World Travel India (WTI) 2004, India’s largest international travel event, organised by UK-based Kinex Log International in association with the Express Travel & Tourism (An Indian Express publication), has been launched.

The launch events, took place on two consecutive days, July 31 and August 1, in New Delhi and Mumbai respectively, to showcase WTI 2004 to the industry. The first edition, WTI 2004 will be held from February 5-8, 2004 at the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.

Both events were well attended by decision makers from the hospitality and tourism industries. In New Delhi, the guest of honour was Amitabh Kant, joint secretary, union ministry of tourism, government of India, while in Mumbai, it was Gour Kanjilal, regional director, west, Indiatourism.

Speaking at the New Delhi launch, Dina MacDonald, managing director, Kinex Log International, said, "The WTI platform targets exhibitors interested in the fast growing Indian travel market, both inbound and outbound. It is a major international travel and tourism event, which will respond to the needs of the industry and engage all aspects of travel, tourism and hospitality - inbound, outbound and domestic. WTI will present major new business opportunities through a host of activities including a hosted buyer programme, which will bring to India leading buyers from around the globe to meet with the sellers in the Indian marketplace and will include the traditional markets of Europe, including eastern Europe, the Americas and Asia."

Pledging the Indian government’s support to WTI 2004, Kant said, "The Indian Express has done a commendable job in conceiving such an event. It needs a great amount of vision to create an international show. The Union government will act as a facilitator, a catalyst, in making WTI 2004 a success. And once you succeed, the whole industry will rally behind you."

An important aspect to the WTI platform is the industry support it has received. All major hospitality and travel-related associations, such as the FHRAI, HAI, TAAI, TAFI, IATO and ADTOI have offered their support for the event.

Expressing his view at the Mumbai launch event, Jehangir Katgara, president, TAAI and director, TCI said, "India has several travel marts, but what it requires is an international travel event. Besides, the concerned event should be able to attract the right audience. There should be new buyers, as there is no point in getting the same old people. This would also help new destination explore India."

Kanjilal in his speech at the Mumbai launch said, "I am glad to be associated with an event of such
magnitude. Gaining support from a leading media house would definitely give strength to the event. WTI 2004 will prove be a positive platform to showcase the tourism wealth India has to offer. Most of the travel events and exhibitions till date have been focused and held in New Delhi. Hosting such a mega travel event in Mumbai is a good idea. We, as members of the trade need to work as a team to promote the country with vigour at the international level."

While speaking at the Delhi event, Shyam Suri, secretary general, FHRAI, said he is of the opinion that there is need for an event focused solely on inbound as it offers the opportunity to address India’s poor performance in the inbound segment. However, acknowledging the Indian Express initiative, he said. "I do hope this show has a major focus on the inbound sector. India has some very good hotels with world-class facilities, but the average occupancy is around 55 per cent. Hence, we need more inbound to improve the occupancy rate. We must take this opportunity to showcase our country to the international hosted buyers."

Speaking on behalf of the IATO, the association's president, Maharaj Wahi said, "India’s tourism will only benefit if more and more international buyers are brought to the country. And if such events are organised in different metros then we can hope to attract more such buyers. We have been partnering with SATTE, but we will support WTI as it will showcase India to the world and promote inbound tourism."

In reply to Sita Inbound COO, Himmat Anand’s question on whether WTI will focus on short haul since it is the growing trend, MacDonald said, "Short haul and long haul, our reach will go globally. The event will bring buyers to sellers and sellers to buyers."

L-R: Jehangir Katgara, TAAI makes a point to Pradeep Gopalan and Sajid Desai, BPD-Indian Express Newspapers (Bom) Ltd

L-R: Bhavin Mehta, Park Hyatt Goa, Dhananjay Saliankar, Le Meriden India and Rajesh Nambiar, Saltours International

Hospitality and travel join hands for a common cause

L-R: Marcellus Baptista gets serious with Aury Mendes, AMR Travel Service (P) Ltd and Vijay Puthran, Star Cruises (India) Travel Services P Ltd

Open house - Delegates made full use of the Q&A session

The impactful head table at the Mumbai event

L-R: Vivek Pathiyan, The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai and Farhat Jamal, Taj Lands End

What’s the ‘good’ word ask the media to Gaur Kanjilal, Indiatourism Mumbai

L-R: N Sunderaj, Jet Airways with Geoff Magee, The Ambassador Mumbai

L-R: Maharaj Wahi, IATO, Balbir Mayal, TAAI, Sandeep Gupta and Sunil Mathur from Choice Hospitality (India) P Ltd

L-R: Rajeev Talwar, Delhi Tourism with Inder Sharma, doyen of the Indian travel industry

Fully loaded - The head table at the New Delhi event

Industry veterans raise a toast to a great event

L-R: Ajay Bakaya, Sarovar Park Plaza, K B Kachru, Carlson Hospitality India and Vijay Chadha, BTI Sita

Sunil Mathur, Choice Hospitality (India) P Ltd enjoying the evening

L-R: Raman Mohan, Air Sahara, Prem Subramaniam, BTA, Vasudha Sondhi, Outbound Marketing and Sheema Vohra, Marriott International

Amitabh Kant, department of tourism, government of India with Ashok Bhatnagar, PATA India Chapter

L-R: Karun Budhraja, Amadeus and Sandeep Khosla, head - BPD, Indian Express Newspapers (Bom) Ltd

L-R: Shyam Suri, FHRAI with Maharaj Wahi, IATO

L-R: Himmat Anand, Sita Inbound with Sandeep Gupta, Choice Hospitality India

Amitabh Kant making a point at the head table