TAAI’s ITTE to create platform for SMEs to network and develop revenue models

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), in a first-of-its-kind initiative, will be organising India Travel Trade Expo (ITTE) on August 7-8, 2010 at World Trade Centre, Mumbai, which was supposed to be held in February this year. The aim behind organising the expo is to create a platform for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to network and develop alternate revenue models. The expo will also have participation from hoteliers and tour operators. One of the highlights of the event will be the buyer-seller meet.

In the first edition of ITTE, the association is expecting 500 participants, including from domestic and international markets. The expo will be for the B2B segment and is expected to have 700 stalls. National Tourist Offices (NTOs) of Korea, Turkey, Thailand, Finland, Dubai have shown interest in participating in the expo. TAAI is also in discussions with state tourism boards of Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka to participate in the expo. The association aims to make ITTE an annual event with plans to organise multi-city expo in key metros from 2011.