Event round up

The great inbound bazaar

An initiative of the Government of Rajasthan and FICCI, the GITB looks to strengthening the inbound market. By Dinkar Farwaha

International tourism mart, The Great Indian Travel Bazaar 2008, was organised by government of Rajasthan and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at B M Birla auditorium and convention centre in Jaipur, from April 21-23, 2008. The three-day tradeshow witnessed approximately 146 foreign tour operators who explored trade opportunities while strengthening the business relations with over 250 travel and hospitality exhibitors across various categories. The travel mart, whose theme centred around inbound tourism, was inaugurated by Ambika Soni, union minister for tourism and culture, Vasundhara Raje, chief minister of Rajasthan and Usha Punia, Rajasthan minister of state for tourism.

Other dignitaries like Jyotsna Suri, chairperson of FICCI Tourism Committee and chairperson and managing director, The Grand Group and Maharaj Jai Singh, chairman, FICCI Rajasthan State Council, too participated in the inaugural session. "The biggest challenge for the industry is to provide an infrastructure and an ambience that would make a tourist return to the same place," remarked Soni. She revealed the central government's plans in the state. "We are working towards developing 20 destinations and circuits that will offer the tourist a unique experience. We have already identified the locations where we will provide world class infrastructure facilities to boost tourism. Once these circuits become operational, 20 more would be taken up," she said. Raje shed light on the state's growing tourism market, "The arrival of foreign tourists to Rajasthan has seen a quantum jump from 0.6 million in 2003 to 1.4 million in 2007; a whopping 100 per cent plus growth in four years. Likewise, the arrival of domestic tourists has also doubled from 12.5 million to 26 million." She continued, "Rajasthan is committed to developing infrastructure. A new international terminal in Jaipur will commence operations by the end of this year. The runway would be extended from 9,000 feet to 11,500 feet."

The first plenary session on 'Tourism as an Engine for Economic Growth' was chaired by Leena Nandan, joint secretary, ministry of tourism, government of India. Arjun Sharma, managing director, Le Passage To India Tours and Travels and senior vice-president, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Dinesh Naidoo, managing director, Serendipity Tours, South Africa, and government officials, V Venu, secretary to the government, tourism department, government of Kerala, Mira Mehrishi, principal secretary - tourism , government of Rajasthan, Bijoy Chatterjee, additional chief secretary, department of tourism, government of West Bengal and G S Chahal, executive director, MPSTDC, Government of Madhya Pradesh were all part of the session. Nandan threw light on how the tourism sector in the country has grown over the years. She also pointed out the initiatives being taken by the ministry of tourism to increase inbound tourism in the country, for example relaxation of visa norms and overhauling of airport infrastructure. Chatterjee said that the new tourism policy aims at giving a face lift to West Bengal as a tourism destination. "It gives special focus to the middle and budget category tourists," he observed. According to Venu, unique positioning of Kerala as a state along with the state government's excellent relationship with the trade has helped it to emerge as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

In the plenary session II on 'State Governments' Presentations on New Initiatives', which was moderated by Himmat Anand, co-chairman, FICCI Tourism Committee, M Rajaram, commissioner and director tourism, government of Tamil Nadu, N D Tiwari, managing director, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, S Das, director, tourism, Tripura, B Joseph, senior manager, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat and Arun Kumar Singh, secretary, tourism, government of Jharkhand outlined the initiatives taken by the state government to boost tourism in their respective states and also explored the untapped potential in these regions.