TTF Ahmedabad brings new hopes for domestic travel

Full-house participation from 21 States augurs well for the tourism sector

THE VOICE OF CHANDIGARH | TRAVEL TRADE REPORTER

The signs are clear that the travel and tourism industry is reopening cautiously, yet confidently. The Central and State Governments are doubling up measures to endorse and further boost the strong pent-up domestic leisure travel demand. Airlines have been allowed to fly at 85% capacity and aviation experts predict a return to pre-covid levels by the end of 2021.

With international borders expected to open towards the end of the year, Indian travellers are having once again an increasing number of destinations welcoming them back for their next vacation.

TTF Ahmedabad, the largest show of the TTF series travel trade show in the country, is returning for its second edition in 2021 in the vibrant travel market of Gujarat. The event sees 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 show brings together under one roof the best of the travel industry from all over India, for reviving and restarting tourism in India.

Mr Jenu Devan, Managing Director of Gujarat Tourism said at the inauguration of the show, “We are happy that travel and tourism are preparing for a cautious restart. TTF is a significant step in that direction.” Gujarat is being showcased as the Host State, with one of the largest pavilions at the TTF.

More than 240 exhibitors and representatives from 21 states are participating at TTF Ahmedabad, from 23-25 September at The Forum Convention, Club O7.

“We are extremely happy to see such a large number of States and private companies gathering to revive travel together in the important travel market of Gujarat”, said Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media, the organisers of TTF – the oldest and largest travel tradeshow network in India. “Reviving travel on which the livelihoods of a huge number of people squarely depend is an important step towards economic recovery. We are happy to have received wholehearted support from the entire industry for a show of this stature to take place again”; he added.

Gujarat is the Host State of the event and has as usual lent all the support for the event. Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are the Partner States. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Punjab and Tripura have joined the show as the Feature States, alongside key private players from DMCs, hospitality sector, aviation and others. India Tourism will also be present in a big way at the show.

Besides travel trade visitors from Ahmedabad and its neighbourhood, TTF is also expecting a significant number of travel stakeholders from important proximity markets like Rajkot, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, Anand, Nadiad, Navsari, Bharuch, Valsad, Vapi, Daman, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Dwarka, Samanath, Morbi, Mehsana, Patan, Palanpur, Kadi, Kalol to attend and conduct business with the exhibitors.

The show is taking place from 11 am to 7 pm, on all three days and will be reserved exclusively for the travel trade.

TTF Ahmedabad is one of the biggest travel trade shows to be hosted physically in the financial year 2021-22. It will be followed by TTF Mumbai on 29th, 30th September & 1st October. The shows mark the return of physical trade shows in India’s top travel markets, signalling a strong sentiment of the tourism industry that has had such a rough patch, to come back to some sense of normalcy in the near future.

The Government of India has given a fresh push to reviving domestic tourism under its Dekho Apna Desh initiative and TTF Ahmedabad promises to add to the country-wide efforts in reviving tourism. The Ministry has also revised its Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme to incentivize and upskill the domestic travel trade fraternity. One of the biggest draws of the MDA happens to be the financial incentives chalked out for travel agents, tour operators as well as state tourism boards for participating in trade fairs.

Maldives Tourism will be organising interaction with the travel trade in the city, just after the conclusion of TTF.

TTF Ahmedabad has the active support of travel associations like OTOAI, TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI, IATO, SKAL, IAAI, NIMA, ETAA, SATA, TOSG, GTAA, TLC, TAG, SGTCA, TAAS, ATAA, VTAA, RAAG, ABTO, IATTE.

TTF Ahmedabad confirms that travel has initiated its comeback.