The Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) that will be held here from May 5 to 8 will accord priority to local tourists, with a host of attractions for them, considering the recent increase in the number of domestic travellers calling at destinations in the State, said KTM Society which is organising the Business-to-Business (B2B) meet.
Said to be the country’s largest tourism buyer-seller conclave, the mart will propose a policy that can promote tourism at the regional level. “We will accord local tourists importance on par with visitors from outside the State and abroad,” said Baby Mathew, president of the society.
“Tourists from within Kerala are capable of making use of different travel packages. We see increased scope for weekend and adventure tourism. Further, youngsters working in the IT sector are showing immense interest in travel. This lends huge prospect for the growth of tourism,” he added.
Jose Dominic, founder president of the society, said local travel could boost regional tourism, augmenting the income of cab and autorickshaw drivers, besides those running small-time businesses.
The inaugural function of the KTM will be held at Hotel Grand Hyatt in Bolgatty on May 5. It will be followed by business meets on May 6 and 7 at Sagara and Samudrika convention centres in Willingdon Island. Members of the public will have access to pavilions at the convention centres from 1 p.m. on May 8. The green-compliant conclave at the 100,000-sq.ft. venue will have more than 2,000 delegates, including buyers, sellers, and policymakers from within the country and abroad, said an official release.
