Chennai, 16th July 2026: India’s premier travel and tourism showcase, the India International Travel Mart (IITM), opened its doors today at the Chennai Trade Centre. The three-day B2B and B2C event, being held from 16–18 July 2026, brings together leading names from the travel, tourism, hospitality, and aviation sectors under one roof.
Organized by Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions, the event serves as a significant platform for the travel trade industry to network, collaborate, and explore new business opportunities. With participation from over 25 Indian states and more than 15 international destinations, IITM Chennai 2026 is showcasing a wide range of tourism products – from leisure, adventure, and wellness travel to Meetings, destination weddings, and responsible tourism.
The grand inauguration ceremony was attended by top dignitaries from the Government of Tamil Nadu, leading industry associations, travel influencers, and trade professionals. Inauguration at 1500 Hours.
Inauguration by Thiru Rajesh Kumar, Honourable Minister for Tourism and Tourism Development Corporation inaugurated the Event. The Guests of Honour included: Dr. S Swarna, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government; Dr. V.P. Jeyaseelan, IAS, Director, Tamil Nadu Tourism and Managing Director, TTDC; Smt. T Devaki – Chairperson, Travel Agents Assc. of India; Sri. CK Raja – Chairman, Travel Agents Federation of India, Sri. Sundar S – Executive Director, SIHRA, Sri Venkat Reddy, Vice President, SKAL International India, Sri. Kamaleshwaran, President, SKAL International, Chennai; Sri Pankaj Ravish – General Manager, IRCTC, Sri Pawan Kumar Gupta, President, SIMA, Sri. Ashok Kumar P – Chairman, ADTOI; Sri P Nanda Kumar – Chairman, IATO.
As IITM celebrates its 26th Anniversary this year, the occasion forms an important business platform. Travel agencies, hoteliers, tour companies, and other industry stakeholders can interact and network resulting in collaborations, partnerships, and joint ventures. IITM features 250+ exhibitors representing over 8 international destinations and 20 Indian states, showcasing diverse travel options like pilgrimages, adventures, culture, wildlife, and more. From Indian rhinoceros to Rajasthan’s festivals to Odisha’s heritage sites, to Tamil Nadu’s rich temple heritage, the event enriches holiday choices than ever before.
The latest edition of the India International Travel Mart (IITM) opened today in Chennai, bringing together leading tourism boards, hospitality brands, travel companies, airlines, destination management companies, cruise operators, travel technology providers and tourism stakeholders from across India and overseas.
The three-day B2B travel exhibition serves as a dynamic platform for networking, business development and the promotion of destinations, products and services to the travel trade as well as discerning travellers. The exhibition features participation from tourism departments of various Indian states, international destinations, hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise companies, travel technology providers, tour operators, adventure tourism companies, wellness tourism providers, travel insurance companies and other allied tourism businesses.
In his address, Mr. Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions, said:
“India’s travel and tourism sector continues to witness remarkable growth, driven by increasing domestic travel, expanding international connectivity and changing traveller preferences. IITM Chennai provides an ideal platform for destinations and travel brands to connect with the travel trade, build strategic partnerships and showcase innovative tourism products to one of India’s most significant travel markets. ‘India International Travel Mart – Chennai’ continues to play a vital role in shaping travel aspirations and strengthening business ties between stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem”.
The tourism stakeholders from over 25 Indian states such as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and many more along with international participants representing over 8 countries like Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, UK, Nepal, Dubai, Turkey, Singapore, Bhutan, Indonesia, etc., will be seen aggressively marketing their destinations, products and services.
Sphere TravelMedia Director, Sanjay Hakhu, added: “Chennai has consistently emerged as one of India’s strongest source markets for domestic, international, leisure, pilgrimage and business travel. The city offers tremendous opportunities for tourism stakeholders to engage with a knowledgeable travel trade and an increasingly travel-savvy consumer base, making IITM an ideal platform for business generation. Tourism thrives on collaboration. The India International Travel Mart provides an environment where tourism boards, airlines, hotels, travel agencies, technology companies and service providers can come together to forge new partnerships, exchange ideas and create sustainable business opportunities that benefit the entire travel ecosystem.”
Highlights:
The time has come to explore new destinations and enjoy the sensations of the world as the Indian passport continues to gain popularity! The IITM is a fantastic way to connect, network, and conduct business since it draws partners from all over the world.
- Biggest variety of holiday packages of over 1000 destinations in India and abroad.
- This year, find more than 250 exhibitors showcasing over 8 International destinations and 20 Indian tourism destinations making it one of the highlights of your search for that perfect travel partnership.
- Tamil Nadu is the host state for the event
- Odisha Tourism and Rajasthan Tourism are the Partner States
- View ‘Incredible India’ with all its amazing hues and peerless vibrancy.
- A once-a-year opportunity for travel agents and tour operators to reach out to partners from more than 15 International destinations and over 25 Indian states.
- Add more to your travel portfolio
- Adventure – International Destinations – Visas – Pilgrimage – Cultural pursuits – Wildlife – Conference – Wedding Destinations – pure joy!
- The event is on a B2B format and only open for trade – visitors only.
- Entry is free and