Scheduled to commence from Thursday, an international tourism expo will take place in Greater Noida. Organizers announced that the three-day event will feature more than 1,500 exhibitors, along with 800 international and domestic buyers hosted, and travel agents from over 120 cities across India. The 31st edition of the South Asia Trade Travel Exhibition (SATTE) aims to unite professionals from the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, convening at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida.
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While Uttar Pradesh is designated as the host state for this year’s expo, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand are partnering states. Supported by Informa Markets, with backing from the Union Ministry of Tourism and state tourism boards, the event promises a diverse participation from across the nation.
Running until February 24, the expo will feature discussions on various topics, including ‘Tourism@2047’, ‘Decoding MICE for Business & Career Opportunities’, and ‘Tourism: The Balancing Act’.
On the international front, Saudi Arabia holds the position of premium partner country, while Dubai, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand are designated as partner countries.
Officials highlighted the significant growth of India’s travel and tourism industry in 2023, which reached ₹16.5 trillion. They noted a substantial increase in travel frequency among Indians, particularly in MICE tourism, with rising interest in both popular and lesser-known destinations, including spiritual ones.
This year, a new initiative called ‘Atithi’ will debut at the expo, focusing on reverse buyer-seller meets to boost inbound tourism. Spearheaded by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), with support from the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, the initiative aims to elevate India as a premier global travel destination.
An official mentioned the participation of approximately 250 international buyers from 50 countries, aiming to foster business opportunities for stakeholders in the Indian tourism industry and position India as a highly desirable travel destination worldwide.