Exploring New Horizons – IITM Begins with Excitement and Business Opportunities!

‘India International Travel Mart’, India’s Premier Travel and Tourism Exhibition, Date: 14 – 16 February 2025, Venue: Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, Netaji Subhash Stadium, Kolkata

The Voice of Chandigarh :

The Voice of Chandigarh News :

Kolkata is set to host the much-anticipated ‘India International Travel Mart’ (IITM) from February 14 – 16, 2025, bringing together key stakeholders from the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors. Held at Hitex Exhibition Centre, this premier travel and tourism exhibition promises to showcase a diverse range of domestic and international destinations, services, and innovations. With participation from leading tour operators, travel agencies, state tourism boards, and international Destination Management Companies, IITM Kolkata is poised to become a hub for fostering connections, promoting tourism, and unveiling new opportunities in the industry.

The Guests of Honour at the Inauguration included Mr. Owais Mushtaq, Additional Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism, Mr. Sanjeev Mehra, President, Skal International, India, Mr. Manav Soni, MC. Member, Travel Agents Assc. of India, Mr. Amin Asghar, President, Skal International, Kolkata, Mr. Kaulesh Kumar, Secretary General, Assc of Buddhist Tour Operators, Mr. Kaushik Banerjee, Chairman, Eastern India, ETAA, Mr. Prashanto Majhi, President, TAAB, Mrs. Sushmita Ghosh, Founder Member, Travel Network Meet, Mr. Manas Mohapatra, President, Tourism Welfare Assc.,

As IITM celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, the occasion forms an important business platform. Travel agencies, hoteliers, tour companies, and other industry stakeholders can interact and network resulting in collaborations, partnerships, and joint ventures. IITM features 150+ exhibitors from 15 Indian states, showcasing diverse travel options like pilgrimages, adventures, culture, wildlife, and more.

The event is a perfect platform for Travel Agents looking for partners from across different genres from religious travel, adventure, family holidays, Heritage and honeymoons or to even those, who are looking for conference destinations for their companies etc. As the world embraces sustainable practices, IITM takes strides to promote responsible tourism and wellness. The exhibition demonstrates eco-friendly initiatives, community-based tourism projects, and conservation efforts to protect India’s natural and cultural heritage. It encourages travellers to tread lightly and leave a positive footprint on the destinations they visit.

The tourism stakeholders from over 15 Indian states such as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, etc., were seen aggressively marketing their destinations, products, and services.

With the Indian economy still among the world’s fastest-growing major economies. In contrast to a 9.1% increase in the previous fiscal year, India’s GDP rose by 7.2% in the 2022–2023 fiscal year. India’s economic development continues to be robust despite the war-related disruptions in the agricultural and energy sectors, as well as an unprecedented tightening of global monetary conditions aimed at curbing decades-high inflation. Strong domestic demand and a push for governmental capital expenditures have been the main drivers of this. For FY25, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected growth of 6.3%.

Much of the Indian travel business is derived from domestic travel, which also helped the sector recover from its pre-pandemic lows. Indians progressively discovered the cultural and geographical diversity within the nation’s borders, from the tranquil Himalayan landscape to the vibrant coastal areas, greatly fuelling the domestic travel sector.

Sphere TravelMedia Director, Rohit Hangal, said, “Welcome to the heart of innovation and collaboration in the travel industry. This exhibition is a gateway to shaping the future of travel through new opportunities and partnerships. Let us explore new horizons, forge lasting connections, and inspire the world of travel. The B2B Tourism Exhibition celebrates collaboration, resilience, and excellence in the industry, bringing together top minds to pioneer sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and new partnerships. Together, we are creating a future where travel is connected, sustainable, and extraordinary, setting the stage for unprecedented growth and advancement in the industry.”

Sphere TravelMedia Director, Sanjay Hakhu, added: “India has emerged as a key player in the travel industry, offering opportunities for leisure and business travel. The IITM Event, with over ten thousand B2B visitors over three days, showcases our commitment to advancing travel. It serves as a hub for idea exchange, partnership building, and innovation. The growing outbound travel market in India presents vast possibilities, with more Indians seeking unique global experiences. The B2B Travel Exhibition aims to connect global destinations with diverse Indian travellers, paving the way for future international travel growth from India.”

India’s Most Productive Travel-Marketplace

For those in the travel and hospitality industry, the event offers an unparalleled networking opportunity to add more to their holiday portfolio. The timing is just perfect, when the industry has emerged out of the Covid-shadows to an era of growth. It is a unique opportunity for the travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business. The event is aimed at bringing the industry, face-to-face with the travel trade, corporate buyers as well as the end-customer with requisite purchasing power.

The Exhibitor profile includes Tourism Boards, Destination Management Companies, Hotels and Resort, Wellness organizations, travel agents and tour operators, adventure tour operators, travel technology companies, etc. The event offers exposure to start-ups and new entrepreneurs who are planning their foray into the travel and tourism industry as well.

Highlights:

The time has come to explore new destinations and enjoy the sensations of the world as the Indian passport continues to gain popularity! The IITM is a fantastic way to connect, network, and conduct business since it draws partners from all over the world.

Biggest Travel Exhibition in Kolkata, before the summer season
Biggest variety of holiday packages of over 1000 destinations in India and abroad.
This year, find more than 150 exhibitors showcasing 15 Indian tourism destinations making it one of the highlights of your search for that perfect travel partnership.
Jammu & Kashmir Tourism is the Partner State for the event.
Gujarat and Punjab are the Partner States
Delhi Tourism, Tripura Tourism and Jharkhand Tourism are the Feature States
View ‘Incredible India’ with all its amazing hues and peerless vibrancy.
A once-a-year opportunity for travel agents and tour operators to reach out to partners.
Add more to your travel portfolio
Adventure – International Destinations – Visas – Pilgrimage – Cultural pursuits – Wildlife – Conference – Wedding Destinations – pure joy!
The event is on a B2B format and only open for trade – visitors only.
Entry is free and Registration at the site is mandatory.

Re-Connect, Network and Exhibit

IITM offers a series of travel events for those seeking to reach out to various tourism markets. The schedule planned are as follows: IITM Ahmedabad: 7 – 9 March 2025, IITM Chennai: 16 – 18 July 2025, IITM Bangalore: 24 – 26 July 2025, IITM Delhi: 24 – 26 September 2025, IITM Mumbai: 9 – 11 October 2025, IITM Pune: 27 – 29 November 2025, IITM Hyderabad: 4 – 6 December 2025, IITM Cochin: 22 – 24 January 2026, IITM Kolkata: 12 – 14 February 2026. To Exhibit, enquire on info@iitmindia.com.