The India International Travel Mart (IITM) Bengaluru 2026, one of South India’s premier B2B travel and tourism exhibitions, was inaugurated today by Mr. KJ George, Honourable Minister for Energy and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds, Bengaluru.
The Guests of Honour at the Inauguration of the ‘India International Travel Mart’, were Dr. V Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka, Mr. Shivaprasad PR, IAS, Managing Director, KSTDC Ltd., Mr. Sivaram Babu, IFS, Managing Director, Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd., Mr. K Syamaraju, President, SIHRA and Karnataka Tourism Society, Mr. Amish Desai, MC Member, TAAI, Ms. Jyoti Varma, Country Manager – India, Global Business Travel Association, Smt. Sanjeevi Singh, Chairperson – South India, ETAA, Mr. Mahalingaiah, Chairman, IATO, Mr. Ganesh Basavaraj, Vice President, Karnataka Tourism Forum.
The three-day exhibition, being held from 23–25 July 2026, has brought together leading tourism boards, state tourism departments, international destinations, hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise companies, destination management companies, travel technology providers, travel agents and tourism service providers from across India and overseas.
The event serves as a vibrant business platform for the travel fraternity to showcase new products, strengthen partnerships and explore emerging opportunities in one of India’s fastest-growing travel markets.
Buyers from Bengaluru and key feeder markets including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi, Davanagere, Shivamogga, Salem, Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupati and other cities across South India are participating in large numbers.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Mr. K.J. George, Hon’ble Minister for Energy and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, said, “Tourism continues to be a significant contributor to Karnataka’s economy, creating employment, promoting entrepreneurship and showcasing our rich cultural and natural heritage. Platforms such as the India International Travel Mart play a vital role in connecting destinations with the industry, encouraging collaborations and enhancing Karnataka’s position as a preferred tourism destination. I congratulate the organisers for bringing together the tourism fraternity under one roof and wish the event every success.”
Tourism Secretary, V Ram Prasath Manohar added “the sector plays a larger role than attracting visitors, and contributes immensely to employment generation, investment and economic development. Our goal is to position Karnataka as India’s preferred tourism destination by fostering strong partnerships between the government, investors and the tourism industry.”
Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd., organisers of IITM, said: “Bengaluru has always been one of India’s most dynamic travel markets, making it an ideal destination for the India International Travel Mart. IITM continues to provide a highly effective business platform where exhibitors can engage directly with quality travel buyers, tour operators, corporate planners and industry professionals. The enthusiastic response from exhibitors and buyers reflects the growing confidence and optimism within the travel and tourism sector.”
The exhibition features over 850 exhibitors representing diverse tourism products including domestic and international destinations, luxury and leisure travel, pilgrimage, adventure tourism, wellness tourism, MICE, cruises, hospitality, travel technology, insurance and allied services. In addition to the exhibition, IITM Bengaluru offers an extensive programme of business networking sessions, destination presentations, product launches and B2B meetings, enabling exhibitors and buyers to establish meaningful business relationships and develop new market opportunities.
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