Islamic Travel Mart – the first-ever B2B platform featuring Haj, Umrah, Ziyarat and Hala travel operators and agents under one roof – began on Saturday at the World Trade Centre Mumbai. The ITM is a gathering point for all stakeholders in Islamic tourism.
Inaugurating the event, Vinod Tawde, Maharashtra Minister for Minority Development and Wakf, said though the ITM had been organized independently, it was an important show and the Central and State Governments in India should also organize this event jointly. “We will do so at the next Islamic Travel Mart as every Muslim desires to go for Haj and Umrah, and if we can ensure good facilities, easy access and make their trips viable, then its good. We need to think about how the Government can help in this regard,” he said while urging the ITM to encourage other forms of tourism also.
Dr Maqsood Ahmad Khan, CEO, Haj Committee, India said that this ITM would help reduce the chain of expenditure of people going for Haj and Umrah by directly providing necessary services to them.
G Ibrahim, Managing Director and CMO, Islamic Travel Mart, said around 1,500 visitors are expected during this show which featured 30 stalls with multiple staff to attend to the numerous queries. The ITM would continue to be solely held in Mumbai since it is the hub of industry, though other cities in India would highlight ITM pavilions being organized there, he said.
ITM is organised by India’s oldest and largest travel trade show organisers, Fairfest Media Ltd, which has been organising globally acknowledged travel shows like OTM, BLTM, and TTF, for the last 30 years.