SATTE, South Asia´s biggest travel and tourism exhibition, organised by Informa Markets in India, recorded its biggest showcase of Indian and international tourism products and destinations in its 27th edition, reinforcing its status as the biggest and most sought-after showcase platform for the tourism industry, not only within the region, but also of the world. The year’s first meetings of the international tourism community, SATTE 2020 set forth the much needed platform for a year of strong growth and cooperation, networking and dialogue and meaningful advancement in the field of travel and tourism.
SATTE 2020 was attended by more than 1,100 exhibitors from over 50 countries, including the host India, 200 international hosted buyers from more than 50 countries, and more than 500 domestic buyers from 104 Indian cities. The event was visited by a record over 35,000 trade buyers and travel and tourism professionals from across India and the world. The event also witnessed participation from over 35 countries and 28 Indian states.
The event has continued to play an integral part in India and South Asia’s growth as a tourism destination and helping develop the source market potential of the region for destinations and suppliers from across the world.
Welcoming the delegates at SATTE 2020, Michael Duck, Executive Vice President – Asia, Informa Markets, said, “Informa Markets in India has been an integral part of the travel and tourism industry for over two decades now with SATTE and its 27 years of grand equity. India is now one of the world’s largest and fastest growing travel markets and it has been our constant endeavour to provide platform for inbound, domestic and outbound travel segments and meeting the larger industry needs of India. Being the only composite travel and tourism show in this part of the world, SATTE provides platform to domestic and international buyers and professionals from across the travel, tourism and hospitality domain.” He also informed that SATTE 2020 buyers programme was supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
SATTE 2020 was inaugurated by the Chief Guest and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (I/C), Government of India, Prahlad Singh Patel. “The successful 27th edition of SATTE is a testimony that we have continuously maintained positive outlook and thinking that we are moving ahead in the right direction. In the last over five years since Modi government has come in, the tourism ministry and industry stakeholders together are relentlessly working for the betterment of the tourism sector in India. PM Modi has emerged as our undisputed brand ambassador, a fact reflected in India’s climb from 65th position five years ago to 34th today (World Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index by World Economic Forum),” Patel said.
Furthermore, highlighting SATTE’s stature as the biggest industry platform for showcase, ideation and discussion, Patel requested that the event should also talk about and highlight key initiatives taken by the Government of India to facilitate the growth of tourism in the country. He particularly drew attention to further easing of e-Visa processes and facilitation and reduction in fee, initiatives towards making Indian ports cruise friendly, opening of peaks for trekking and mountaineering in several states to grow adventure tourism as well as in the area of wildlife tourism, among others.
He also laid emphasis on the need to showcase Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, country’s hidden destination in India’s North East as well as India’s offering of Buddhist destinations from Gaya, Sarnath to Shrawasti, Kushinagar to the South East Asian countries. Patel also informed that Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is developing 17 iconic sites like Taj Mahal, Khajuraho, Mahabalipuram, Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya among others in 12 location with world-class tourism infrastructure and facilities to improve tourist experiences at these sites. “The time is not far when we will be able to invite people from around the world telling them that we have the capability to showcase India’s culture and heritage according to your needs and preferences,” Prahlad stressed.
India’s cruise tourism potential is now beginning to show across the inbound, domestic and outbound segments. Attending the event as a Co-chief Guest, India’s Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping, Mansukh Mandaviya, made a strong pitch for India’s growing attractiveness for cruise tourism. He stressed that cruise tourism landscape is fast changing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with active support from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, as more and more international cruise ships are coming to India and new Indian cruise line companies are coming up and building their own cruise ships operating domestic and regional routes.
While lauding the organiser for putting up the region’s biggest show, Mandaviya, said, “The world recognises tourism as an important industry. Its eco-friendly and its impact on the local economy and employment is significant because of tourism spending and receipt.” He further said that India is bestowed with 7500 kms long coastline and the Government is developing new world-class port infrastructure across India. He informed that cruise ports at Mumbai and Kochi are ready and new such developments are taking place at Goa, Mangalore, Kochi, Paradeep and Kolkata. Furthermore, he informed that his department is bringing in new efficiency and operational synergies across different departments in cruise port operation and handling of cruise passengers.
SATTE has been an integral part of Malaysia’s market development plans for India. Congratulating Informa Markets in India for putting together a highly successful SATTE 2020, YB Tuan Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia, said, “SATTE is one of the major tourism platform that we look forward to attending each year. This year we have a bigger Malaysian delegation comprising of almost 40 organisations which include travel agencies, hotels and resorts, tourism authorities, tourism product owners to airlines and state governments. We are excited to kick off another tourism year that is set to be bigger and better with the launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2020.
Furthermore, Bakhtiar informed, “In recent years India has continued to be among the top 10 source market for Malaysia. In 2018, Indian visitors ranked 6th in arrival. In fact India is so special to us that it is the only place where the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign was launched simultaneously with Kuala Lumpur.” He also informed that that Malaysia has extended the visa waiver programme until the end of 2020.
Indonesia and SATTE’s association now dates back to over 10 years. Further, Indonesia has registered record growth in tourist arrivals from India in recent years with arrivals growing from just over 262,000 in 2015 to close to 650,000 at the end of 2019.
Speaking on the occasion, Nia Niscaya, Deputy Minister of Tourism Marketing, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, said, “India is our key market and every year we see good growth in visitor arrivals from India to Indonesia. In terms of quality, the spending of Indian tourist is above the average tourist spend to Indonesia. If we look at the target from the Indian market, we exceed the target with 100.7 per cent performance.” She also informed that Indonesia is developing new tourism destination to further boost its destination attractiveness. “Cooperation is the key word to boost our business and we are very pleased to work together with the sellers and India to boost the tourist arrival numbers to Indonesia from India,” she added.
Genting Cruise Lines, one of the leading cruise line company in the world credited with revolutionising cruising in Asia and operating under three exciting distinct brands, Crystal Cruises, Dream Cruises and Star Cruises, attended SATTE 2020 with a big fanfare underscoring SATTE’s premier status in developing South Asian region for tourism businesses. Attending SATTE for over 8 years now, Genting’s association has grown from 9 square meters to 209 square meters this year.
Participating amidst massive international interest from competitors and buyers alike, Genting unveiled its most revolutionary product till date ‘Global Dreams, a 208,000 tons 20-deck ship that will be biggest in the world by passenger capacity accommodating over 9,000 pax in around 2,500 cabins, at the year’s first major international shows at SATTE 2020. The ship is scheduled to set said in early 2021.
“SATTE is undeniably India and South Asia’s biggest B2B show and also the most prestigious travel and tourism exhibition in the country and the region. It actually provides an excellent and effective platform for us to connect, reinforce and expand our relationship with both existing and new travel partners as well as exchange feedback on developing India as an important source market for the cruise industry. India has enormous growth potential as a leading source market from the region and Dream Cruises has been breaking new ground in the cruise industry with a fleet of award winning premium cruise ships providing guests with inspirational journeys at sea and is truly ‘Asian at heart and international in Spirit,’” said Michael Goh, President of Dream Cruises & Head of International Sales, Genting Cruise Lines.
Industry veteran and somebody who has been associated with SATTE from the time the show began 27 years ago, Subhash Goyal, Member, Secretary General, FAITH and Past President, IATO, said, “SATTE was born to fulfill the need of the industry in India. We didn’t have an exhibition in a city like Delhi where the buyers and sellers can meet and exchange and transact business. Since that time SATTE has grown from strength to strength and today it is the number one show in this part of the world. The quality of buyers and sellers who participate in SATTE is proof enough that this travel show is going to become even better than some of the other world shows.”
Speaking at the inauguration, Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said, “Over the years SATTE, as we all know, has built a reputation of being the most comprehensive B2B platforms catering to domestic and international buyers and professional from across the travel and tourism trade and also the national and state tourism boards who have taken benefit of this platform. This has also enabled professionals to congregate and conduct business, arrive at solutions and innovations in the sector in the current economic scenario by promoting inbound, outbound as well as domestic tourism in India.”
“The Indian government realises country’s hidden potential in the tourism sector and has launched several initiatives, like Incredible India 2.0 avataar, introduction of new category of Visas to support inbound tourism. UNWTO has chosen rural development and tourism as its important theme for 2020 which is of great significance to India as we all know we have about 72 per cent of our population in villages. Rural tourism is multifaceted encompassing adventure tourism, culture tourism, nature tourism, ecotourism among others. Its potential can be greatly harnessed to not only grow tourism but also for rural development,” Mudras added.
Concluding the inaugural function, Pallavi Mehra, Group Director, Informa Markets in India and Publisher, Travel Trends Today (T3), reiterated SATTE’s commitment for its exhibitors and buyers from India and across the world to work towards offering greater value year after year.
