BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
AHMEDABAD, 8 SEPTEMBER 2022
Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) Ahmedabad, the biggest travel trade show since the pandemic, concluded today on a high note, with a massive turnout of travel trade from Gujarat and Western India. This, together with the record of over 700 exhibitors from 3 countries and 22 states, made this the biggest-ever TTF Ahmedabad.
TTF Ahmedabad was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. M. Mathiventhan, the tourism minister of government of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Sandeep Nanduri, IAS, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Tourism, Mr. Karnesh Sharma, IAS, Director Tourism of – Government of Punjab and other notable dignitaries from the industry.
The show announced loud and clear the post-pandemic rebound of domestic and international travel.
For decades, TTF has been the ultimate platform for the travel industry to meet, network and do business; and this year, it was no different. The importance of this show for the strong comeback of travel and tourism in India, post the pandemic, was evident by the turn-out at the show floor. More than 7000 trade visitors thronged the show – a testimony to the significance of TTF in reviving the industry after two years of pandemic-related restrictions. The rush seen on the floor was overwhelming and augured well for the industry as a whole.
The coming months of 2022-2023 are expected to witness a boom in travel and tourism across India. As the Indian domestic travel market is notably among the most resilient markets globally, Outbound travel from India is also booming with pent up demand, although there is a backlog in visa processing for many foreign countries.
With 68% of Indians expected to travel domestically in 2022 itself, domestic tourism undoubtedly plays a major role in the country’s economy as well. According to reports, domestic air passenger traffic grew by nearly 67% (year-on-year) to 5.72 crore during January-June 2022.
TTF has always recognised the Gujarat market for the value it brings to the industry – this year, it reinforced that the state is at once one of the most valuable tourism markets as well as destinations. According to reports, the contribution of tourism to the GDP of Gujarat was estimated to be around 10.2 percent of the state’s total gross domestic product in the year 2022, up from about five percent in 2015. Ahmedabad in particular has a significant contribution toward this growth.
Gujarat has also reaped benefits of revival in incoming tourists. Air passenger footfalls in Ahmedabad rose by 194% in the first quarter of 2022-2023. Around 21.2 lakh passengers including international and domestic travellers, transited through the city airport during the period of April-June alone. The hotel occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) across hotels in Ahmedabad is witnessing a significant increase due to increase in corporate activities and the upcoming wedding season. As per hoteliers, ADR has increased from a low of INR 2,900 per room per night in April-May last year to as high as INR 5,500 per
room per night. Occupancy levels have increased to an average of 75 percent across all hotels.
Providing a gateway to access this huge and vibrant tourism market of Gujarat, TTF – India’s largest travel trade show network – was a well-timed show, right before the Diwali and winter vacation travel seasons ahead.
The show had the participation of states like Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh as Partner States. Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Tripura were also seen displaying their best as Feature States. Gujarat, the Host state showcased all its attractions, and offered its unparalleled support to the show. Private sector participants from all over India, from many states were also present at the show.
The show also had private exhibitors from several other states like Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Sikkim and West Bengal, comprising travel agents, tour operators, hospitality chains, DMCs, attractions etc.
TTF Ahmedabad had participation from abroad as well, including from Nepal, Turkey and UAE. Most of the states participated with delegations of tour operators and hoteliers, in appreciation of the unabated spirit of Indian travellers that kept thronging these destinations throughout the pandemic, as they remained open with necessary precautions in place.
India Tourism too had a key presence at the show, showcasing all their campaigns and programmes such as ‘Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
The show was reserved for travel trade visitors for all three days i.e. 6th, 7th and 8th September, from 11 AM to 7 PM.
TTF is the oldest and biggest network of travel trade shows in the country, covering 9 cities annually, branded as TTF, OTM and BLTM. In addition to Ahmedabad, it is organised in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Surat and Pune.
“Gujarat has had great influence and contribution in the rebound of travel and tourism in this post- pandemic phase, and we were more than happy to be hosting TTF Ahmedabad in this vibrant market. It was extremely encouraging to say the least. The massive participation from exhibitors and the overall response from visitors was only proof that the industry is recovering with utmost vigour and is headed in the right direction.”, said Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman and CEO, Fairfest Media Ltd., the organisers of TTF.
“TTF Ahmedabad, which is our biggest show of the TTF series, received great support from the Host State, the travel industry at large and our association partners who are together gearing up for the revival of travel and tourism.”, he added.
TTF Ahmedabad is followed by BLTM – India's leading show in Business, Leisure Travel and MICE – taking place on 10th & 11th September 2022 at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi, and then OTM – the leading travel trade show in Asia-Pacific – being organised on 13th, 14th and 15th September 2022, at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.
TTF had the active support of travel associations like OTOAI, TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI, ETAA, IATTE, ABTO, NIMA, TOA, SKAL INTERNATIONAL, SITE, TUC, TAG, TOSG, TLC, SATA, GTAA, SGTCA, TAAS, ATAA, RAAG, VTAA, UTEN, TAAPI, AATO, HHTDN and EHTTOA.
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