Ahmedabad: The India International Travel Mart (IITM) commenced its Ahmedabad edition on Friday, positioning Gujarat as a key growth market in India’s expanding outbound and experiential travel segment.
The two-day B2B travel exhibition, running from March 20–21 at the YMCA International Convention Centre, has brought together over 100 exhibitors from more than 10 countries and 15 Indian states. The event is focused on facilitating business engagements between global tourism suppliers and regional travel trade stakeholders.
Organised by Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, IITM continues to strengthen its role as a distribution and networking platform for tourism boards, destination management companies (DMCs), airlines, hospitality brands, and cruise operators targeting India’s Tier-1 and emerging Tier-2 markets.
Tourism Malaysia has been designated as the Partner Country for this edition, leveraging the platform to deepen its outreach in the Indian market. The showcase includes a mix of leisure, luxury, cultural, and adventure tourism offerings, aligning with the evolving preferences of Indian outbound travellers.
Industry stakeholders indicate that Gujarat is witnessing a steady rise in outbound travel demand, driven by increasing disposable incomes, improved air connectivity, and a growing appetite for curated and experience-led travel. Segments such as MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), wellness tourism, and niche adventure travel are gaining traction among travellers from the region.
According to organisers, the event is structured to enable pre-scheduled B2B meetings, product presentations, and networking sessions aimed at accelerating partnerships and market penetration strategies for participating brands.
Sanjay Hakhu, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions, said the Ahmedabad market offers strong potential for both domestic and international tourism stakeholders looking to expand their footprint in western India.
Rohit Hangal, Director, added that regional travel marts are increasingly becoming critical for demand generation and trade alignment, particularly as travel consumption patterns shift beyond metro cities.
With participation from a wide cross-section of global and domestic players, the Ahmedabad leg of IITM is expected to generate new business leads and reinforce trade linkages ahead of the upcoming travel season.