Hyderabad :

The Travel and Tourism Fair (TTF) travel show that got underway at Hitex in Hyderabad on Friday proved to be a big canvas for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to promote their tourism in a big way.

Those who had visited the TTF trade fair, organised by Fairfest Media Limited in Hyderabad on previous occasions, would be now looking at two pavilions instead of one belonging to a composite state with the youngest state of India – Telangana – making its debut at the fair in a colourful manner. Its pavilion was artfully constructed based on Kakatiya theme. AP Tourism’s pavilion, simple yet elegant, catches the eye of the visitor with artfully decorated posters and wood carvings from Madavamala.

Beside the Telangana pavilion, Gujarat pavilion stands in all its glory with colourfully attired artistes playing dandiya raas. The three-day travel show, features around 200 stalls from across the country. Sri Lanka, Malyasia, Thailand and Oman also set up their stalls. In the middle of the expo, stands Kerala’s pavilion attracting the visitors.

Besides tourism departments and development corporations of states like Assam, Goa, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and others, several private players from hospitality industry have also set up stalls. “It is a platform for the who and who of tourism and hospitality industry to interact, share and collaborate,” Fairfest Medial Limited joint managing director Gazanfar Ibrahim told ‘Express.’

“Like previous year, this year too, there is a good participation from India as well as abroad,” he said. Ibrahim said the tourism sector is one of the top five priorities of the NDA government. “If there is no uncertainty, progress in tourism is possible,” he pointed out.

On the incentives announced for the tourism sector in the Union Budget, he said: “Much needs to be done for the sector, especially rationalisation of taxation, if we are to stand a chance with global tourism players like Malaysia, Singapore, among others.”

The travel show will be open for the general public from Saturday 3 pm. The show concludes on Sunday evening.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by S Guru Srikanth / July 02nd, 2014