Finding peace and serenity in a hectic world has become a difficult task. This was evident in the manner in which visitors at the India International Travel Exhibition (IITE) 2004 at Vedika function hall near Benz Circle lapped up the travel and tour packages available from across the country and overseas, on Friday. “Solitude has become very precious and fatigued souls are in search of tranquillity to relax and rejuvenate and platforms like this exhibition provide answers to their problem,” said Anurag Gupta, Managing Director of the IITE.
Attractive offersThe three-day expo is an amalgamation on a platter offering international and domestic tourist destinations, valuable information on hotels and resorts and other allied services. National and international tour operators and national-affiliated service providers are also part of the event. “The size of the population travelling and criss-crossing tourist destinations closer home and abroad is constantly rising. Be it just for fun or for what they see as a ‘well-deserving’ break from a frenzied lifestyle, an increasing number of families are darting towards destinations that offer calmness away from the city bustle,” says Vishwanath Upadyay of Nomads Holidays.
Be it the Somnath temple of Gujarat that beckons those who want to feel the power of belief and fragrance of faith, the unforgettable Himachal which offers blossom holidays, or picturesque Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, Chamba and Dalhousie, the scenic attractions of Himachal have always been a big lure.
Wholesome packageRepresentatives of State tourism departments/organisations like Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Department, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala Tourism besides the tourism wings of countries such as Thailand and Malaysia vie with holiday package vendors to grab the attention of visitors who are spoilt for choice.
“Most people coming to us are eager to get away from the boisterous crowd that Goa is associated with. We are located far off from the city bustle and offer our clients a wholesome package of travel and goodness,” says Som Parkash Malik, general manager of Joecons Beach Resort & Spa in Goa.
“The expo is very timely, as we were planning a trip to Singapore and were fumbling, without a clue on where to begin from. We have all the relevant information with us now,” says a beaming T.S.V.S.R. Mohan Das, retired manager of Indian Overseas Bank.
The increase in footfalls by dusk had the holiday and travel package vendors grinning and hoping for a further swell on weekend days.
