DRMumbai: UBM India’s biggest travel and trade engagement show SATTE took off at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida on January 16, 2019. The 26th edition of the three-day event received an enthused response as market leaders increased their stand size followed by participation from the cross section of global and Indian travel and tourism markets. The show has 1,000 exhibitors and representation from over 50 countries and 90 cities from across India.
The expo was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister for State for Culture (I/C), Government of India, along with key dignitaries: John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development, Christian Affairs and Wildlife, Government of Sri Lanka; YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia; Nia Niscaya, Deputy Minister of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia; Eunji Tae, Officer, Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific, UNWTO; Subhash Goyal, Member, National Tourism Advisory Committee; Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, UBM India, and Pallavi Mehra, Group Director, UBM India amidst an august industry presence.
Speaking at the inauguration of SATTE 2019, Yogesh Mudras, MD, UBM India said that on a global scale tourism is a competitive business, accounting for a major source of cash incomes, economic growth and employment creation. UNTWO has chosen India as the host country this year to celebrate World Tourism Day 2019 on the theme ‘Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all’ which, he said, would bring more attention to the importance of tourism to the Indian as well as international community.
Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Culture, Government of India, said, “I congratulate UBM India on a great start to SATTE 2019 and I am proud to host this event in my constituency.” He added that moving from one place to another did not qualify as tourism as it carried the rich fragrance of each country.
As a comprehensive B2B platform catering to domestic and international buyers and professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality industry along with National and State Tourism Boards (NTOs and STOs), SATTE 2019 has enabled professionals to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solution-driven innovations to counteract economic uncertainties, and promote inbound, outbound and domestic tourism in India.
This year, Indonesia is the feature destination among international tourism boards while Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka are partner countries. Rajasthan, Goa and Madhya Pradesh are the partner Indian states. Qatar, Iceland, Cyprus and a few others are debutants at SATTE this year.
SATTE has continued to receive the support of international organizations/associations and Indian travel trade associations such as World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), Universal Federation of Travel Agents Association (UFTAA), Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA) to name a few.
SATTE saw a record-breaking 500 domestic buyers already registered three months before the exhibition for its Domestic Buyer Program.
Visitors comprise tour operators, travel agents, wedding planners, corporate travel decision makers, potential Investors in the field of hospitality, leisure and travel industries as well as location planners from leading television and film production houses.
