the number of Indians traveling abroad. The Indian tourism and hospitality industry has thus emerged as one of the key sectors driving the country’s growth, and it is thriving, owing to a huge surge in both business and leisure travel by foreign and domestic tourists.

To act as a catalyst and give a boost to the travel industry in the country, UBM India and TAAI are presenting this event in India as their contribution to this booming and upcoming industry. The objective is to provide the travel trade and visitors a platform, which will offer domestic and overseas tourists new vistas of business opportunities.