Thiruvananthapuram, May 2 (PTI) The second edition of southern India’s travel and trade expo, GTM 2026, will be held in the Kerala capital from June 3 to 5, with over 1,000 tour operators from India and abroad expected to participate.
The Global Travel Market 2026 will provide a platform for exhibitors and buyers to build business partnerships with key international players in the travel and tourism industry, while also helping them scale up their enterprises, Biju K, IAS, Secretary of Kerala Tourism, said in a press release.
The travel and trade exhibition will be held at the Golden Palace International Convention Centre near Karakkonam in Neyyattinkara. It is jointly organised by the South Kerala Hoteliers Forum (SKHF), the Thiruvananthapuram Chamber of Commerce and Industries (TCCI), Thavass Ventures, and Metro Mart, in association with Kerala Tourism and India Tourism.
The expo will showcase various tourism circuits by combining major destinations in south Kerala and will also feature a project to introduce Ayurveda to global tour operators, Biju said.
He further said that the state has witnessed a substantial rise in domestic and international tourist arrivals over the past two years, and events like GTM will help boost the tourism sector while maintaining sustainable growth.
He added that more than 200 stalls will showcase innovative tourism products at the expo, and prominent experts from the travel and tourism industry will lead sessions on various topics during the three-day event.
“Corporate networking sessions with participation from company representatives will also be held. Business-to-business (B2B) sessions are scheduled for June 4 and 5,” the release said.
It also said that over 1,000 domestic and international buyers, along with 300 corporate buyers, will participate in the expo to generate new sales leads, launch products, network with key decision-makers, increase brand awareness, and gather market intelligence.
“The event will offer a vibrant environment for both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) interactions, providing participants with an opportunity to meet, network, negotiate, find collaborators, conduct business, and gain new insights.
“In addition to showcasing a range of tourism products and services, the expo will provide an opportunity to connect with key players in the southern region’s travel and tourism industry.
“The event will feature over 200 stalls set up by major hoteliers and resorts, tourism boards and organisations, airlines, hotel suppliers, travel agents, tour operators, and travel tech innovators,” the release said.
The expo will also feature a dedicated ‘HoReCa’ pavilion to showcase products and solutions for hotels, restaurants, cafés, and the catering industry, it said.
“The pavilion will serve as a focused platform for business networking and sourcing. In addition, the Travancore Experience Zone will showcase the adventure, cuisine, culture, hospitality, literature, and other unique aspects of Travancore,” it said.
In addition, pavilions featuring multiple themes—such as inbound travel operators to Kerala; outbound travel operators (both B2B and B2C); Ayurveda, yoga, and wellness operators; resorts, retreats, and hospitals; wedding tourism; corporate roadshows; and homestays and serviced villas—will be set up at the expo, the release said.
The expo will be open to the public on June 5, it added. PTI HMP SSK
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