The world under one roof

Sphere Travelmedia and Exhibitions’, in association with Karnataka Tourism, organised the 59th edition of ‘India International Travel Mart - 2012’ at Palace Grounds recently.

Over 300 participants showcased more than 15 countries and 20 states for visitors.
The three-day event was inaugurated by Minister of Tourism Anand Singh.
The ambience was festive and full of life as various stalls chose a creative path to attract tourists.

While the Odisha Tourism stall had dancers performing on a raised platform, the Thailand stall offered visitors a traditional Thai massage.

One could also spot many tabloids that boosted their state’s cultural heritage. Andra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand were a few states which drew many visitors.
Dubai, Macau, Malaysia, Oman, Switzerland and Thailand were some of the international destinations that caught the attention of the guests.

The exhibition saw people flocking in with excitement to plan their forthcoming vacations. “My husband and I are planning a trip in August and we are looking forward to picking a place that does not burn a hole in our pockets,” explains Namratha Karthik. “It’s great to access so much information under one roof because calling each travel house and finding out details is a pain,” she adds.

Sudha Kidao was extremely happy to visit the exhibition. She admits her love for travel and says, “We love to travel together as a family. While this exhibition is a great resource, I have planned another holiday for all of us.” Although some  professionals complained about shortage of leave, they said they always find a way to explore new places.

“After travelling to most states in India, we now only have Kerala and eastern part of India to discover,” declares Prakash excitedly.

Youngsters were anxiously hopping into every other stall gethering information. Gaurang and his friend Manas were patiently compiling data to plan a holiday before their engineering course begins next month.

They said that a holiday is absolutely necessary before they get drowned in their busy academic schedules.

A few youngsters also grabbed the opportunity to learn about other cultures.
Nischitha, who aspires to be an IAS officer explains, “This might sound strange, but we are not here to check out any packages. My sister and I came here because we were curious to know what each state has to offer in terms of culture and heritage.”