The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, will host the 46th edition of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2023. The event is set to take place at the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) also called Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, and is scheduled to run from October 4 to 6, 2023.
The upcoming PATA Travel Mart 2023 is poised to be a pivotal event for the global tourism industry, promoting collaboration, sustainable practices, and cultural exchange among tourism professionals and enthusiasts from around the world.
Founded in 1951 and headquartered in Bangkok, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit organisation globally recognised for its efforts in promoting responsible travel and tourism development in the Asia Pacific region. The PATA Travel Mart holds a prominent place as an international trade exhibition, facilitating trade interactions between global buyers and sellers, with a primary focus on the Asia Pacific region. India’s role as the host nation this year further highlights the country’s efforts to fostering responsible and inclusive tourism practices.
This year’s event will feature a wide range of activities, including the PATA Gold Award, the PATA Youth Symposium, PATA Forum on Sustainability, and the core B2B Mart.
India’s participation in the PATA Travel Mart includes a dedicated pavilion showcasing the diverse spectrum of destinations, both well-known and lesser-known, within the country. Several Indian states and government entities, such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and the Handlooms Development Commissioner, are also setting up stands and stalls to display their products.
Although the event primarily caters to business-to-business (B2B) interactions, it serves as a valuable platform to introduce global audiences to the thematic products offered by Indian states, including wellness, adventure, heritage, culinary experiences, and art and craft.
The Ministry of Tourism also announced the forthcoming edition of the Best Tourism Village Competition in 2024, aimed at fostering rural tourism development and easing off burden from cities plagued by overtourism. Further, a national competition titled Tourism for Tomorrow, focusing on case studies and best practices, was also inaugurated during the event, in line with the priorities outlined in the Goa Roadmap.
Speaking of the event venue, the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi recently hosted the G20 Leaders’ Summit, giving a dias to India’s to showcase itself as a sought-after destination for hosting large-scale international events and conferences.Lately, India’s growing prominence in the tourism sector has been characterised by sustainable and inclusive tourism initiatives, has made it an attractive choice for organising Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events.
In a recent development, the Ministry of Tourism also launched the Travel for LiFE sustainable program on World Tourism Day, September 27, 2023, under the aegis of Mission LiFE. This initiative encourages responsible behaviour among tourists during their travels.
The Ministry is also planning to continue cleanliness initiatives and providing essential amenities at 108 designated sites, including those covered by the “Travel for Life” program and other popular tourist destinations.
