30 Minute Interview

‘KTM 2008 will receive buyers from new source markets’

E M Najeeb, General Convener and President- KTM Society (2006-08) tells Reema Sisodia that KTM is one of the most meaningful and valuable grounds for real and serious business transactions. Excerpts from an interview.

E M Najeeb General Convener and President - KTM Society (2006-08)

What is the main focus at KTM this year and how different is it going to be from the past?

The main focus of Kerala Travel Mart 2008, is as usual, showcasing Kerala and its services and products under one umbrella. Three Hundered sellers will be setting up stalls offering various services and products at KTM 2008. KTM will be looking at making this event more meaningful to the buyers and sellers by offering them with the right platform to conduct good business.

KTM wants to project Kerala at its best as a destination. It will involve all players and stake holders in the industry with a singular objective of marketing Kerala effectively. Unlike many other fairs, KTM offers the buyers a direct feel of the state and its various properties. Each time KTM takes place, utmost care is taken to screen the buyer registrations and to identify genuine and serious buyers, to ensure good results and value. This year KTM has looked at new source markets to have buyers to visit KTM. This will help to open up traffic to Kerala from these locations in the future.

What is the expected participation this year? Are there new players in the business?

There will be more than 300 exhibitors and 800 buyers participating in KTM 2008. Out of the 800 buyers, 300 will be international and 500 domestic. There would be new visitors expected this year.

What is KTM's business expectation this year?

In the year 2007, more than 5.15 lakh foreign and 66.42 lakh domestic tourists visited the State. Foreign exchange earned by the state's tourism sector also grew by 32.82 per cent in 2007 and touched upto Rs 2,640.94 crore. In 2007, for the first time ever, the total revenue generated by tourism in Kerala crossed Rs 10,000 crore. This phenomenal growth in the tourism sector in Kerala, can be attributed to the efforts of KTM too.

Your views and message on KTM?

KTM is the largest tourism fair of its kind in India. It offers a great opportunity for the buyers to experience Kerala and its products by their visit. The sellers are members of the KTM Society and they are very serious about the mart, as a platform for meaningful business transaction. This kind of showcasing of the whole state and its tourism products under one roof is unique, and the successful conduct of the Mart for the last few years has started showing considerable results. Other states also have shown keen interest in participating in KTM, which would expand the size of the Mart considerably.