The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Travel Mart to kick off tomorrow

Kochi, Sept. 18 The fifth edition of the Kerala Travel Mart will be inaugurated by the Kerala Chief Minister, Mr V. S. Achuthanandan, at the Le Meridien Convention Centre in Kochi on Saturday. Addressing the press conference, Mr E. M. Najeeb, President of the Kerala Travel Mart Society said that the four-day event would provide a platform for the public and private sectors to jointly promote tourism in the State.

KTM is today one of the largest gathering that has been designed, planned and scheduled to facilitate meetings involving buyers, sellers, media, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders in the tourism industry. Besides seminars, the event provides the participants with a first hand experience of Kerala. All the 312 stalls, which is 60 more than the last KTM, have already been booked. The participants include 14 ayurvedic centres, eight specialty hospitals, 26 home stays, 16 houseboats, 78 resorts, 59 tour operators and 46 hotels including hospitality majors like the Taj Group, Le Meridien, Leela Group, CGH Earth etc.

So far 1050 domestic and 570 international buyers have registered for the Mart, which is up from the 300 international and 500 domestic registrations at the last KTM. Around 50 countries will be represented at the Mart with participation from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, Austria, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, UK, US, UAE and Brazil among others, a press release issued here said.

The speciality of KTM 2008 will be three seminars on topics ranging from ‘Responsible Tourism Initiative,’ to ‘Rural Tourism.’ Airlines such as Air India, Sri Lankan Airlines, Silk Air, Jet Airways, tour operators and leading hotel chains have come forward to sponsor the event.

The members of KTM society include airlines, ayurveda centres, event managers, home stays, hotels, houseboats, specialty hospitals, tour operators, promoters of adventure, farm and eco tourism, travel agents and other service providers, the release added.

More Stories on : Tourism | Events | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page