The recently concluded Pune and Hyderabad editions of the ‘India International Travel Mart’ (IITM) have once again set benchmarks in the travel and tourism industry. Held from 27–29 November 2025 in Pune and 4–6 December 2025 in Hyderabad. These events brought together an impressive array of exhibitors, travel professionals, and meeting planners under one roof.
Both editions were celebrated as premier platforms for fostering connections, showcasing travel opportunities, and encouraging collaborations. With participation from national and international tourism boards, travel operators, hotels, airlines, and ancillary industries, IITM highlighted India’s potential as a global tourism hub while promoting domestic and outbound travel.
The guests of honour at the inauguration of the Pune edition of IITM were Mr. Narendra Dev Bhatta, Member – Executive Committee, Nepal Tourism Board; Mr. Aijaz Qaiser, Joint Director, Jammu And Kashmir Tourism, Mr. Amit Kumar Sharma, President, Pune Hotelier’s Association; Mr. Shahbehram Rabbani, President, Skal International, Pune, Sushil Kumar Singh, Chapter Chairman, ADTOI – Up, Chapter Chairman, IATO Bihar, Mr. Aniket Kelkar, Secretary, Travel Agents Assc. Of Pune, Mr. Mohan Shedge, Treasurer, Travel Agents Assc. Of Pune; Ms. Payal Joshi, Sr. Trustee, Travel Agents Assc. Of Pune, Mr. Navin Mahajan, Trustee, Travel Agents Assc. Of Pune, Mr. Vg Kelkar, Travel Agents Assc. Of Pune.
IITM Hyderabad
The Hyderabad edition of IITM was inaugurated by Smt. Valluru Kranthi, IAS – Managing Director, Telangana Tourism Development Corporation Limited and Director (FAC) – Department of Tourism; Mr. M Hishamuddin, Director, Tourism Malaysia, Mr. NSN Mohan, Vice President and President Elect, SKAL International; Mr. Sunil Kumar – President, TAAI; Mr. Valmiki Kishan, Chairman, Tourism Committee – APFCCI; IATO, Mrs. Sujana Kumar, Vice President Of TOAT.
New-age travel experiences, including adventure, wellness, and culinary tourism, took centre stage. With participation from leading tour operators, travel agencies, state tourism boards, and international Destination Management Companies, IITM Hyderabad is poised to become a hub for fostering connections, promoting tourism, and unveiling new opportunities in the industry.
As IITM celebrates its 26th anniversary this year, the occasion forms an important business platform. Travel agencies, hoteliers, tour companies, and other industry stakeholders can interact and network, resulting in collaborations, partnerships, and joint ventures. The event was the perfect platform for travel agents looking for partners from across different genres from religious travel, adventure, family holidays, heritage, and honeymoons to those who are looking for conference destinations for their companies, etc.
The tourism stakeholders from over 20 Indian states, such as Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, and many more, along with international participants representing over 15 countries, like Turkey, Malaysia, Botswana, Kenya, Vietnam, Bali, Thailand, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, etc., were seen aggressively marketing their destinations, products, and services.
IITM Pune
With the Indian economy still among the world’s fastest-growing major economies. In contrast to a 9.1% increase in the previous fiscal year, India’s GDP rose by 7.2% in the 2022–2023 fiscal year. India’s economic development continues to be robust despite the war-related disruptions in the agricultural and energy sectors, as well as an unprecedented tightening of global monetary conditions aimed at curbing decades-high inflation. Strong domestic demand and a push for governmental capital expenditures have been the main drivers of this. For both FY24 and FY25, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected growth of 6.3%.
The growth of the middle class, higher disposable incomes, and a paradigm shift in cultural views have all contributed to the recent spike in tourism. In addition, the pandemic’s aftermath has spurred a desire for travel as people look for novel experiences and a break from their daily routines, strengthening the travel industry’s adaptability and resilience.
Much of the Indian travel business is derived from domestic travel, which also helped the sector recover from its pre-pandemic lows. Indians progressively discovered the cultural and geographical diversity within the nation’s borders, from the tranquil Himalayan landscape to the vibrant coastal areas, greatly fueling the domestic travel sector.
Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere TravelMedia, said, “The Pune and Hyderabad editions of India International Travel Mart have reaffirmed our commitment to being the foremost platform for the travel and tourism industry in India. The enthusiastic participation from exhibitors and the overwhelming response from visitors highlight the growing dynamism of the sector. We are proud to provide a stage for fostering collaborations that shape the future of travel.”
Sanjay Hakhu, Director, Sphere TravelMedia, added, “As we successfully conclude the Pune and Hyderabad editions, we are reminded of the resilience and creativity that define the travel industry. These events have not only facilitated meaningful business connections but also inspired new ideas in sustainable and experiential tourism. We look forward to continuing this momentum in our future editions. The growing outbound travel market in India presents vast possibilities, with more Indians seeking unique global experiences. IITM aims to connect global destinations with diverse Indian travellers, paving the way for future international travel growth from India.”