High Visibility & Positive Response to Nepal at TTF Bengaluru 2017Monday, February 13th, 2017
BENGALURU, India, Jan. 16, 2017 - Nepal put up an impressive show at TTF Bengaluru 2017 at Elaan Convention Center, J.P. Nagar, from Jan. 13-15, 2017.
At the fair, NTB was also awarded the “Best Print Promotional Materials” by TTF for the beautiful posters distributed from Nepal Pavilion which were highly in demand by visitors. With distribution of attractive Nepal tote bags to all visitors from the fair registration booth and with Nepal Pavilion at the strategic entrance site, visibility of Nepal was high during the entire three-day period.
Response received by Nepali tour operators from trade visitors and general public was also highly positive at the fair. Nepal’s participation was appreciated by visitors who expressed they were happy that Nepal was opening up much more in the terms of tourism in the recent times.
Most inquiries from visitors were on entry procedures, flights and connectivity, best season and places to visit. A few visitors also inquired about Nepal’s situation post the earthquake. Queries were entertained and visitors were reassured clarifying any apprehension they had regarding traveling to Nepal.
Aspiring travelers ranged from elderly gentlemen who wanted to go trekking in the mountains, to those who wanted to visit Pashupatinath and Muktinath. Younger visitors also inquired about trekking and adventure activities. There was also much curiosity from parents of school-going children, who inquired about family vacations during school holidays in April or October.
Indian arrival numbers have bounced back in Nepal since 2015. Official records state that the total numbers of Indian tourists in Nepal in 2016 was 118,249. There has been a 40 percent growth in 2016 with a total of about 750,000 tourist arrivals.
Nepal’s participation at TTF Bengaluru was ideal in reaching out to an important segment of the India market: the leisure traveler, the family vacation traveler, and the pilgrimage tourist. With good connectivity (direct flights from Bengaluru to Kathmandu three times a week), ideal demographics and psychographics (devout Hindus who want to visit the holy temples of Nepal, high spending power), novelty that Nepal offers in terms of products (hills, mountains, warmth and hospitality), this part of South India is a highly potential market for Nepal. NTB is also trying to tap into this market by keeping visibility high through travel shows, online and offline campaigns reaching out to the target groups and through B2B programs like events and road shows.
TTF is India’s largest travel trade show network, and has provided annual marketing platform and opportunity to network with travel trade in major cities in India since 1989. The regional circuit of TTF branded shows covering 9 major cities in India culminates into the grand finale – OTM, India’s biggest travel trade show in India on the basis of number of sellers, buyers and rented area.
The fair was led by Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and participated by Nepal Airlines and eight companies from the private sector: Satyam Tours & Travels P. Ltd., Temple Tree Resort, Kathmandu Holiday Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd., Ojha Holidays Tours & Treks Pvt. Ltd., Apoorva Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd., Yeti Airlines Domestic Pvt. Ltd., Exotic Destination Nepal Tours & Treks P. Ltd., and Sunny Treks & Expedition (P) Ltd.