13th Edition of Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) commencing on May 5 at Jal Mahal Palace
The tourism department of Rajasthan is hosting the thirteenth Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) in Jaipur from May 5-7 on an intriguing theme of ‘Wed in India’ to pitch Rajasthan as the most sought after wedding destination.
The department is organising the event jointly with the Centre’s tourism ministry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
“The state would showcase cultural events based on art, tourism and history of Rajasthan,” a state tourism department official said.
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Recently, the tourism industry in Rajasthan had decided to intensify efforts to expand the destination wedding market to capitalize on its rich architectural heritage.
A ‘Wed in India Expo’ will take place on the first day of the event, said Rajasthan’s Tourism Director Rashmi Sharma while announcing the schedule of GITB during a meeting.
Sharma said the objective of the expo is to encourage tourists from India and abroad to get married in Rajasthan. On the second and third day of the event, business-to-business meetings will be organised with foreign tour operators. They will also be offered tours across Rajasthan from May 8.
“We are ready to work with the government in this direction and GITB has come at the right time,” said Gaurav Khandelwal, a Jaipur-based travel agent.
Bhavani Shankar Mali, general secretary of All Wedding Industries Federation, Rajasthan, said that 1.5 to 2 million weddings take place every year in Rajasthan.
If efforts are made by the tourism industry and the state government collectively, Rajasthan can be promoted as a destination wedding spot. This may increase destination weddings by 5-10 per cent,” said Mali.
“If destination weddings increase (in the state), new employment opportunities will be available to lakhs of people. The government will also get revenue and people associated with the hotels and tourism sector will get good business,” Khandelwal said.
Countries participating in GITB include Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Sri Lanka, England, the USA, and more than 50 other nations will be represented by over 250 delegates during GITB, covering various sectors of tourism.
Apart from Rajasthan, other states including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha will also participate in GITB. Organizations such as FICCI, Indian Heritage Hotels Association, Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators, and Hotels and Restaurant Association of Rajasthan will also play significant roles in GITB.
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