The GITM (Goa International Travel Mart) 2014 is scheduled to be conducted at Taleigao from the 2nd to the 4th of April and is expected to be bigger than ever.

Over 125 international buyers are expected by Goa tourism to participate in GITM’14. The prospective buyers are from the USA, UK, Germany, France, Austria, Turkey, Hungary, Italy, Russia, the Czech Republic, and Poland.

Mr. Dilip Parulekar, tourism minister said that this travel mark will provide a platform for face-to-face networking between travel trade, hoteliers, and other stakeholders from Goa and leading travel agents from India and abroad.

He also added that the efforts of the tourism department have resulted in progress, though at a slow pace. This season, the total footfall has marked an increase of 12.37% and the inflow of foreign footfall has increased by 9.27%.

He said, “We feel the rise in tourist arrivals next season will be 18-20%.”

On Thursday, Parulekar also launched the GITM website and the GITM mobile application.

Tourism Director, Nikhil Desai said that about 1,000-1,500 travel agents and tour operators are also expected to get register for GITM.

State tourism is also said to host about 335 participants, which includes 150 domestic buyers, 125 international buyers, 25 international media, and 35 national media.

The organizers also claim about the overwhelming response so far. Along with the travel industry professionals, the Travel Mark will also host representation from those who organize niche tours, and leisure activities, event managers, prominent travel writers, and columnists.

Director Sphere Travelmedia, Rohit Hangal, in his presentation on GITM, informed that different facets of Goa’s tourism will be highlighted.

A special Goa exhibition area will also be created to feature festivals, beaches, nightlife, heritage trails, meetings, medical tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions), monsoon tourism, and others that play crucial roles as tourist attractions in Goa.