Future Of Travel To Be In Spotlight At ITB India 2024

EE News Desk Jun 19, 2024

With the theme ‘Future-Ready Travel: Embracing Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Connectivity’ for this year, the event will take place from 11 to 13 September, 2024

ITB India 2024 is slated to convene travel industry professionals from 11 to 13 September, 2024, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India.

With the theme ‘Future-Ready Travel: Embracing Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Connectivity’ for this year, the event will feature thought leaders and experts from the MICE, Corporate, Leisure, and Travel Technology sectors. They will offer comprehensive insights into trends, obstacles, and the future trajectory of the rapidly expanding Indian and South Asian travel market through three conference tracks.

The burgeoning outbound and domestic travel market in India

India’s travel sector is experiencing remarkable growth, with projected total expenditure reaching $410 billion by 2030, and outbound travel anticipated to exceed 80 million travellers by 2040.

This surge in demand has refocused the industry's attention on attracting travellers from this vibrant region.

Consequently, the conference agenda pledges to enlighten the global travel sector on current travel preferences and forthcoming trends, particularly in Indian and South Asian outbound and domestic travel.

The upcoming ITB India Conference, its second in-person edition, will delve into various topics, including adapting to evolving landscapes, emerging trends, and shifting consumer expectations, MICE tourism in South Asia by 2025, corporate travel's digital transformation, the impact of smart technology on hospitality, travel in the era of ChatGPT, industry outlook, and technology's role in shaping the future of tourism.

Among the prominent domestic and international figures who have confirmed their participation are Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director – India Sub Continent & Maldives, Agoda; Harshad Donde, Country Director, India, BCD Meetings & Events; Atul Jain, Chief Operating Officer, BWH Hotels – India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka; Santosh Kumar, Country Head – Indian sub-continent & Indonesia, Booking.com; Prahlad Krishnamurthi, Chief Business Officer, Cleartrip; Kiran Bhandari, Director, India Office – Dubai Business Events, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; Darshana Shirodkar, Senior Director, Lodging Market Management – Southeast Asia and Indian Subcontinent, Expedia Group; Jude D’Souza, Meeting & Events Leader, India, FCM Meetings & Events; Vikram Cotah, Chief Executive Officer, GRT Hotels & Resorts; Neelu Singh, Senior Vice President APAC & Regional Lead Strategic Accounts, HRS Group; Mufaddal Dahodwala, Managing Partner, ICE India; Amaresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman, India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB); Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head – Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook India Limited; Neil Patil, Founder & Director, Veena World; and Sunila Patil, Founder & Director, Veena World.

Three Conference Tracks Offer Invaluable Insights: Knowledge Theatre, MICE Show India, and Travel Tech India

At ITB India's premier conference track, the Knowledge Theatre, top industry leaders and renowned experts will share strategic insights, real-world case studies, and perspectives on today's traveller preferences.

Attendees can anticipate learning about the latest trends and strategies shaping the future of travel across various segments, from leisure to adventure, luxury to budget.

MICE Show India will focus on MICE & Corporate Travel, featuring insights from leading executives in convention bureaus, event planners, MICE technology, and travel management companies, discussing transformative innovations reshaping the industry.

As this year's Knowledge Partner, the Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) will curate sessions tailored for the MICE audience. They will address pressing issues and challenges facing the industry, along with exploring opportunities for growth in India and South Asia.

Travel Tech India will provide valuable insights for digital travel leaders. Leading experts will discuss the impact of advanced technology on enhancing customer experiences in the travel sector.

Attendees can expect visionary speakers to share perspectives on future travel technology and gain insight into unique challenges and opportunities in this landscape.