Delhi : The country’s biggest travel show, TTF&OTM, was inaugurated today, 24 Feb 2011, at the Ashok Hotel, by Shri Sultan Ahmed, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India, in the presence of senior diplomats and a large number of dignitaries and officials from the travel and hospitality industry from all over India and abroad.

India is a coveted outbound market, currently with 12 million Indians traveling overseas annually, and a growth rate of 12-13 per cent per year projected till 2015. As many as 27 countries are represented at the show apart from participation from 17 Indian States.

Mr. Ahmed said that travel and tourism remained a key driver of economic growth globally. According to World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Country Report for India, travel and tourism sector contributes 8.6 per cent to the GDP, which is expected to increase to 9 per cent by 2020. The sector currently employs 4.9 crore people and this is projected to increase to 5.8 crore by 2020.