GITB 2011 witnesses 230 foreign buyers from 53 countries and over 7000 pre-fixed structured B2B meetings
 
Starting in 2008, from 160 buyers from 35 countries with 2000 pre-fixed meetings, The Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) has now grown to 230 foreign buyers from 53 countries and more than 7000 pre-fixed structured B2B meetings between foreign buyers and sellers of the Indian tourism product in 2011. The event offered Indian tourism that much needed push to spur growth as the buyers and suppliers continued to engage in business meetings throughout April 18-19.

An initiative of FICCI and supported by Government of Rajasthan and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, GITB 2011 offered the perfect platform to stimulate and promote inbound tourism to India. Suppliers at the event included State Tourism Boards, DMCs, travel agents and tour operators, transporters, Airlines, hotels, cruise lines amongst others.

The event started on a sedate note with the Rajasthan Government declaring State’s mourning at the passing away Maharaja Bhawani Singh of Jaipur.
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GITB considers hosting domestic buyers from the next year
 
The Great India Travel Bazaar, a B2B buyer-sellers tourism mart solely dedicated to promoting inbound tourism, may witness a slightly changed format from the coming year. While it remains what it is – promoting inbound tourism to India, the event is also expected to have domestic buyers shopping for tourism products from the next year. This was informed by Anand K Tripathi, Deputy Director – Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, who said that they may want to extend the event by one more day, exclusively for the domestic buyers. However, he said that a decision in this regard is yet to be taken.
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HOTELS

Sarovar launches its 4th property, ‘Majestic Court Sarovar Portico’ in Mumbai with 58 rooms
 
Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of Majestic Court Sarovar Portico in Navi Mumbai on 20th of March. This is Sarovar’s 4th hotel in Mumbai. The property has 58 rooms and is equipped with modern conveniences and amenities including tea/coffee maker, private mini bar, electronic safe, LCD television, Wi-Fi connectivity etc. The introductory tariff starts from Rs 3490. Located in Mahape, an industrial hub in Navi Mumbai, it houses a large number of IT companies and a government owned IT park.
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Capt. Nair of Leela to handover the business to his sons by June this year
 
Chairman of Hotel Leelaventure Capt. Krishnan Nair will step down this June making way for his son Vivek Nair. Dinesh Nair, his younger son will be the Vice Chairman of the group. The goup is also planning to raise about Rs. 600 crore by issuing shares to financial investors in the next few weeks. Hotel Leelaventure may also look at partnering with Mukesh Ambani if there was "a hostile take over threats" from rival ITC.
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NTO

Macau Mini Mart in Mumbai and Delhi receives a good response
 
Travel agents and other trade associates thronged the one day Macau Mini Mart held at Trident Hotel in Mumbai on April 20 and at The Imperial in New Delhi on April 22. Nine trade partners from Macau participated at the Mart. Mumbai witnessed participation by 155 travel agents and Delhi by 145. Maria Helena De Senna Fernandes, Deputy Director of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) graced the presentation function.
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New Zealand to hold KiwiLink in India during August 2011
 
Tourism New Zealand will be organising KiwiLink – a trade workshop held once in every two years during August this year. To be held in Mumbai and New Delhi on strict invite basis, the workshop is expected to provide an opportunity to meet over 25 sellers from various segments of New Zealand Tourism.
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STATES

 
MPTDC to offer regional air connectivity in the state using two nine-seater aircraft from July 2011
 
Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) has recently tied up with Ventura Airconnect Pvt Ltd to provide air connectivity between major cities and smaller regions of the state (to neighbour states) through two nine-seater aircraft from July 2011. Cities like Jabalpur, Nagpur, Indore, Pune, Bhopal, Gwalior are expected to be connected in the first phase.
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Andaman & Nicobar to implement Bed & Breakfast scheme
 
In a bid to offer tourists a homelike environment and an experience of Indian food, traditions and customs, Andaman and Nicobar Islands have introduced the Bed & Breakfast scheme. TravTalk learns that the properties selected will be classified into two star categories namely, silver and gold, and that the tourism department is looking at incorporating at least 1,000 properties under this scheme in a year’s time.
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Gujarat-Rajasthan-Maharashtra to jointly promote Western India to target international tourists
 
Gujarat and Rajasthan have decided to jointly attract tourists from Europe and the US to western India, a Memoranda of Understanding for which is expected to be signed soon. This was announced by Vipul Mittra, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Government of Gujarat, while addressing media persons at FICCI’s Great Indian Travel Bazaar 2011 in Jaipur on April 18. Mittra said that this was decided today when he met his counterpart, Usha Sharma, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Government of Rajasthan. He informed that the Gujarat Tourism Department is also in talks with the Maharashtra Government for the joint western India tourism promotion strategy.
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