The launch also marked the formal announcement of the chapter’s leadership, with Mr. D.N. Singh appointed as Chapter Chairman and Mr. Avneesh Pathak appointed as Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Chapter. The new leadership was felicitated during the programme, which brought together senior tourism officials, industry leaders, hospitality and travel professionals, association members and distinguished guests.

The event was attended by Mr. Amit Gupta, Assistant Director, India Tourism, and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Joint Director, Uttar Pradesh Tourism, who were felicitated by the GAEHP leadership in recognition of their contribution and support to the tourism industry.

The ceremonial lamp lighting and Ganesh Vandana marked the formal inauguration of the new chapter, symbolising knowledge, positivity and the beginning of a new journey for GAEHP in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering were Mr. Pranav Bansal, Hon. Secretary, GAEHP; Mr. P.P. Khanna, National Advisor, GAEHP; Mr. Rajesh Arya, President, GAEHP; Mr. Amit Gupta, India Tourism; and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Uttar Pradesh Tourism.

The launch event was also attended by GAEHP Office Bearers and team members, including Ms. Babita Sharma, Ms. Pratibha Arora, Mr. Dilip Rajput, Mr. Harjinder Singh and Mr. Sandip Shaw, who joined the programme and extended their support to the Uttar Pradesh Chapter.

The speakers highlighted the need for stronger industry partnerships, professional networking and collective efforts to promote tourism, hospitality and business events. They also emphasised the importance of bringing industry stakeholders together to create meaningful opportunities and contribute to the sustainable growth of the tourism ecosystem.

A special felicitation was presented to Mr. D.N. Singh, recognising his contribution and long-standing association with the industry.

The newly appointed Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Chapter, Mr. Avneesh Pathak, was also felicitated on taking up his new responsibility. His appointment, along with the leadership of Mr. D.N. Singh, is expected to provide a strong foundation for the chapter’s activities and industry engagement across the state.

The event also featured a special felicitation of Mr. Sushil Singh of Jatak Travels, acknowledging his contribution to the travel fraternity.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Dilip Rajput, Joint Secretary, GAEHP, followed by a commitment from the association to build stronger industry connections and undertake meaningful initiatives across Uttar Pradesh.

A New Platform for the Uttar Pradesh Tourism & Hospitality Industry

The launch of the GAEHP Uttar Pradesh Chapter represents a significant step towards creating a stronger and more inclusive professional platform for stakeholders across the travel, tourism, events and hospitality ecosystem.

The chapter will focus on industry networking, knowledge sharing, professional engagement, collaboration with government tourism bodies and creating new business opportunities for its members and industry partners.

With Varanasi serving as the launch venue, the new chapter begins its journey at a time when Uttar Pradesh continues to emerge as an important destination for domestic and international tourism, cultural travel, spiritual tourism, business events and hospitality.

GAEHP looks forward to working closely with tourism authorities, industry associations, hospitality businesses, travel professionals and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and create greater opportunities for the sector.

The launch marks a new chapter for GAEHP in Uttar Pradesh, with a shared vision of connecting professionals, fostering collaboration and contributing to the growth of travel, tourism, events and hospitality across the state.

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The 13th edition of the biennial mart brought together tourism businesses, international and domestic buyers, government representatives, hospitality companies, travel professionals and media, reinforcing Kerala’s position as one of India’s leading experiential tourism destinations.

The inaugural ceremony at Grand Hyatt Kochi, Bolgatty, was formally inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. P.C. Vishnunadh, Minister for Tourism, Culture & Cinema, presided over the function, while M. Liju, Minister for Cooperation and Excise, attended as Guest of Honour. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, delivered the keynote address.

Kerala Tourism Secretary K. Biju presented the state’s tourism vision, while Kerala Tourism Director M. Anjana released the Sellers Directory. The event also brought together senior political, civic and tourism officials, as well as former presidents of the Kerala Travel Mart Society, reflecting the continuity and institutional strength behind KTM. Jose Pradeep, President of the Kerala Travel Mart Society, welcomed the gathering, while S. Swaminathan, Secretary, proposed the vote of thanks. A cultural programme jointly organised by the Department of Tourism and KTM added a distinctive Kerala touch to the opening evening.

A Major B2B Platform

The business programme was the heart of KTM 2026. B2B meetings and the exhibition were held from September 25 to 27 at the Sagara and Samudrika Convention Centres on Willingdon Island.

The mart recorded more than 3,000 buyer registrations, including 1,200 hosted buyers and 300 non-hosted buyers from India and overseas. The exhibition featured 383 seller stalls representing tourism enterprises and 25 government stalls. More than 45,000 business meetings were scheduled, creating opportunities to promote Kerala, build partnerships and attract investment into the tourism sector.

For buyers, KTM offered an opportunity to discover not only established destinations but also Kerala’s expanding portfolio of wellness, responsible tourism, MICE, weddings, adventure, culture, nature and luxury experiences.

The event also generated significant media interest, with 138 media representatives—71 international and 67 national journalists—registered to cover the mart.

A Destination Built Around Experiences

Kerala’s greatest tourism advantage is its ability to offer multiple experiences within a relatively compact geographical area. A visitor can explore historic Kochi, cruise the waterways of Kumarakom or Alappuzha, travel into the tea-covered hills of Munnar, explore the forests of Thekkady and finish with Ayurveda and a beach stay.

Few destinations combine heritage, nature, wellness, adventure, cuisine and leisure so seamlessly.

This diversity is increasingly relevant to international travellers seeking meaningful experiences rather than conventional sightseeing. Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Mission has strengthened community-based tourism involving village life, agriculture, fishing, handicrafts, traditional cuisine and local storytelling. The result is a deeper connection between visitors and the communities they encounter.

The Timeless Magic of the Backwaters

The backwaters remain Kerala’s most recognisable tourism experience, but the product continues to evolve. The waterways of Vembanad and Ashtamudi, along with the state’s canals, lagoons and rivers, can be explored through luxury houseboats, traditional kettuvallams, private boats and intimate canoe journeys.

Travellers can move through villages, observe fishing communities, walk beside paddy fields and experience a quieter side of India. Kumarakom offers an upscale interpretation of the backwater experience, while Alappuzha remains one of the best-known gateways. Kollam and Ashtamudi provide quieter and more immersive alternatives.

The backwaters appeal to different markets: romance for honeymooners, discovery for families, privacy for luxury travellers and rich visual opportunities for photographers.

Heritage That Comes Alive

Kerala’s cultural story is equally compelling. Fort Kochi and Mattancherry reflect centuries of maritime trade and cultural exchange through churches, synagogues, mosques, colonial architecture, cafés, galleries and the iconic Chinese fishing nets.

Yet Kerala’s heritage extends beyond monuments. Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Kalarippayattu and Theyyam allow visitors to experience living traditions. Festivals such as Onam and Thrissur Pooram, along with Kerala’s celebrated snake-boat races, add further colour to the state’s cultural identity.

For the international travel trade, these traditions create opportunities for specialised culture, heritage, photography, food and festival itineraries.

Ayurveda and the Wellness Traveller

If the backwaters represent Kerala’s visual identity, Ayurveda is one of its strongest international tourism propositions.

Kerala has established a global reputation for Ayurveda, yoga, meditation and holistic wellness. Today’s wellness traveller, however, expects more than treatments. Kerala can combine traditional practices with luxury accommodation, healthy cuisine, nature, yoga, meditation and personalised programmes.

A holiday can combine Kochi, Munnar or Kumarakom with an extended wellness retreat, or be designed entirely around rejuvenation, Ayurveda and slow living. The combination of natural surroundings and established wellness traditions gives Kerala a strong competitive advantage as wellness becomes an increasingly important part of international travel.

From Destinations to Curated Journeys

One of Kerala’s biggest opportunities is the shift from standard packages to personalised, thematic itineraries.

A Luxury Kerala Journey can combine Kochi, Kumarakom, Munnar, Thekkady and Kovalam. A Wellness Journey can bring together Ayurveda, yoga, healthy cuisine and nature. A Culture and Heritage Journey can connect Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.

A Slow Kerala itinerary could focus on Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Kuttanad and Marari, while an Adventure and Nature circuit could link Munnar, Thekkady, Wayanad and Bekal.

Kerala’s beaches, backwaters, resorts, heritage venues and cultural experiences also create strong possibilities for destination weddings and celebrations. This flexibility gives the state considerable potential among luxury FITs, MICE groups, honeymooners, wellness seekers and repeat visitors.

Hospitality and Cuisine Strengthen the Proposition

KTM 2026 also provided a platform for hospitality partners to showcase Kerala’s accommodation diversity, ranging from heritage and urban properties to hill resorts, backwater hotels and nature-based stays. Among the partner properties and institutions associated with the event were Abad Fort, Clouds Valley Leisure Hotel, Cardamom County, Backwater Ripples, Bolgatty Palace, Bolgatty Palace and Island Resort, and Kerala Forest Development Corporation.

Kerala’s culinary identity adds another dimension. Seafood, Malabar biryani, appam and stew, puttu, vegetarian Sadya, coconut-based curries and spice-rich preparations offer travellers a cuisine deeply connected to the state’s land and history.

Cooking classes, spice plantation visits, market tours, farm-to-table experiences and meals with local families can transform food from an element of a holiday into a central travel experience.

Taking the Experience Beyond the Mart

The value of KTM continues after the exhibition. Selected participants were offered post-mart familiarisation tours covering 12 major destinations from September 28 to October 3.

Such programmes are particularly valuable for a destination as diverse as Kerala. Buyers may recognise names such as Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom and Alappuzha, but experiencing the destinations firsthand helps them understand how these places can be combined into compelling itineraries.

A quiet backwater village, a walk through a tea plantation or a traditional cultural performance can transform the way a destination is presented and sold.

KTM 2026 and Kerala’s Global Ambition

The significance of KTM lies in bringing Kerala’s diverse tourism experiences together under one professional B2B platform. The 2026 edition demonstrated the state’s broader tourism proposition—responsible tourism, wellness, MICE, weddings, adventure, culture, nature and luxury alongside its established attractions.

The event also reflected the industry’s growing use of technology, with registration, business meetings, seminars and other processes supported by a new software system and mobile application.

But the numbers and technology tell only part of the story. At its heart, KTM is about relationships: buyers meeting sellers, travel professionals discovering new possibilities and Kerala presenting itself directly to the global marketplace.

Kerala’s enduring appeal does not rest on one attraction but on the way its experiences connect—the slow movement of a houseboat through palm-fringed waterways, the aroma of spices in a traditional kitchen, the drama of Kathakali, the energy of Theyyam, mist over a Munnar tea estate, an Ayurvedic treatment beside the sea or an unhurried conversation in a village.

That is what Kerala Travel Mart 2026 communicated to the global travel industry. Kerala is no longer simply selling destinations. It is selling stories, emotions, wellness, culture, authenticity and experiences that can be tailored to individual travellers.

The opportunity for the travel trade is clear: present Kerala not merely as a list of places, but as a collection of experiences that encourage longer stays, higher-value travel and repeat visitation.

Kerala has already earned its reputation as “God’s Own Country.” The next chapter is about showing the world that it is also a destination for the future of global travel—deeply authentic, remarkably diverse and endlessly experiential.

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The seminar, held as part of the World Tourism Day, was moderated by Sumit Kumar Thakur, MD, KTDC and ADG, Kerala Tourism.

Leading the session on the concluding day of the three-day event, Shri APM Mohammed Haneesh, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, said tour operators need to reinvent their offerings in line with the global market trends at a time when travellers are increasingly seeking unique and personalised experiences.

APM Mohammed Haneesh, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, speaking at panel discussion on ‘Digital Agenda and AI to redesign tourism’ at Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2026 in Kochi on Sunday. Also seen are:  Sumit Kumar Thakur, MD, KTDC and ADG, Kerala Tourism; Anish Kumar, CEO, The Travel Planners; Soorajith Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Wayanad Tourism Organisation; and Digital Evangelist Sarath V. Raj.

At the same time, it is important to maintain a clear distinction between personalisation and privacy, Shri Haneesh noted, cautioning against the unnecessary sharing of sensitive personal information.

Shri Anish Kumar, CEO of The Travel Planners, said that tourism businesses should optimise their content and digital presence for large language models (LLMs), while also leveraging AI tools and social media for marketing.

He also pointed to potential applications of AI in destination management, including crowd management during peak tourist seasons in destinations such as Munnar and Wayanad in Kerala.

Shri Soorajith Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Wayanad Tourism Organisation, however, cautioned that it should be ensured that AI does not dominate the tourism experience.  AI could nevertheless play an important role in destination management and heritage conservation, including helping regulate visitor access to museums housing rare artefacts to minimise the risk of damage, he said.

Digital evangelist Shri Sarath V. Raj said AI was transforming the way businesses operate and described the current phase as an “agentic AI era”, requiring the tourism industry to adapt and optimise for emerging AI-driven systems.

He said the application of AI in tourism needs to be addressed at the policy level, while highlighting its potential to enable mass personalisation of travel experiences.

KTM President Shri Jose Pradeep, immediate past president Shri Baby Mathew, and past presidents Shri Abraham George and Shri E. M. Najeeb presented mementos to the panellists.

A seminar on “Muziris as a World Tourism Heritage Destination” was also held.

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Built on the core philosophy of being an event “by the travel fraternity, for the travel fraternity,” this year’s celebration reached unprecedented heights in bridging diverse travel stakeholders, fostering economic partnerships, and recognizing industry excellence.

Distinguished Leadership and Inauguration
The mega convergence was graced by an esteemed national and international dignitaries. Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, attended the event to extend his support and highlight the vital role of tourism in driving economic empowerment and cultural integration across the nation.

The grand inaugural ceremony was jointly led by industry stalwart Mr. Subhash Goyal, Chairman of the STIC Travel Group, and His Excellency Mr. Aleksander Sitnikov, the Economics Counsellor of The Russian Federation, marking a historic opening for the day’s proceedings.

Unmatched B2B Synergy and Networking
The event successfully facilitated high-value strategic networking with an exclusive lineup of more than 20 top-tier B2B exhibitors. The exhibition floor provided an expansive platform for destination showcasing, partnership building, and exclusive B2B deal-making among key stakeholders.

Celebrating the Spirit of Tourism
True to the spirit of World Tourism Day, the business convergence seamlessly blended with a Bollywood celebration by Vishal Shrivastavaa (Bollywood playback singer). Following the intensive B2B meetings and the felicitation ceremony, delegates enjoyed a curated networking lunch alongside the electrifying musical performance.

The Organizing Vision
The overwhelming response and flawless execution of the 6th Edition were spearheaded by a dedicated core organizing committee:

Shridhar Jha – Founder
Pranav Bansal – Organizer (and General Secretary, Global Association of Events and Hospitality Professionals – GAEHP)
Rajesh Dhanker – Organizer
Ms. Goldy – Organizer
Dilip Rajput – Organizer

Due to the unprecedented volume of registrations and overwhelming response from the trade community, the organizing committee is already evaluating expanded infrastructure and capacity capabilities for the 7th Edition in 2027 to accommodate an even larger footprint of global and domestic travel professionals on 25th September 2027.

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The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), India’s nodal association with about 2,500 companies actively engaged in Travel, Tourism, Hospitality & MICE, are delighted to announce the Grand Celebrations of TAAI’s 75 years of Excellence at their 69^th TAAI Convention & Exhibition of TAAI at Kolkata, West Bengal.

The 3-Day Convention will be held from the 25^th to 27^th October, 2026 at ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata.

The Convention holds special significance as TAAI celebrates 75 years of Excellence, Leadership and Service to Indian Travel, Tourism & Hospitality.

Established in 1951, TAAI has been at the forefront of India’s Travel & Tourism industry for 75 years, promoting the growth of the sector and bringing together travel professionals from across the country. TAAI represents about 2,500 member companies engaged actively in Outbound, Domestic, Inbound Tourism; Travel. Their member companies are well known for the MICE Tourism they are involved with. TAAI, continues to have at its focus, India, as a Leading Destination, and promote this feature Nationally & Globally.

The 69th Convention comes to India

Guided by the call of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, TAAI’s Managing Committee has decided that the 69^th Convention will be held in India, a departure this year, from the doing it overseas. The decision reflects TAAI’s commitment to Incredible India, strengthening domestic tourism and showcasing India’s immense tourism potential to the global travel fraternity.

A landmark gathering of the Indian travel industry

The three-day convention is expected to bring together approximately 900 delegates and media from across India.

The event will bring together leaders from the Government, stakeholders in Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry; Airlines, Hotels, Destinations, Technology Companies; MICE products and services and other allied sectors, creating a platform for industry interaction, collaboration, networking and discussions on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Indian Travel & Tourism.

Celebrating 75 years – Looking towards the future

The 69th TAAI Convention & Exhibition is particularly significant as the Association celebrates its 75 Years of Excellence. A rare happening indeed.

TAAI’s journey over seven and a half decades reflects its continued commitment to the growth and development of India’s travel and tourism ecosystem. The Convention in Kolkata will provide an opportunity to celebrate this rich legacy while looking ahead to the next chapter of India’s Travel & Tourism journey.

Remarks Mr Sunil Kumar, the President of TAAI, “The 69th TAAI Convention & Exhibition is a very special milestone for our Association as we celebrate 75 years of Excellence, Leadership and Service to Indian Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Industry. We are delighted to do our Convention in India and particularly in Kolkata. This decision, reflects our commitment to Incredible India and to strengthening domestic tourism. We look forward to bringing the Indian travel fraternity together in Kolkata and creating a meaningful platform for collaboration and the future growth of our industry.

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The travel, tourism and hospitality fraternity is gearing up for the 6th Edition of the World Tourism Day Celebration, scheduled for September 26, 2026, at Udman Hotels and Resorts, NH8, Delhi.

Organised by the Purvanchal Paryatan Association in association with the Great Indian Travel Fest (GITF), the event is expected to bring together 1,000+ tourism professionals and delegates, including more than 100 domestic and international hosted buyers. Travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, DMCs, tourism boards and hospitality professionals are expected to participate.

The 2026 edition will focus strongly on B2B networking and business opportunities, giving tourism and hospitality companies a platform to meet buyers, showcase destinations and travel products, and explore new partnerships and markets.

Six Editions, One Growing Tourism Platform

Founded in 2021 by Mr. Shridhar Jha, the World Tourism Day Celebration has grown from a small industry gathering into a broader platform for the tourism fraternity. Over the years, the event has brought together travel trade professionals, hoteliers, destination specialists and other industry stakeholders.

The event has been hosted at leading properties across Delhi, including Hotel Stanley, Sakura by MAPS Group, Welcome Hotel ITC Dwarka and Radisson Blu Hotel Dwarka. The 2026 edition will move to Udman Hotels and Resorts, NH8.

Buyers, Businesses and New Opportunities

A major highlight this year will be the participation of 100+ hosted buyers from domestic and international markets. The organisers expect the programme to create direct opportunities for hotels, resorts, DMCs, tourism boards and experience providers to connect with potential business partners.

Alongside business networking, the celebration will highlight culture, heritage and sustainable tourism, with the organisers promoting stronger collaboration across the tourism value chain.

The event will also feature entertainment and engagement activities, including a lucky draw every 30 minutes, with gifts, tour packages and hotel stay vouchers for participants. The organisers are presenting this year’s gathering as a “Celebration of WTD in Bollywood’s Style.”

Event Details

Date: September 26, 2026
Venue: Udman Hotels and Resorts, NH8, Delhi
Organisers: Purvanchal Paryatan Association & GITF
Expected Participation: 1,000+ delegates
Hosted Buyers: 100+ domestic and international
Focus: B2B networking, business opportunities and sustainable tourism

With its combination of business networking, destination promotion and celebration, the 6th Edition is expected to provide a valuable meeting point for India’s travel and hospitality community and its international business partners.

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SATTE (South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange), South Asia’s leading travel and tourism exhibition, has announced the introduction of its AI-Powered Visitor & Buyer Qualification Framework, making it among the first travel trade exhibitions in India to leverage artificial intelligence to enhance visitor qualification, buyer intelligence and business matchmaking.

As the business events industry evolves, exhibitors are increasingly looking beyond visitor numbers and focusing on meaningful business outcomes. Responding to this shift, SATTE has introduced an intelligent visitor qualification framework that will help create more relevant business connections and improve the overall quality of engagement across the exhibition.

The AI-powered framework intelligently analyses visitor profiles to better understand business relevance and buyer intent, enabling more meaningful exhibitor-buyer interactions while supporting a smarter, more personalised event experience.

Integrated with SATTE 365, the initiative extends the value of the exhibition beyond the show floor by enabling year-round engagement, stronger business networking and continuous relationship building across the travel ecosystem.

The introduction of the AI-powered framework reflects SATTE’s commitment to creating a more intelligent business ecosystem where technology enhances the quality of conversations, strengthens buyer relevance and enables exhibitors to maximise every business opportunity.

Rather than simply increasing visitor numbers, SATTE is focused on ensuring exhibitors meet the right people, engage in more meaningful conversations and generate stronger commercial outcomes.

Pallavi Mehra, Senior Group Director, Informa Markets in India, said:

“For over three decades, SATTE has connected the global travel industry with the Indian market. As our industry evolves, our responsibility is to continuously enhance the value we deliver to exhibitors and buyers. This AI-powered initiative reflects our commitment to creating a smarter marketplace where every business interaction is more relevant, more meaningful and more valuable.”

As SATTE enters its 34th year, it continues to redefine how the global travel industry connects, collaborates and grows. The introduction of AI-powered visitor intelligence is another step in SATTE’s journey towards becoming a more intelligent, data-driven and business-focused marketplace that delivers value before, during and after the exhibition.

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The anniversary celebration witnessed participation from over 120 industry professionals, including members who travelled from locations as far as 1,000 kilometres to attend the event. This strong turnout reflected the association’s expanding national footprint and the increasing relevance of its platform for meaningful industry engagement and collaboration.

The evening was graced by several eminent dignitaries and senior industry representatives, including Mr. Subhash Goyal, Chief Patron – GAEHP and Chairman, STIC Group; Ms. Samanda, Additional Director – Tourism & Culture, FICCI; and Dr. R. K. Suman, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism. Their presence added further significance to the occasion, reaffirming the association’s growing standing within the broader tourism and hospitality ecosystem.

Addressing members and guests, Mr. Rajesh Arya, President – GAEHP, reflected on the association’s journey over the past year. He said,
“GAEHP was established with the objective of creating a collaborative, credible, and inclusive platform for professionals across events, travel, and hospitality. The encouraging response we have received within our very first year—both in terms of participation and membership growth—clearly reinforces the industry’s need for a unified voice and shared platform.”

Highlighting the association’s progress and momentum, Mr. Pranav Bansal, General Secretary – GAEHP, added,
“In less than one year, GAEHP’s membership has grown to nearly 350 professionals, representing a diverse mix of stakeholders including travel agents, tour operators, hotels, event organisers, destination management companies, and allied service providers. This milestone reflects the trust the industry has placed in GAEHP and motivates us to further strengthen our initiatives and outreach.”

The anniversary networking evening provided a focused and structured environment for professional interaction, enabling senior decision-makers and industry stakeholders to exchange ideas, explore collaboration opportunities, and strengthen long-term professional relationships. The event also acknowledged the valuable support extended by members, partners, and sponsors, whose contributions have played a key role in the association’s steady growth.

Over the past year, GAEHP has actively worked towards fostering collaboration across industry verticals, encouraging knowledge exchange, and addressing common challenges faced by professionals in the events and hospitality sectors. With an emphasis on inclusivity, professional development, and collective growth, the association aims to serve as a bridge between industry stakeholders and policymakers.

As GAEHP enters its second year, the association remains committed to expanding its national presence, strengthening industry dialogue, and promoting sustainable growth across the events and hospitality ecosystem in India and beyond.

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Inaugurating the event as Chief Guest, Shri Om Birla highlighted that the Hadoti region offers a rare confluence of heritage, natural beauty, and cultural richness, presenting immense untapped tourism potential. He extended a warm welcome to travel agents, tour operators, hoteliers, investors, and tourism stakeholders from across the country who had gathered to explore and experience the region’s diverse offerings.

Addressing the gathering, the Member of Parliament from Kota emphasised that Hadoti is home to magnificent forts, historic stepwells, architectural marvels, wildlife landscapes, and important religious sites, making it capable of attracting both domestic and international travellers. He specifically referenced key attractions such as the Chambal River Front and River Safari, Taragarh Fort in Bundi, Gagron Fort, and Shahabad Fort, noting that these landmarks have the potential to emerge as flagship tourism attractions.

Stressing the importance of sustained promotion, Shri Birla underlined that platforms like the Kota Hadoti Travel Mart play a pivotal role in ensuring continuous visibility, infrastructure development, and stakeholder engagement. He advocated for the Travel Mart to be organised annually to firmly establish Hadoti as a standalone destination of national and international significance.

Repositioning Hadoti as a Prime Tourism Circuit

The Travel Mart aims to reposition Hadoti—encompassing Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, and Baran—as an independent tourism circuit rather than a peripheral extension of Rajasthan’s more established destinations. Despite its wealth of heritage, wildlife, art forms, and living traditions, the region has remained relatively under-explored, a gap the Travel Mart seeks to address.

Held over three days at Art Hill and Riverfront, Kota, KHTM 2026 featured a comprehensive programme including B2B exhibitions, curated networking sessions, destination experiences, heritage walks, cultural performances, and networking dinners, creating a dynamic platform for meaningful engagement between the travel trade, investors, and destination storytellers.

Strong Trade Participation and High-Level Support

The maiden edition of the Hadoti Travel Mart, held from January 2 to 4, 2026, marked a major milestone in regional tourism promotion. Led by the Hotel Federation of Rajasthan – Kota Division, with support from the Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, the event hosted over 450 tour operators, travel professionals, media representatives, and influencers from across the country.
The inaugural ceremony at Shaurya Ghat, on the banks of the Chambal River, also witnessed the unveiling of a souvenir booklet titled Magical Hadoti by Shri Om Birla, followed by a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the Kota skyline.

A structured B2B Travel Mart, conducted on January 3 and 4 at Art Hill – Oxyzone City Park, facilitated focused business interactions between buyers and sellers. The B2B sessions were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Smt. Diya Kumari, who lit the traditional lamp in the presence of Shri Illyaraj Singh of Kota, senior office bearers of the Hotel Federation of Rajasthan, and representatives from allied organisations.

Event Highlights and Way Forward

The Kota Hadoti Travel Mart 2026 concluded on a high note, fostering meaningful dialogue, strengthening partnerships, and opening new avenues for tourism growth. The closing ceremony was graced by Shri Om Birla and the Hon’ble Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with Shri Onkar Singh Lakhawat, Chairman of the Dharohar Vikas Pradhikaran, and other senior dignitaries.

With strong institutional backing and growing industry participation, the Kota Hadoti Travel Mart 2026 stands as a decisive step towards sustainable tourism development, long-term destination branding, and global recognition for the Hadoti region.

Acknowledging the Organising Team

The successful planning and execution of the Kota Hadoti Travel Mart 2026 were made possible by the dedicated efforts of the Hotel Federation of Rajasthan – Kota Division. Under the leadership of Shri Ashok Maheshwari, President, with strategic support from Shri Sandeep Padia, General Secretary, and seamless coordination by Shri Anil Mundra, Co-ordinator, the organising team ensured a professionally managed and impactful event. Their collective commitment and organisational excellence played a key role in establishing KHTM 2026 as a landmark tourism initiative for the Hadoti region.

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