Major tourism players sign up for Indian travel mart

According to Richard Gayle, WTI project manager, "gaining the support of these exhibitors underlines WTI as THE show for travel & tourism industry in India. WTI has participants from 16 countries so far and we are expecting more".

"This is the first time Visit Britain have exhibited at any event in India for some years, and Qatar Airways count India as an important market for family, business and leisure travel. Dubai's DTCM will be going in with 11 participants at their stand. These exhibitors will ensure we achieve what we set out to do, that is to consolidate India's disparate tourism events industry and create the kind of world class event India deserves" said Gayle.
According to Nidhi Sharma, Country Manager for India, Visit Britain, "WTI is a Mumbai based event and since we do not have on ground presence there, it would help build the organization profile and image in that region and give greater visibility to Visit Britain".

"The event organizers with their experience and credibility have ensured a very good visitation of a targeted consumer/end user and the methodology being used to reach that target audience and publicity being done for the show have lead us to believe that it would be money and time well spent ," added Sharma. "It would also provide a platform to meet with travel trade partners from neighbouring cities like Pune and Ahemdabad and expand our agents and product base".

For Qatar Airways, Chief Executive Officer Mr Akbar Al Baker "Qatar Airways is very pleased to be a participant at the World Travel India show. India represents an important market for us, and WTI gives us the opportunity to increase our exposure in the Indian market, and build important business relationships".

"Qatar Airways flies 28 times a week to India from its hub in Doha, Qatar. We fly daily to and from Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad and Trivandrum," Al Baker added. "The Indian market is important to Qatar Airways because of the traffic that is generated by family reunions, labour movement and its increasing business and leisure opportunities. Ideally Qatar Airways would like to be serving more than the four cities we presently service in India".

According to Khalifa Ali K Buamaim from DTCM, "World Travel India is one of the most influential international travel & tourism events and commands a huge international status. It serves as an excellent meeting ground to liaise with the top names in the international tourism industry and harness quality business".
"The DTCM has a representative office in India, Mumbai whose core function is to popularise Dubai in the Indian market. By participating at WTI, we are taking a step further in broadening and strengthening our ties with India. The event also helps us in meeting our target clients directly and helps us in giving them first hand information," Buamaim added.

Other major international participants include tourist boards from the UK, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Malaysia joined by their counterparts from Goa, Karnataka, Kerala & Maharashtra. Other exhibitors include major airlines such as Gulf Air, Swiss International and the Indian domestic carriers, Jet Airways and Sahara.

Gayle continued to say "the growing Indian middle class is estimated at more than 300m people. More and more now take organised trips overseas for their holidays to a wide range of destinations". The World Travel & Tourism Council rank India as one of the fastest growing tourism markets in the world with over 6.5 million travelling abroad in 2001 which is expected to rise to over 10 million by 2004.

Conference set to inform & challenge
A travel conference will be staged within the WTI venue with speakers drawn from both international and domestic sectors. These include the President of the International Hotels & Restaurant Association, Eric Pfeffer, the CEO of Qatar Airways, Mr Akbar Al Baker and Mr Ian Graham, the former director of business consulting for Deloitte Touche.

From the Indian market speakers will include India's Minister of Tourism, Sri Jagmohan, Ashish Kumar Singh, Managing Director of the Maharashtra tourism board, Ashwini Kakkar, CEO & Managing Director, Thomas Cook India, Ashok Fenn, President & CEO of Interglobe Air Transport, Saroj Datta, Executive Director of Jet Airways and Cyrus Guzder, Chairman & Managing Director, Carlson Wagonlit India.

Unique networking opportunity
The 2 day conference programme allows for a number of networking opportunities including a "Power Lunch" where senior executives from participating companies get the chance to meet with Indian ministers and tourism officials.