Exhibitors and conference delegates heralded the first World Travel India (WTI) as an outstanding success, so much so that the plans for the next edition of the event are already under way, scheduled for February 2005.
‘‘The concept of a major international travel trade show blended with a high level conference was a potent formula” said Richard Gayle, WTI’s project manager.
He continued: “A unique attribute of WTI was the well organised hosted buyer programme where 25 buyers from North America, Europe, Africa, Russia and the Far East were brought to the event courtesy of Qatar Airways. They met with major local organisations such as the national tourist boards of Goa, Maharashtra and Kerala along with independent enterprises such as Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Indian Airlines and Le Meridien hotels, Cochin and Kovalam.”
In all, WTI presented over 180 exhibiting companies from 19 countries including some of the industry’s biggest names such as Tourism Malaysia, Gulf Air, Dubai’s DTCM, Visit Britain, Switzerland Tourism, the Hong Kong Tourist Board and the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Exhibitors offered positive comments such as those voiced by Barbara Van Deventer of South Africa’s Three Cities properties who said the show was ‘‘extremely beneficial for both Three Cities properties as well as South Africa.’’.