Wednesday 7 March 2012

India to be promoted as year-round destination at ITB Berlin

Union Tourism Minister, Subodh Kant Sahai to inaugurate India pavilion which will witness participation of 50 companies and 11 State Tourism Boards

Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism – Government of India will inaugurate the India Pavilion at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB), scheduled from March 7 to 11, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. The Pavilion will showcase a wide array of the country’s tourism products and destinations at ITB. It’s main focus will be to promote India as a year-round destination among global inbound source markets. The total area of the India Pavilion at ITB this year is 871 square metres. 11 state tourism boards and a total of 50 participants comprising tour operators, destination management companies, hotels and resort companies will showcase their tourism products and destinations at the Pavilion along with India Tourism.


The state tourism boards of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, etc., will be participating at the event. This information was provided by an official from the Indian Ministry of Tourism. Along with Sahai, Devesh Chaturvedi, Additional Director General (Tourism) - Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and distinguished delegates from India will also be present at the inauguration. In addition, India Tourism will also organise an Incredible India evening, breakfast meetings and happy hours during ITB Berlin


Speaking about ITB Berlin and his expectations for India, Subhash Goyal (Chairman- Stic Travels), President - Indian Association of Tour Operators, said that ITB Berlin is the most attended and most efficiently organised travel and tourism trade show in the world. “ITB gives all participants an opportunity to interact with lots of exhibitors on a one-to-one basis. As tour operators, we always like to meet buyers, suppliers and exhibitors personally so that we can understand the products better. It provides good firsthand knowledge about various destinations, various new markets and exposure to new ideas specifically from experts in the tourism arena. Such direct interactions lead to increasing our knowledge on potential markets for India and business contracts are also signed. Our expectations are very high and all our participants are getting ready with varied holiday packages to meet the changing interest and changing profile of tourists.”


Agreeing, Peter J. Leitgeb, President and CEO, The Claridges Hotels & Resorts, said that ITB Berlin is certainly one the biggest travel tourism fairs organised across the globe. “It provides a strong platform for brand exposure on a really wide international level, helping the brand make its mark and gain recognition in the industry. It offers a great networking channel and helps promote India as a Destination very strongly. Above all, ITB Berlin is of prime importance as it helps all travel trade-related professionals to generate business.”


The travel industry feels that the Ministry needs to promote India very effectively in order to make the most of the trade fair as the tourism policy in effect sets the tone for marketing and promotions through the year. “The Ministry plays a very important role at global trade fairs like ITB and sets the trend and tone for marketing India and attracting tourists to the country. Therefore, our expectations are linked to the tourism policy at the concerned time, which should promote all aspects of the country and endeavour to make India an all-year destination. Hence, to be effective and cover pan-India, it has to work with the state tourism boards and bring out the best in what the country has to offer. This needs to be showcased at ITB - highlighting new trends and products with tourist-friendly policies. Expectations can come from growth in the new source markets and niche tourism products promoted at ITB accordingly,” said Arjun Sharma – Managing Director, Le Passage to India.


Sharma also opined that the role of tour operators is limited and it is up to the Tourism Ministry to project Brand India properly. He said, “To increase expectations of getting more tourists, we need to address issues relating to pricing of the tourism products, which is high due to the recession in the source markets when compared to other destinations. If the Tourism Ministry is proactive and innovative in its approach, is constantly working to find new ways to enhance business for India and is working on developing new tourism circuits and introducing new niche products for India, we can be positive on the outcome of ITB. We hope that budgets for Europe are used well to get the maximum exposure from such a platform by studying what others are doing at ITB and what we need to do at our end to tap the potential and be competitive. Our role is limited as tour operators; the bigger picture at ITB has to be projected by the Ministry for development of brand India.”


Rajeev Kohli, Joint Managing Director - Creative Travel said that ITB is one of the leading shows in the world and has always been a strong venue for networking with old and new clients and for enhancing business objectives. “Creative has been going to ITB for over 25 years and we are always delighted to go back. We expect to do good business and make some new contacts this year”.


“ITB is already playing an incredible role in the global tourism business scenario. It is the responsibility of the participant countries and sellers to be more innovative and active to make the whole show outstanding. ITB always provides opportunities for any destination or tourism stakeholder to present themselves in the most prominent manner. My expectation out of ITB would be that India as a participant, and especially Kerala, my own state, who are already actively participating in the trade fair, would again take part in this year’s event and derive benefits out of it,” said EM Najeeb, Chairman & Managing Director - Airtravel Enterprises Group of Companies.

Source: travelbizmonitor.com

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