Crowds thronged India International Travel Exhibition (IITE) organised at MADITTSIA Hall here on Saturday.
The one-day exhibition, conducted in various parts of India since 2007, had been organised for the first time in Tamil Nadu this year, said Anurag Gupta, director of IITE.
The exhibition had tourism departments of Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Jharkhand in attendance, apart from Thailand and Mauritius. Tour operators from various destinations had also put up stalls.
“We have so far been planning trips to nearby destinations. Visiting an exhibition and getting to know the destination and places to visit gives us better insight and helps us to plan better,” said R. Kamala Kannan, a visitor.
For S. Vimala, another visitor, the exhibition gave her family wide options to choose from. “It would help us to select a destination that will suit our interest and budget,” she said.
According to Mr. Gupta, with the rising awareness of tourists and booming tourism industry, stakeholders are facing the challenge of meeting up to the expectations. “People are well-informed of the destinations because of internet. Domestic tourism is a sector that is witnessing a rapid growth in the recent years,” he stated.
Abhilash C. Sharma, director of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, told The Hindu that tailor-made tourism packages are being offered to suit the needs of the tourists. “The exhibition helps us to reach the clients directly instead of reaching through travel agents. We meet the requirements of high-end, middle class and low-end tourists,” he stated.
While the younger generation showed interest in ecological tourist spots, a large number of inquiries were made for religious tourism.
“The State governments have realised the importance of tourism and introduced initiatives such as tourist polices. However, the tourism potentials of major destinations could be tapped better,” Mr. Gupta noted.
Mr. Sharma said that from January 2014 to December 2014 so far recorded over 60 lakh tourists visiting India. “We are hopeful that the number will exceed one crore with the introduction of visa on arrival to 43 countries,” he added.
Soraya Homchuen, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand, observed that the tourism market in Tamil Nadu was fast growing. “People showed great interest in visiting Bangkok. We offer customised packages. Tamil Nadu is a big market for us and the potential is very good,” she concluded.
