India - now one of the Most Favored Tourist Destinations for the Global Traveler

MUMBAI, India - UBM India and the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) announces the most eagerly awaited event for the Indian travel trade industry, India Travel Trade Expo, which will be held from 18th to 20th February 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, 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. We 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 & 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 India’s one of the oldest associations in the tourism sector of the country. Its role in the growth of tourism in India is commendable. By bringing and organising 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 retaining the interest of potential tourists alive 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 travelling 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.

About UBM India

UBM India is a part of United Business Media Limited, which is a leading global business media company. We inform markets and bring the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, online, and in print, providing them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, and from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. Worldwide, UBM organizes 300 events, publishes 200 magazines and periodicals, and hosts 200 Web sites.

About TAAI

The Travel Agents Association of India was formed toward the end of 1951 by a group of 12 leading travel agents who felt that the time had come to create an association to regulate the travel industry in India. The primary purpose was to protect the interests of those engaged in the industry, to promote its orderly growth and development, and to safeguard the rights of the traveling public.

TAAI represents all that is professional, ethical and dynamic in our nation’s travel-related activity, and has been recognized as the voice of the travel and tourism industry in India. With a membership database of over 2,300 active, allied and associate members comprising IATA-accredited travel agencies, airlines & general sales agencies, and hotels and tour operators, TAAI is the largest travel association in India.

For more information on the event please contact Mr Tarun Marwah on +91(0)22-6612-2685, or email him at tarunm@ubmindia.com

Source: UBM India Pvt. Ltd.

For more information on the event please contact Mr Tarun Marwah on +91(0)22-6612-2685, or email him at tarunm at ubmindia.com