Greater Noida prepares for 3-day tourism expo starting February 22.

Photo-Times of India

Scheduled to kick off from Thursday, an international tourism expo is set to take place in Greater Noida. Organizers have revealed that the three-day event will boast over 1,500 exhibitors, alongside 800 international and domestic buyers, as well as travel agents from more than 120 cities across India. Marking its 31st edition, the South Asia Trade Travel Exhibition (SATTE) aims to bring together professionals from the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, congregating at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida.

While Uttar Pradesh has been designated as the host state for this year's expo, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand are serving as partnering states. Supported by Informa Markets, with the backing of the Union Ministry of Tourism and state tourism boards, the event pledges to witness diverse participation from across the nation.

Running through February 24, the expo will feature discussions on a myriad of topics, including 'Tourism@2047', 'Decoding MICE for Business & Career Opportunities', and 'Tourism: The Balancing Act'. On the international front, Saudi Arabia holds the prestigious position of premium partner country, with Dubai, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand designated as partner countries.

Officials have underscored the significant growth of India's travel and tourism industry in 2023, reaching ₹16.5 trillion. They have observed a notable increase in travel frequency among Indians, particularly in MICE tourism, with burgeoning interest in both popular and lesser-known destinations, including spiritual ones.

In a new initiative debuting at the expo this year, 'Atithi' will focus on reverse buyer-seller meets to bolster inbound tourism. Spearheaded by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), with support from the Ministry of Commerce & Industries, the initiative aims to elevate India as a premier global travel destination.

An official has mentioned the participation of approximately 250 international buyers from 50 countries, aiming to foster business opportunities for stakeholders in the Indian tourism industry and position India as a highly desirable travel destination worldwide.