500 buyers will participate in KTM 2004

Kochi: More than 500 buyers from countries like Germany, France, Russia and Denmark will participate in the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), India's premier tourism buyer-seller meet. The meet is scheduled for September 30 to October 2 this year at Kochi.

"The response from the international tourism trade sector is encouraging. We have already received registration for 300 national and international buyers," tourism minister P Sankaran said.

Organised by Kerala Tourism and the Kerala Travel Mart Society, KTM 2004 is the only travel fair of its kind to focus on a single state. The earlier 2000 and 2002 editions of the KTM have played a vital role in increasing the international tourist arrivals in the state, he said.

He said the KTM 2004 would see buyers from new markets like Russia and CIS, Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Norway, in addition to traditional markets like Britain, Germany, France and Italy.

The travel mart brings together key players of the industry from across the state. A strong buyer campaign had been launched, roping in the government of India's tourist offices abroad to attract more international buyers.

The KTM seems set for success with the 103 air-conditioned stalls already being booked and only a few non air-conditioned stalls left to be taken.