TTF Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Mumbai catalyse revival of travel and tourism
Good response from the tourism industry at the TTF three-city series helped reignite the engines of travel according to the tourism industry
THE VOICE OF CHANDIGARH| TRAVEL TRADE REPORTER:
TTF three-city tour usually organised in the fall season preceding Puja and Diwali holidays in Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Mumbai was successfully concluded recently. Hundreds of exhibitors and representatives from 20+ states participated in the TTF series on 10-12 September in Kolkata, 23-25 September in Ahmedabad and 29 Sep-1 Oct in Mumbai.
The shows brought together under one roof the best of the travel industry from all over India and the Maldives, for reviving and restarting tourism.
The TTF events were most awaited after more than a year without any travel trade show in the biggest travel markets of the country. The shows had participation from a large number of States and good private participation from Pan India, confirming the resolve of the travel & tourism industry to make a comeback, with cautious confidence.
The last of the series, TTF Mumbai, was graced by the visit of stalwarts of the tourism industry: Satpal Maharaj, Hon’ble Tourism Minister, Government of Uttarakhand; Aditi Tatkare, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism, Government of Maharashtra; DilipJawalkar, IAS, Secretary Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand; Mr D. Venkatesan, Regional Director West & Central, Indiatourism Mumbai.
Honorable Tourism Minister, Government of Uttarakhand, Satpal Maharaj said: “TTF Mumbai has brought back to life the hospitality industry and the private sector. Covid has affected the lives and livelihood of thousands and meeting here today is a very important step towards defining safety protocols and moving forward together as an industry to revive travel and tourism.”
Honorable Minister of State for Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, Aditi Tatkare commented: “We have not had a chance to have a program like TTF Mumbai in the last 2 years. The TTF team has taken a very good initiative for all of us to gather as a nation together to better promote tourism. This is the need of the hour to explore and expand tourism as much as possible.”
Mr Jenu Devan, IAS, Commissioner and Managing Director, Gujarat Tourism attended TTF Ahmedabad and TTF Mumbai and interacted with visitors at the Gujarat Pavilion.
“For the last one and a half years, tradeshows and exhibitions have been virtual. TTF Mumbai and the earlier TTFs have matched the expectations of the travel trade. Events like TTF are seeing a big success because of the initiative to provide a platform for professionals to meet live. People want to discuss, connect and see their queries answered in person, and we can see people coming back in large numbers to these physical events.”
TTF Mumbai saw the participation of Maldives Tourism with a big pavilion and seven participating Maldivian DMCs, hospitality, airline and tour operators, sending a strong signal towards the Indian travel trade of their commitment to the Indian market. India Tourism was present in a big way in the TTF series. Air India was the Partner Airline.
TTF Series had the active support and presence of travel associations like OTOAI, ETAA, TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI, IATO, Skal International Mumbai South, Skal International 144, IAAI, NIMA, ABTO, IATTE, SITE, UTEN, TAAN, TAAP, VTA, MTOA, ITDSECS, TEN, TAG, TLC, VTAA, SATA, GTAA, SGTCA, TAAS, ATAA, RAAG, TOSG, TAAB, ATSPB, TAHAT, EHTTOA.
TTF Kolkata was reserved to travel trade visitors on the first day and a half and open for all thereafter; while TTF Ahmedabad and TTF Mumbai were reserved exclusively for the travel trade, on all three days.
“Success of all the three shows was more than what we expected. These were attended by stalwarts of the travel and tourism industry, all unanimously confirmed meeting in person was the need of the hour, said Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media, the organisers of TTF – the oldest and largest travel tradeshow network in India.
