“New regions and countries are very active and this OTM has been called the special booster edition by us,” says Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media Ltd, Publisher & Editor, Travel News Digest. An exclusive with Reema Lokesh, Founder and Editor – Reemarkabl, he says that the exhibition format works as a major platform for restoration of market and confidence builder.
1) In the post vaccinated era, what are the key drivers for tourism growth?
For international travel it’s hassle free and prompt or on-arrival visa. You know, there is tremendous backlog in visa processing esp. Schengen in US visa and as a result the market is ripe for new destinations!
2) What are the primary challenges one can see and your suggestions to tackle the same?
In domestic markets it’s the price-quality ratio – if the industry wants to hold on to the relative advantage they got due to disruption in outbound travel.
As far as inbound to India is concerned, announcing free visas was a good move but we probably need to advertise that India is not only open but safe to travel. I have heard in the grapevine that foreign tourists are scared that they will catch Covid if they came to India!
Outbound is bubbling with pent-up demand but the problem-solution is already discussed above.
3) How has the exhibitions space transformed post the pandemic?
It is back to pre-pandemic levels and seen as a major platform for restoration of market and confidence builder.
4) How unique is the format this year at Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC) keeping the changing dynamics across the world?
Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC) is the only trade show venue conforming to global standards, so it may be a game-changer in reinforcing OTM’s well established position in Mumbai. OTM at JWCC will surely emerge as the undisputed leader in travel shows in India.
5) What are the visible changes you witness in participation and also b2b demand?
New regions and countries are very active. For example, this OTM (we call this special booster edition) will have jaw-dropping pavilions from Moscow, St Petersburg, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
6) Your message as Exhibition curator?
Fairfest Media Ltd and its CSR arm Good Governance India Foundation have been championing for reopening travel throughout the pandemic. We even joined some of the litigations e.g. in the High Courts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh against lockdowns, arguing loss of livelihood was a bigger threat. We have been also involved in promoting international travel to countries that remained open during the pandemic or opened or quickly opened after the pandemic. It is a moment of great relief and personal satisfaction for me that we have been able to contribute to these causes to a large extent. The future of travel and tourism looks great again, despite many disruption needing constant change and innovation e.g promoting new outbound destinations and circuits.