Punjab Newsline, Shimla, February 8-
The Tourism Trade fair started today at Mumbai.Tourism trade fair OTM is the largest platform for hoteliers to interact directly with the travel agents from all over India. This information given by Shimla Hotels and tourism stake holders association president Mohinder Seth here today.
He said Large number of travel agents from all over India visit this Tourism Fair. Around 100 hotels & Resorts are participating in the tourism fair . The hoteliers have booked their stalls in the fair to showcase their properties.The hotel industry is the worst hit from last many years. The stakeholders are trying to get bookings for the coming summer tourist season through travel agents.
He stated that the travel agents boycotted Himachal from last few years. The travel agents were not bringing groups to Himachal because of the heavy taxation imposed on Tourist buses coming from other states but now the government has rationalized the taxes.
He said, ‘we are hopeful to have a good number of groups from Maharashtra and Gujarat. The summer season starts with tourists from Maharashtra and Gujarat from April .The large number of groups come by Tourist buses from these two states during the summer season. The group tourism plays a big role in increasing the occupancy of the hotels. We suggest that the Government should considerably increase the publicity budget for 2024-2025 it the need of the time and concentrate on publicity destination wise by way of electronic media and by way of participating in various tourism trade fairs.’
Mohinder Seth said, ‘ their is a need to subsidies the rate of stalls booked by private hoteliers to increase the participation. There is a tough competition amongst the Tourism states. Himachal has to compete particularly with Uttrakhand and J&K. The government should also book a large size of pavilion to showcase Himachal in a big way. The tourism department needs to Target South India which can boost tourism of Himachal. There is a need to participate tourism trade fair organized at Chennai and Bangalore etc.’