Karnataka Tourism Forum (KTF), in its endeavour to make a meaningful contribution to improve tourism in Karnataka, in its own small way, organized a Road Show in Pune on March 22nd, 2013. This was on huge demand of the travel fraternity of Karnataka after the successful Road Show in Gujarat last year. The Pune Road Show not just lived up to the expectations but surpassed them.

The event was held at Four Points Sheraton Hotel. The format of the event initiated with a B2B session from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm. It was heartening to see as many as 44 sellers, including hotels, resorts, travel agents, tour operators, transport companies interact with local agents from Pune on a one-to-one basis. The turnout locally was overwhelming with as many as 130 agents from Pune attending the event. The Pune Agents were unanimous in their reviews that this was one was of the best travel events organized.

The B2B session was followed by a presentation on ‘Destination Karnataka’ by the VP of KTF, including featuring the Karnataka Tourism AV, by Department of Tourism. Finally there were networking opportunities on an informal basis over dinner.

The Road Show will now be followed up with a Familiarization Trip of Karnataka that is being organized for select Pune Agents in July 2013.

The Pune Road Show and its success would not have been a reality were it not for the support of Department of Tourism. KTF is thankful to the Department of Tourism for its encouragement and sponsorship and hopes that 2013 will see a few more such Road Shows, which are even better, to other parts of the country from where we need to encourage tourism into Karnataka.