Bangalore, Jan 3 (IANS) The annual Travel and Tourism Trade Fair (TTF) began here Friday, with 175 participants from India and abroad showcasing top destinations for holidays and business travel.
As part of India’s biggest network of travel fairs, the three-day event has pavilions representing 19 Indian states and nine countries.
“The fair offers fascinating glimpses of tourist destinations across India and the world over,” Fairfest Media chief executive Sanjiv Agarwal said on the occasion.
Nepal leads the international participation as partner country and Malaysia as feature country, while private operators represent Bali, Bhutan, Indonesia, Maldives and Mauritius.
State-run India Tourism is also present with a sizeable pavilion displaying its ‘Incredible India’ show.
With a view to drawing about 800,000 Indian tourists this year, Tourism Malaysia and Air Asia announced attractive packages, including one-way ticket between Bangalore and Kuala Lumpur for Rs.6,500 and Langkawi or Penang at an additional cost of Rs.1,237 for three days.
Andhra Pradesh, which remains a top tourist destination in the country with 207 million visitors in 2012, is holding a road show to woo more domestic and overseas tourists as a partner state.
Other partner states are Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, while Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh are participating as feature states.
Bihar, Delhi, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are showcasing their tourist hot spots, rich diversity, flora and fauna and heritage.
Organised by various national and international travel industry bodies and supported by the Indian tourism ministry, the fair is hosted by Karnataka with Lavasa as destination partner.
Besides state and national tourism organisations, a large number of hotels, resorts, travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, railways and travel portals are taking part in the major event.