DRNoida: UBM India started off 2019 on a powerful note with its biggest travel and trade engagement show ‘SATTE’ at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida. In its 26th edition, the three-day event bagged an excellent response with market leaders increasing their stand size followed by participation from the cross-section of global and Indian travel and tourism markets. The show was marked by 1000 exhibitors and representation from over 50 countries, 90 Indian cities and 28 Indian States.
The expo was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of 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; Y B 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.
True to its reputation as a comprehensive B2B platform catering to domestic and international buyers and sellers from across the travel, tourism and hospitality industry along with National and State Tourism Boards (NTOs and STOs), SATTE 2019 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, among international tourism boards, Indonesia was the feature destination while Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka were partner countries. The partner Indian states were Rajasthan, Goa and Madhya Pradesh. Moreover, Qatar, Iceland, Cyprus among others debuted at SATTE this year. SATTE has grown hand-in-hand with the consistent support of the Ministry of Tourism as well as all State Tourism Ministries and the Indian travel and tourism fraternity in totality.
Speaking about SATTE’s growing stature Dr. Mahesh Sharma said, “I congratulate UBM India on a great start to SATTE 2019. SATTE is the tourism maestro and this platform has taken tourism to new heights. I am proud to host this event in my constituency. The potential of tourism in India is high, it contributes 6.8 per cent to country’s GDP and has shown a growth of 9 to 13 per cent in the number of tourists visiting India.”
Addressing the gathering, John Amaratunga marked the growing importance of the Indian tourism market for Sri Lanka and noted that there was great potential for rapid growth and said, “I am proud of my association with SATTE. Our goal is to make Sri Lanka the most preferred destination for Indian tourists. We are far from realising the full potential of the Indian outbound market in terms of longer staying and higher spending visitors.”
The Sri Lanka Tourism Pavilion at SATTE was opened by Minister Amaratunga. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Austin Fernando and Senior Advisor to the Minister, Felix Rodrigo were also present.
Nia Niscaya said, “An exhibition like SATTE comes to the fore with its reserves of ideas and thought leadership. India is a very important market for Indonesia as it is the second fastest with a growth of 30 per cent. This year, we are aiming for 700,000 travellers from India and looking to hit our target. I am glad and honoured to be a part of this spectacular B2B show where I represent my country Indonesia and welcome Indians to experience our culture and heritage.”
Speaking at the inauguration of SATTE 2019, Yogesh Mudras said, “Tourism is a competitive business in a global context. It accounts for the major source of cash incomes, economic growth and employment creation. In India the industry is growing at an unprecedented pace with the travel sector expected to grow to a $56 billion market opportunity by 2020. Moreover, with the industry aiding job creation which is expected to rise at 8.4 per cent in 2028, this year, India has been chosen by UNTWO as the host country to celebrate World Tourism Day 2019 on the theme ‘Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all’. This will definitely bring more attention to the importance of tourism to the Indian as well as international community. Also, with proactive measures from the Government such as ease of visa, Regional Connectivity Scheme, launch of Incredible India 2.0 campaign, implementation of Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, Paryatan Parv and Adopt A Heritage schemes amongst others, tourism industry in India is set to flourish further.”
Over the years, SATTE as an industry platform has imprinted a distinctive place for itself in the industry for Travel and Tourism community. It has enabled Indian and international exhibitors and buyers to connect, start new partnerships and strengthen businesses by offering unique opportunities like newer, offbeat destinations and hotel properties, quality contacts from across the globe, profitable deals, value additions, new-age tourism, technology, knowledge sharing forums that discuss trends, challenges and solutions.
SATTE continued to receive the support of international organisations/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), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), 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.
The show witnessed a record-breaking number of enrollments for its Domestic Buyer Programme with 500 domestic buyers registered three months before the exhibition.
The expo witnessed footfalls from a wide range of visitors that 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.
Insightful conferences
One of the key features of the expo was the two-day conference program involving industry discussions and sharing of new insights and best practices pertaining to the sector.
Day 1 witnessed sessions by United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on ‘Tourism and Jobs: A better Future for all’; a session by CLIA on ‘Cruise Tourism: ‘India Ahoy!’ and a workshop on ‘Cruise Tourism’ for agents and operators; ‘Are NTOs India Ready?’; ‘Digital Marketing and Social Media in MICE Promotion and Its Impact’; ‘Changing Perception of Customers Towards Incentive Services’; and destination briefing sessions by Dubai Tourism and SKAL International.
Day 2 of the expo had education sessions on GDS Content/NDC/Corporate Travel Way Forward and Business Visa/Ground Transport; ‘Is Handholding the Only Way to Manage Conference Business or Online will become the solution – A Perspective’; ‘Maintaining Balance in Relationships Between the Vendor, Agent and the Customer while Planning Events and Exhibitions’; a workshop on MICE and destination briefing sessions by CzechTourism, Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, Dubai and Singapore Tourism Board.
In the show’s 25th anniversary, the popular I-Pledge mission was undertaken to support sustainable tourism. This year, SATTE is partnering with Green Yatra, a leading Non-Profit Organization that is dedicated towards protection, conservation, and betterment of Environment to support the ‘Pedh Lagao’ mission. This will involve planting over a 1000 saplings and supervising their growth at a tourism site in Delhi-NCR as well as rural farmlands to develop and enhance the region as a tourism spot.
Recognising the Best
The industry also witnessed the third edition of SATTE Awards on day 2 of the expo which not only recognised and celebrated the excellence, triumphs and innovations of key stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry but also helped the fraternity with networking opportunities, presentations and other features. Recognising the scale of growth that this industry is going through, UBM India, along with EY as process advisors made the award categories for 2019 more comprehensive which covered various segments of travel and tourism including tour operators, hotels, destinations, OTAs, bloggers and cruise liners, to name a few.
