Kerala Travel Mart to be held on September 27-30

Sending out a strong message that tourism in the flood-battered Kerala will be back on the rails in double-quick time, Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), India’s largest tourism sector conclave of stakeholders from across the world, will hold its biennial meet in Kochi from September 27 to 30. Being held in the wake of the devastating floods that rampaged through large swathes of the coastal State, the 10th edition of KTM will focus on measures that will lead to a strong resurgence of tourism, which is a mainstay of Kerala’s economy.

The inaugural session of the four-day event, being organised by the KTM Society in association with the State Tourism department, will be held at Grand Hyatt, Bolgatty, on September 27. The response to this edition of KTM has been overwhelming with 395 overseas buyers and 1,095 domestic buyers having registered as participants. The complete list of participants for the buyer-seller meet will be released on September 10, said Baby Mathew, President, KTM Society.

As in its previous editions, KTM will serve as a strong platform to showcase its time-tested as well as new products of Kerala and establish firm business links by bringing together internationally reputed buyers and sellers, and tour operators under one roof. The new products launched by the State government, such as the Malabar river cruise project, focussing on nine rivers in north Kerala, will be showcased before the delegates.

Tourism in Kerala has started recovering fast from the grim blow dealt by the calamitous floods. Traffic to major destinations across the State has resumed and bookings ahead of the peak season have picked up. The upcoming edition of KTM is intended to send a strong signal to the world that the State has resilience and the spirit to take in its stride any adverse challenge and move forward. The event will send this message to the world through the delegates from 73 countries.

“Meticulous plans have been made for the accommodation of the participants, with over 1,000 rooms booked in top hotels in the city, Abraham George, former president and expert member of the National Tourism Advisory Committee,” said.