The India International Travel Mart (IITM) Bengaluru 2026, one of South India’s leading B2B travel and tourism exhibitions, was inaugurated by K.J. George, Minister for Energy and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds. The three-day event, held from July 23 to 25, brought together tourism stakeholders from across India and around the world, reaffirming Bengaluru’s position as one of the country’s most influential travel trade markets.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by distinguished dignitaries, including V. Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Secretary, Government of Karnataka; Shivaprasad P.R., IAS, Managing Director, KSTDC Ltd.; Sivaram Babu, IFS, Managing Director, Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd.; K. Syamaraju, President, SIHRA and Karnataka Tourism Society; along with senior representatives from TAAI, GBTA, ETAA, IATO and the Karnataka Tourism Forum.
The exhibition featured over 850 exhibitors representing more than 25 international destinations and over 20 Indian tourism destinations, showcasing a diverse range of travel offerings spanning leisure, luxury, adventure, wellness, pilgrimage, MICE, cruises, hospitality, travel technology, insurance and allied services. Karnataka served as the host state for the event, while Odisha, Kerala and Rajasthan Tourism participated as partner states. Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh were the feature states, with destinations including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Lakshadweep, Diu and Daman among the key participants. FLY91 partnered with the event as the official airline.
Addressing the gathering, K.J. George said, “Tourism continues to be a significant contributor to Karnataka’s economy by creating employment, promoting entrepreneurship and showcasing our rich cultural and natural heritage. Platforms such as IITM played a vital role in connecting destinations with the travel industry, encouraging collaborations and strengthening Karnataka’s position as a preferred tourism destination.”
Tourism Secretary V. Ram Prasath Manohar added, “The sector plays a larger role than attracting visitors, and contributes immensely to employment generation, investment and economic development. Our goal is to position Karnataka as India’s preferred tourism destination by fostering strong partnerships between the government, investors and the tourism industry.”
Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd., said, “Bengaluru has remained one of India’s most dynamic travel markets, making it the ideal host for IITM. The exhibition has provided an effective platform for exhibitors to engage with quality buyers, tour operators and industry professionals, while the overwhelming response reflected the continued optimism and growth of the travel sector.”
Echoing this sentiment, Sanjay Hakhu, Director, Sphere TravelMedia, said, “Bengaluru offers tremendous opportunities for tourism stakeholders to engage with a knowledgeable travel trade and an increasingly travel-savvy consumer base, making IITM an ideal platform for business generation. The India International Travel Mart provides an environment where tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel agencies, technology companies and service providers can come together to forge new partnerships, exchange ideas and create sustainable business opportunities that benefit the entire travel ecosystem.”