In a time of global upheaval when the travel and tourism industry worldwide is seriously grappling with challenges emanating from various geopolitical and financial crisis such as a Middle east turmoil, struggling European or slowing Chinese economies, the just concluded South Asia’s biggest travel show SATTE 2016 showed an unprecedented industry faith in India as a travel market place from across a cross-section of travel verticals including outbound, inbound and domestic.
SATTE 2016 was almost there offering that crystal ball that the India and International tourism requires to gauge the mood of travellers. Hailed as South Asia’s most vibrant show, SATTE 2016, organised from January 29-31, recorded an unprecedented growth breaking all previous landmarks in its 23nd edition. Spread over an area of 17,000 square metres, the exhibitors’ number grew from 650+ last year to well over 750 exhibitors in 2016 recording a growth of more than 15 per cent this year. The event was attended by companies from 35 countries and 28 Indian States and Union Territories and included from NTOs and State Tourism Boards to Hotels, DMCs, airlines, theme parks, cruise lines and a host of other suppliers. Furthermore, with a record attendance of 20,000 SATTE 2016 grew by over 28 per cent in business visitors’ participation.
Welcoming guests on the opening day, Michael Duck, Executive Vice President, UBM Asia, said, “India is today one of the world’s largest and fastest growing travel markets. It has been a constant endeavour of ours to provide a platform for the inbound, domestic and outbound segments and thus meeting the larger industry needs of India. Being the only composite travel and tourism show in this part of the world, SATTE provides platform to domestic and international buyers and professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality industry.”
Duck also informed that SATTE’s buyer programme is well supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. “We are proud to partner with Ministry of Tourism, all major travel and tourism associations in India, state tourism boards, national tourist offices and all the sectors of hospitality and travel trade and the UNWTO. Together we are poised to raise the benchmark and fuel trade for the travel industry in India,” he added while welcoming the delegates from all over the world at the three-day event.
Hailing SATTE as a “comprehensive travel event” and “one of the leading networking and business platform for the tourism in South Asia,” UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai, in his video message said, “The coming days (at SATTE) will prove an ideal opportunity to address the issues and innovations that are currently shaping our sector. This will surely set the scene for years to come and open immense opportunity in terms of inter-regional co-operation and inclusive business development.”
Reiterating UNWTO’s ongoing commitment to SATTE, Rifai said, “The thriving Indian economy has produced an ever growing affluent Middle Class that combined with travel liberalisation and facilitation has made India one of the fastest growing outbound travel markets in the world. Regarding India as a destination there have been equally important achievements. One just has to think about landmark Incredible India tourism marketing campaign in addition to several others such as a clear commitment towards regional integration and development. It is needless to say that such action have an immensely positive impact on the country’s tourism sector and consequently on the society and the economy as a whole.”
Complementing UBM India in strong terms Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Tourism & Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, said that it is platforms like SATTE that not only facilitate exchange of ideas but also create conducive atmosphere of global peace through right ‘communication.’
Sharma further said that in our country, we believe that tourism has not been given that push which it should have been given. “The Prime Minister considers tourism as an engine of economic growth that can also take perception of the country to the different corners of the world. The Prime Minister has given me the three ministries of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation. And I am using them in an integrated manner. But the ultimate effect has to come through tourism”, he said.
Complimenting SATTE and his Ministry for actively participating in the event, Sharma requested UBM India to share the outcome of the deliberation during the various SATTE conferences that his ministry can make use of in order to “upgrade, update and strengthen” itself. Sharma also used the occasion to highlight the new initiatives being taken, implemented as well as those being considered.
Congratulating UBM India for putting up another successful edition of SATTE 2016 and bringing together both buyers and suppliers on a single platform, Secretary, Tourism, Government of India, Vinod Zutshi, said, “As a home grown initiative, SATTE has come a long way. Considering the range of participation and interest which SATTE has been evoking over the years, it is today a major travel industry event in the South Asian region. Undoubtedly SATTE has enabled to form useful synergies and effective networks in travel and tourism sector across the sub-continent and is largely driven by the composite will of the tourism industry. Ministry of Tourism has given its full support to this prestigious event and Incredible India is a built in partner of SATTE.”
Thailand witnessed record arrivals of both Indian and International tourists reaching an all time high of 29.8 million in 2015. Attending SATTE for the eighth time with a 56 member strong delegation, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) identifies India as one of its top priority markets.
“Our mission is how to spread our tourism and share with all. This time we would like to introduce new destinations. I do hope we have brought to you many new places, smaller cities, community based tourism. We hope that the income coming from tourism will not only benefit the very few but to more,” said Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister for Tourism & Sport, Kingdom of Thailand, while inviting delegates at SATTE to explore the myriad hues of Thailand.
One of India’s youngest states and carved out from the central Indian state of MP, Chattisgarh is a picturesque state with a large part of it covered with forest, hills and flora and faunas. While sharing a brief run down on Chattisgarh, Dayal Das Baghel, Minister of Tourism, Government of Chhattisgarh called his state home to the ‘Niagara of India’ for its massive ‘Chitrakoot Fall.’ Baghel not only used the platform to effectively highlight Chattisgarh’s diverse tourism offering but also invited the Indian and international delegates attending SATTE 2016 to explore the state.
IATO President, Subhash Goyal, who’s association with SATTE dates back right to its first edition 23 years ago said that since UBM’s took over the show a few years ago, SATTE has made ‘international dimension’ and has kept both ‘buyers’ and ‘sellers’ happy. “It is the event which every travel agent, every tour operator, every hotelier and every state tourism board looks forward to. And it’s growing day by day,” he said with enthusiasm.
Earlier, while welcoming guests to the 23rd edition of SATTE, Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India, said, “Backed by proven expertise of growing businesses in India’s travel, tourism and hospitality sector, SATTE 2016, New Delhi, is poised to grow and be the ideal platform for the key players of this sector to showcase their products, services and innovations, exchange knowledge and congregate for business. Over the years SATTE has witnessed a magnanimous response from both, the exhibitors and buyers, launches by different tourism boards and also in overall increase in visitors.”
Emphasising SATTE role in growing India Tourism, Mudras further added UBM India has been successfully able to play the role of catalyst in promoting tourism in India. “This year we are glad to host more than 750 companies from 35 different countries and also 28 Indian states. They will showcase their latest offerings and also provide access to further strengthening the partnership for business in this region,” he informed.
Pallavi Mehra, Portfolio Director, UBM India, while delivering the vote of thanks, announced that SATTE 2017 will be held from February 15-17, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India.
Also attending the inaugural function was a galaxy of who’s who of India’s travel, tourism and hospitality sector that included Sarab Jit Singh, Vice Chairman, Federation of Associations of Indian Tourism & Hospitality; Sunil Kumar, President, Travel Agents Association of India; Zakkir Ahmad, President, Travel Agent Federation of India; Biji Eapen, IATA Agents Association of India; Jyoti Kapur, President, Association of Domestic Tour Operator Association of India; Guldeep Shani, President, Outbound Tour Operator Association of India; Jagat Mehta, President, Enterprising Travel Agents Association; Rajan Sehgal, President, India Golf Tourism Association; Anish Kumar, Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India and Sanjay Dutta, President, Skal Delhi, among others.
