On the second day of the 15th edition of the Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB), the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Diya Kumari, inaugurated the exhibition at the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre (JECC), Sitapura, by cutting the ribbon. She toured the exhibition and reviewed stalls set up by various state tourism boards, hotel groups, tour operators, and international participants. The event was attended by Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, IAS; Secretary – Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Ms. Shuchi Tyagi; Commissioner – Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Ms. Rukmani Riar; Former President, FICCI, Mentor, FICCI Tourism Committee and CMD, The LaLit Suri Hospitality Group, Dr. Jyotsna Suri, along with other dignitaries. The exhibition is showcasing a wide range of tourism products and services, including heritage, wellness, spiritual, wildlife, and experience-based tourism offerings.
On the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister, Ms. Diya Kumari said, “Despite global challenges, the active participation of travel and trade representatives from across the world reflects the vast potential of tourism in India and Rajasthan. Meaningful discussions were held with visiting delegates on increasing foreign tourist arrivals and exploring new opportunities. Today’s traveler seeks more than just sightseeing; they want to experience culture, cuisine, traditions, and lifestyle. In line with this, our tourism department is promoting experiential tourism. This exhibition is not only a platform to showcase tourism products but also a strong medium to foster new ideas, partnerships, and investment opportunities.”
The 15th edition of GITB has brought together over 195 foreign tour operators as buyers from more than 50 countries. The event has witnessed strong participation from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, host state Rajasthan, various state tourism boards, hotels, resorts, and destination management companies (DMCs). More than 10,000 pre-scheduled and structured B2B meetings are being conducted during the event, significantly boosting networking and business expansion opportunities in the tourism sector.
State tourism board pavilions remain a major attraction at the exhibition, with states such as Rajasthan, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Punjab showcasing their unique tourism products, cultural identities, and new experiential offerings. In addition, luxury and heritage hotel chains, resorts, adventure and wildlife operators, wellness centers, and travel technology companies are presenting their innovations and services, making the platform instrumental in strengthening new business opportunities and partnerships.
Day 2: Travel and Tourism Excellence Awards
The Travel & Tourism Excellence Awards were organised today at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC), where institutions and individuals making outstanding contributions to the tourism sector were honoured. The programme commenced with an address by IAS (Retd.) Former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Shri Arvind Singh, who noted that India’s tourism sector continues to move steadily on a growth trajectory. He emphasised that the formulation of effective policies at the national and state levels, along with their structured implementation at the grassroots, plays a critical role in enhancing the overall tourist experience. In this context, he highlighted the importance of efficient destination management, cleanliness, and robust infrastructure. The event was also attended by Secretary – Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Ms. Shuchi Tyagi; Commissioner – Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, Ms. Rukmani Riar; and Chairman, FICCI Tourism Committee, Shri Ravi Gosain. A total of 40 awards were presented across two segments by FICCI and Rajasthan Tourism.
For distinguished contribution to the success and growth of the GITB following were recognised Chief Patron, Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO), Shri Bhim Singh; Managing Director, Travel Corporation India Ltd, Shri Dipak Deva; Co-Chairman, FICCI Rajasthan State Council, Shri Surendra Singh Shekhawat; Past President – RATO & HRAR, Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR), Shri Kuldeep Singh Chandela; President, Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO), Shri Mahendra Singh; Past Secretary, Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO), Shri Mohan Singh; Patron, Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO), Shri Khalid Khan; Senior Vice President, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Rajasthan (HRAR), Shri Hemant Mittal; and Former Chairperson, FICCI Rajasthan Council, Late Shri Randhir Vikram Singh Mandawa.
The Travel & Tourism Excellence Awards 2026 recognised outstanding contributions across the industry, honouring TBO Tek Limited as Best B2B Travel Portal, MakeMyTrip as Best Online Booking Platform, and Cordelia Cruises as Leading Domestic Cruise Line. Whereas, Suryagarh Jaisalmer as Best Luxury Heritage Hotel, St. Regis Goa as Best Luxury Resort, and Oberoi Gurgaon as Best Business Hotel. Rambagh Palace Jaipur was awarded Best Wedding Hotel, while Madhya Pradesh was named Leading Tourism Destination and Chhattisgarh as Best Emerging Tourism Destination. Odisha was recognised for Outstanding Contribution in Tourism Development, Goa as Best MICE Destination, Gujarat for Best Destination Marketing Campaign, and Tamil Nadu as Best Culture & Heritage Destination. Carnoustie Ayurveda Wellness Resort won Best Wellness Resort, while Waghoba Ecolodge and Barefoot at Havelock were honoured as Best Sustainable Hotels. Among tour operators, Veena World (Outbound), Rustik Travel (Domestic), Shikhar Travels India Pvt. Ltd. and IBEX Expeditions (Adventure), and Creative Travel (Inbound) were recognised, while tripXOXO by TravelPort won Best Tech-Based Travel Startup and Village Ways was awarded for Best Responsible Tourism Initiative. Special honours included Smt. Mina Tilakraj for Special Contribution to Tourism and Shri Anil Chadha, Managing Director, ITC Hotels, for Excellence in Leadership.
In the Rajasthan-specific categories, Oberoi Udai Vilas Udaipur was awarded Best 5-Star Hotel (Winner) and Fairmont Jaipur (Runner-Up), while Mahua Bagh Kumbhalgarh (Winner) and The Jai Bagh Palace Jaipur (Runner-Up) were recognised in the 4-Star category. Shrisiddhpuram Kumbhalgarh (Winner) and Utsav Camp Sariska (Runner-Up) were honoured in the 1-3 Star segment. Suryagarh Jaisalmer (Winner) and Mundota Fort & Palace (Runner-Up) were awarded in the Wedding Hotel category, while Ambrai Udaipur (Winner) and Tapri, Jaipur (Runner-Up) won in the Restaurant category. Rajmahal Palace Jaipur (Winner) and Taj Fateh Prakash Palace Udaipur (Runner-Up) were recognised in Heritage Hotel Category. Rajasthan Routes Trails (Winner) and Registan Tours (Runner-Up) were awarded Best Tour Operator, Thrillophilia Jaipur (Winner) and Sembark (Runner-Up) as Best Travel Startups, and Chunda Shikar Oudi Bakhheda (Winner) and Sangam Farms Bhilwara (Runner-Up) for Eco Tourism Initiatives. Special Contribution to Rajasthan Tourism awards were conferred upon Smt. Faith Singh and Shri Abhimanyu Singh.
