Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) along with industry stakeholders are showcasing the Maldives at the India International Travel Mart (IITM) Bangalore Edition.

MATATO’s deputy secretary general Asra Naseem said nine companies from the tourism industry have participated at the fair, which takes place from Friday to Sunday in the Indian Hub of Bangalore. The companies include local resort operators, guesthouses, and travel agents and tour operators, she added.

“In addition to individual products, MATATO will promote the Maldives Travel Awards platform,” Asra said.

The companies participating at the fair alongside MATATO include local resort operators Sun Siyam Resorts, Adaaran Resorts Maldives, Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa and Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, guesthouse operator Arena Hotels, and travel agents Bison Travels and Moodhu Holidays.

Established in 1998, India International Travel Mart has become one of India’s leading travel and tourism events. The events, held once a year in each of the Indian cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune, gather tourism boards from India and abroad, airlines and cruise liners, travel agents and tour operators, online travel portals, hotels and resorts, and travel media to display and market their products. This exhibition is a great platform for the travel trade sector to meet and network with professionals for future collaborations and destination marketing.

Bangalore is one of the fastest growing cities in the Asia Pacific region and has emerged as one of India’s fastest growing outbound travel markets. With the emergence of a high tech and a highly paid workforce, Bangalore is also amongst the highest spenders on leisure and corporate travel.

India has become a major emerging source market for the Maldives’ tourism industry. Official figures show that 66,955 tourists arrived in Maldives from its closest neighbour last year, a 27.9 percent increase from the 52,368 Indian travellers that chose the Maldives in 2015.

That growth is expected to continue this year as well, as the number of Indian tourists that visited the Maldives recorded a 20.3 percent increase in the first five months to reach 30,610 compared to 25,441 in the same period last year.