News:  Our correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Panaji, Oct 14: Goa’s maiden international business-to-business travel and trade mart ITM - Goa 2010 was inaugurated at Panaji on Thursday October 14.

Over 200 national and international buyers travel and trade industry honchos and tourism board members descended onto the shores of this coastal state. Chief guest, Dr S S Sidhu, Governor of Goa inaugurated the trade mart.

Pradip Madhavji, former chairman, Thomas Cook India and Honorary Consul in Mumbai for the New Zealand Consulate delivered the key note address.

ITM-Goa which aims to boost tourism related business in the state is jointly promoted by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the state department of tourism, India Tourism, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Chief minister Digambar Kamat, tourism minister Nilkant Halarnkar, and leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar, MLA and chairman, Goa Tourism and Development Corporation (GTDC) Shyam Satardekar, mayor of CCP Carolina Po, chief secretary Sanjay Srivastava and secretary tourism Dr M Modassir among others were present on the occasion.

A power packed event, ITM-Goa saw a hosted buyer-seller interactive sessions during business hours at the mart, panel discussions, knowledge-sharing sessions, networking dinners and FAM trips. Over 80 participants will showcase their services and network with industry associates over the next four days. ITM-Goa 2010 has confirmed participation of buyers from over twelve countries including Singapore, South Africa, Canada, UK, Italy, Poland, Russia, UAE, Thailand and Brazil among others.

Knowledge sessions with industry stalwarts on west coast tourism, investment opportunities, branding Goa and adopting the public private partnership (PPP) model to boost tourism will be some of the key highlights at ITM-Goa. Goan artists presented cultural programmes on the inaugural day.