Around the world in three days

TRAVEL TALES

This was any traveller’s dream come true and one got a chance to decide their next destination and explore the world at one of India’s biggest international travel shows, ‘OneWorld Travel Mart (OTM) 2012’.

Recently organised at Pragati Maidan, the gala event provided an interesting opportunity for travel enthusiasts with its theme, ‘Around the World in 3 Days’.

Spread over three days, the expo was bigger than ever before with over 350 exhibitors from 27 countries and 22 states participating this year. Organised for the third time under the name of OTM, the event also provided a networking opportunity for travel trade, with focus on outbound travel.

 The show was not just a business platform as a number of travel enthusiasts frequented the venue in hope of good deals. Shashi and Subhash Chandra Jhulka, who have been regular visitors at the expo said, “We are extremely fond of travelling and have been coming to this exhibition for the last four years. This expo provides us with an overview of various countries and their culture under one roof.”

This year OTM also had participation from partner countries like China, Sri Lanka and Turkey. Apart from Philippines, Zimbabwe and Syria who also made their presence. Other international participants included: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Dubai, Ecuador, Nepal, Latvia, India, Mexico, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Peru, Seychelles, Taiwan, Turkey, Thailand, Tanzania, the USA, and Uzbekistan.

While explaining about their campaign, Glen Agustin, chief tourism officer from Philippines said, “We have recently unveiled our new logo stating ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ and to depict this fun we ushered the idea of bringing along live musicians and a bartender.”

Partner states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Kerala also took part in the expo with Jharkhand and Punjab being the feature states as Delhi played host.

This expo proved to be a one-stop solution for youngsters aspiring to venture into the travel and tourism industry. A visitor at the exhibition, Garima Singh, student of travel and tourism management at Banaras Hindu University said, “I have come here from Banaras to try my luck at an internship. It is important for me to get exposed to the culture of various countries and know the current requirements of the sector.” Known as ‘Travel and Tourism Fair’ earlier, the expo has been organised by Fairfest Media Ltd since 1989.

Sanjiv Agarwal, chairman and CEO of Fairfest Media Ltd said, “Through this exhibition, we want to provide visitors a glimpse of world tourism. After visiting the expo, they might not take up a deal today but whatever they witness here will surely become a part of their wish list. Our motive is to create an impulse among visitors and make their experience a memorable one.”