Kerala is all set to host Kerala Travel Mart 2022 from May 5 to 8 at Sagara and Samudrika convention centres in the Willingdon Island at Cochin. The four-day fair will kick off on May 5 with Mr Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister of Kerala inaugurating the fair and Mr P.A. Mohamed Riyas Tourism Minister, Govt of Kerala chairing the function at Grand Hyatt in Bolgatty.
Being held after a hiatus of two years caused by the COVID pandemic, the Mart will be attended by delegates from 69 countries to engage in 55,000 business interactions. Adding glitz to the opening session will be a sample show of the second edition of the Champions Boat League (CBL) being organised by Kerala Tourism. The IPL-modelled snake-boat race is scheduled to begin ahead of the Onam festival after the monsoon.
The day after the inauguration, the KTM-2022 venue will shift to the Willingdon Island, where Sagara and Samudrika convention centres will hold two days of hectic business meets. The concluding day on May 8 will provide public access to the pavilions in the two venues for five hours from 1 pm,
Mr K S Srinivas IAS, Principal Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said the post-pandemic situation is favourable for Kerala Tourism to regain its vitality and charm as other states are giving pretty good competition to Kerala. He added that KTM-2022 would set the stage for the state to showcase its strength in the tourism sector before a global audience.
Mr V R Krishna Teja IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism, said the curtain-raiser of the second edition of Champions Boat League (CBL), Caravan tourism and Adventure tourism are some of the key attractions of KTM-2022, which will be conducted adhering to all safety protocols.
A green event spread over an area of 1.5 lakh square feet, KTM will facilitate 55,000 business interactions, Mr Baby Mathew, President of KTM Society said. “While delegates from 69 countries are set to participate, KTM-2022 will have buyers from 25 states within the country. Domestic buyers total 1,000, while those from abroad will be no less than 240,” he said.
Seminars on various topics led by officials, experts and stakeholders will also be held on the sidelines of the event. The mart will also feature exhibitions on key tourism themes. Amid hopes of a revival in post-pandemic travel, KTM is expected to trigger attraction for visitors after two years of the global slide. The meet will be attended by a large contingent of journalists, including 33 from abroad, and 75 vloggers.
Sustaining the spirit of the recent launch of the state government’s ‘Karavan Kerala’, the upcoming edition of KTM will have caravan tourism and adventure tourism among its focal themes. Alongside, the internationally-acclaimed Responsible Tourism, too, will receive prominent attention.
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