The 11th Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) got off to a start on Sunday as Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inaugurated the country’s biggest tourism meet with a call to highlight domestic tourism for better collaboration among States and greater understanding between people.

“A better industry-level coordination in hospitality and transportation and an inter-state understanding to rationalize and simplify taxes and tariffs will help in leveraging the true potential of our domestic market in tourism,” the Governor said.

Stressing the need to embrace the spirit of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) by treating domestic tourism as the mainstay for the industry when global air travel is facing restrictions, the Governor said,'' Let tourism enable people of every part of India to understand and value each other that we strengthen our cultural unity as a nation.'' Khan complimented Kerala's tourism projects aimed at making it a ''complete and different destination with a focus on cultural heritage.

''We need to re-configure our business strategy by emphasizing on safety and security soas to meet the post-pandemic global demands and aspirations,'' he added.

This is the chief aim of the 11th KTM, with close to 500 international buyers and 650 domestic buyers, facilitating 15,000 meetings between the buyers and exhibitors. By striving to restore the pace of growth of tourism that has slid since the outbreak of the global pandemic, the event by the KTM Society would exhibit the various products of the state's vital tourism sector.

The summit is being attended by all members of the KTM Society, which is India's biggest organization in the travel and tourism segment.

Tourism: Odisha Bags Best Future Forward State, Kerala won the Gold category

Maharashtra government passes Caravan Tourism policy

How 'Revenge Travel' is steering the Recovery of Hospitality Industry in 2021