January 19, 2018 TnH Global 0

Asia-Pacific’s largest travel trade show, OTM begins in Mumbai

The largest Asia Pacific travel show was inaugurated by K J Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Government of India
The event will be witnessing 300 hosted buyers and more than 15,000 trade visitors

Host State Maharashtra has a powerful presence led by Shri. Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra

Close to 1200 sellers, 50 plus countries and 25 plus states represented at OTM 2018

OTM is the largest travel trade show in the entire Asia Pacific region. The three day event is being held at Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. The event was inaugurated in the presence of the Chief Guest K J Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Government of India and Guest of Honour, Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra.

Speaking at the inauguration, K J Alphons, Minister of State for Tourism (I/C), Government of India remarked, “I am happy to know that OTM has emerged as the leading travel trade show in the Asia Pacific region, India has 5000 years old civilization and a huge heritage for the world to explore. The country has innumerable tourist destinations from The Himalaya Mountains in the North to the backwaters in the South.

Indian tourism also offers spiritual tourism and cultural heritage with its widely spread civilisation in the sub-continent. I am grateful to the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their effective efforts, regular outreach to the world community and the Indian Diaspora, which has positively changed the outlook of India for tourism in the country. The Ministry of Tourism is working to bring in confidence building mechanisms to establish India as a peaceful and safe destination,” he further added.

India is one of the largest markets of travel and tourism in the world. Indians take some 22 million trips abroad and more than a billion within the country. Mumbai is the largest source market of domestic and outbound travel for Leisure, Business, Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Events (MICE) and Weddings. It serves literally as the ‘gateway of India’ to the largest number of travellers going abroad from other cities and towns in Western and Southern India.

OTM is Asia Pacific’s Largest Travel Show. People from across the travel industry participate in this event which helps in promoting the tourism industry. This event has a legacy of 28 years and after Germany and London, OTM Mumbai is one of the largest travel trade shows globally. With the help of this platform, our efforts are to showcase the treasure of tourism that we possess in Mumbai, Maharashtra and the rest of the country, said Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra.

Over the decades, OTM has emerged as the largest travel trade show in Asia Pacific region, in terms of rented area. It is also the most international travel trade show in India, with more than 50 countries and over 25 states being represented in OTM this year. The three-day travel show is focused on B2B transactions between close to 1200 exhibitors and 15,000 plus trade visitors and buyers.

With $ 209 Billion spend in 2017, India’s tourism industry was ranked 7th largest in the world. It contributes about one-tenth to the GDP and employment. The public policy thrust of the present government in the centre and the state, OTM hopes to consolidate its lead as the largest travel trade show in the Asia Pacific region in the coming years.