India’s Travel Industry Gathers In Mumbai As TTF 2026 Showcases Destinations, Innovation And Business Opportunities

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

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August 21, 2026 22:29 GMT+5:30

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TTF Mumbai 2026, organised by Fairfest Media, is a three-day travel trade exhibition taking place at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC) in Mumbai from August 20 to 22, 2026. The event brings together more than 500 exhibitors, representatives from 20 Indian states and Union Territories, and participants from five international countries, attracting over 10,000 trade visitors from across the travel and tourism industry.

The exhibition was officially opened in the presence of senior representatives from various State Tourism Boards, along with key leaders from prominent national and regional travel trade associations. The event serves as a major platform for tourism stakeholders to showcase destinations, strengthen business partnerships, and explore new opportunities within the travel sector.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Rajesh Poddar, Chairman-Western Region- Travel Agents
Association of India (TAAI), said “The travel trade is witnessing strong momentum in
domestic and Far East markets, with changing global dynamics and visa challenges for EU & US,
influencing traveler preferences. India recorded over 4.3 billion domestic tourist visits in 2025,
while 32.83 million Indian nationals travelled abroad, registering 6.3% growth year-on-year,
reflecting the sector’s continued expansion. Travelers are increasingly seeking offbeat and
lesser-known destinations, while affordable and hassle-free visa options are opening new
opportunities, including in the luxury segment. Government support through easier visas,
tourist-friendly infrastructure and dedicated tourist police can further accelerate growth.
However, the West Asia crisis has created fresh headwinds for international travel, with flight
disruptions, longer routes and higher airfares affecting outbound demand. This has been
compounded by the sharp rise in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), with international ATF prices
increasing nearly 2.5 times in the last three months. As fuel accounts for around 40% of airline
operating costs, the increase has put significant pressure on airline finances and ultimately
travel costs. While strong domestic demand provides an important cushion, maintaining
affordable air connectivity and supporting alternative international routes will be critical for the
travel trade in the months ahead.” he further added.

Dr. Nitin Mittal, National Coordinator, Network of Indian MICE Association (NIMA),
said “India’s MICE and destination-wedding industry is witnessing strong momentum, with
corporate MICE growing by 10–15% year-on-year and destination weddings expanding at an
even faster 15–20%, taking the combined segment to around 12–15% growth over the
previous year. While established hubs such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and
Chennai continue to lead, Tier-2 and Tier-3 destinations including Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kochi,
Varanasi and Indore are emerging as attractive alternatives, driven by their infrastructure,
cultural appeal and cost advantages. Over the next 3–5 years, the sector is expected to grow at
12–14% annually. Strengthening connectivity, streamlining visas, developing city-level
convention bureaus and introducing targeted incentives for global events will be critical to
positioning India as a leading global destination for MICE and weddings.”
Mr. Burjis Mehta, President-Bombay-Skal International, said “India’s tourism industry is
at an exciting inflection point, with its rich heritage and the timeless philosophy of Atithi Devo
Bhava providing a strong foundation for sustained growth. From the Himalayas and Rajasthan’s
royal heritage to its wildlife, spiritual centres and diverse cultural experiences, India offers
immense potential for travelers. India now ranks eighth globally in terms of tourism economy
size, with a contribution of US$231.6 billion, up from 10th place previously, and is projected to
reach fourth position over the next decade. Domestic tourism is emerging as a particularly
strong growth driver, with travel visits estimated to surpass 5 billion, creating significant
opportunities across hospitality, homestays, regional transportation and local experiences. At
the same time, rising demand for spiritual and religious tourism, medical and wellness travel,
and sports tourism is opening up new avenues for destination development.”
Mr. Jay Kantawala, Chairman-Western Chapter- Travel Agents Federation of India
(TAFI), said “India’s travel trade continues to witness strong, broad-based growth, driven by
rising disposable incomes, expanding air connectivity and a growing appetite for experience-led
travel. Outbound, MICE, luxury and experiential travel are among the fastest-growing segments,
with many businesses witnessing double-digit growth as travelers increasingly seek premium,
personalized and immersive experiences. This shift is also transforming the role of travel agents
from itinerary providers to experienced designers. Looking ahead, significant opportunities lie in
luxury and experiential travel, MICE, tier-2 and tier-3 markets, and attracting higher-value
international travelers to India.
Ms. Seema Yadav, Joint Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan,
said “Rajasthan’s tourism sector continues to demonstrate strong growth, with total tourist visits
rising from 2321.57 lakh in 2024 to 2544.49 lakh in 2025, registering 9.6% growth. Domestic
tourism remained the key driver, with visits growing 9.74% to 2525.03 lakh during the year.
Going forward, Rajasthan is focusing on expanding its tourism footprint beyond established
hubs by promoting emerging experiences across rural, eco, adventure, water sports (Kota
Barrage) and heritage tourism, with destinations such as Ramgarh Crater, Sambhar Lake,
Jhamarkotra, Zawar and several rural tourism circuits being developed. The state expects
domestic tourist arrivals to grow by around 10% annually over the next five years, while foreign
tourist arrivals are projected to grow by 6–8% annually, reflecting Rajasthan’s continued
potential as a leading tourism destination.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media
Limited, said, “The world’s travel headlines may look uncertain, but India’s answer has been
to travel at home and to travel more than ever. Domestic tourism is the strongest story in world
travel today, and Mumbai is where that market concentrates: the country’s financial capital, its
biggest aviation gateway, and its highest-value source of travelers. The three days ahead are
the trade’s last big marketplace before the festive and winter season, and the energy on the
floor this morning says the season will be a strong one. My thanks to the exhibitors, Partner and
Feature States, buyers and association partners who have made this edition our biggest in
Mumbai yet.”

India’s domestic tourism sector achieved a remarkable milestone in 2024, with nearly 3 billion domestic tourist visits recorded across the country, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Domestic travel spending has emerged as the key driver behind the industry’s strong recovery and expansion following the pandemic, highlighting the growing importance of Indian travellers in shaping the country’s tourism economy.

The domestic tourism market in India is projected to reach around ₹35 trillion by 2029, supported by rising travel aspirations and increased spending plans among consumers. Recent surveys suggest that a significant majority of Indian travellers are preparing to allocate higher budgets for future journeys, reflecting strong confidence in domestic travel growth.

At TTF Mumbai, the destination showcase will highlight India’s diverse tourism potential, with Rajasthan, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka participating as Partner States. West Bengal, Delhi and Sikkim will feature as Feature States, presenting their unique attractions, experiences and travel opportunities to industry stakeholders.

The event will also bring together a wide range of hospitality, tourism and travel technology companies, including Club Mahindra, Evoke Experiences, Nautika, Trulyy India, Time Square Resort & Spa, Paul John Resorts & Hotels, Madhuban Eco Retreat, Sahara Star, Crestora Hotels, The Lake Manor Kerala, Sajjanbagh Resort & Spa, Anjali Estates and Developers and DLS Hotels.

TTF Mumbai is receiving support from several leading industry associations, including TAFI, IATO, NIMA, TIA, ETAA, SKÅL, ADTOI, TOAI, MTOA, TAAS, TAAP, ATOAI, TAHAT and UTEN. Their participation underlines the event’s role as a major platform for connecting tourism businesses, destinations and travel professionals while strengthening India’s rapidly expanding domestic tourism ecosystem.