KTM 2014 viz., Kerala Travel Mart, which is in its 8th edition will take place on 18th, 19th and 20th of September, 2014 at Samudrika Convention Centre, Cochin Port Trust, Willingdon Island, Kochi. The second to none Travel Mart showcases on different facets of Kerala from the point of view of tourism.
The Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala partners with the Kerala Travel Mart Society in hosting this mega event which brings together the business entrepreneurs behind the tourism products and services of Kerala on a single platform. It is perhaps the largest gathering in the tourism Industry of Kerala that facilitates the meeting and interaction of the Buyers, Sellers and the Media. Tour Operators, Hotels, Resorts, Homestays, Houseboats, Ayurveda Resorts, cultural art centres and many others will showcase their products at the Mart.
Since its inception, there has been an overwhelming response from the national and international Buyers which has reflected in the steady escalation in the variety of tourism products and in the numbers of participants, both Buyers and Sellers. KTM 2012 was attended by more than 1250 Buyers.
Over the last 13 years since the first Mart, KTM has attracted over 1000 International Buyers who have established business partners among the various sections in the Tourism industry of Kerala.
KTM (Kerala Travel Mart) is held once in two years during September and the stupendous success of each Mart has inspired the KTM Society to innovate, think out-of –the box and take each Mart to the next level. KTM 2014 will reach out to buyers from new markets like Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden and USA. KTM 2014 will focus on raising their quality too.
The Mart will highlight innovative tourism products like village life experience, culture tours, and destination wedding themes.
A big turnout of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, conferences, Exhibitions) operators, Global Wedding Planners, Wellness and Adventure Tour operators is expected at KTM 2014. The Mart will project Kerala as the ideal destination for weddings and Honeymoons along with conferences and Exhibitions. These emerging segments are being viewed very seriously by tourist destinations and KTM intends to increase Kerala’s market share to an additional 5000 crores. Only 10% of the national inbound tourist traffic reaches Kerala, and KTM has set itself a target of 15% with arrivals from new and emerging markets.
The Hosted Buyer programme is a unique component of the show and it provides the Buyers an opportunity to meet with the exhibitors of their choice for focused one-to-one sessions with appointments. Selected Buyers will receive complimentary accommodation, local transfers, a Post Mart FAM Tour and participation at networking evenings.
