OTM 2026 showcased India’s Rise as a Global Tourism Powerhouse
OTM 2026, concluded at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, reaffirming India’s position as one of the world’s most influential outbound travel markets. Recognised by NielsenIQ as the Leading Travel Trade Show in India and Asia for two consecutive years, OTM 2026 brought together the global travel and tourism ecosystem at an unprecedented scale.
The three-day event hosted over 2,200 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, with participation from 45+ National Tourism Organisations and representation across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas and Oceania. More than 50,000 trade visitors, including over 1,000 hosted and VIP buyers, engaged across leisure, corporate travel, MICE, weddings and niche travel segments, making OTM 2026 the largest and most internationally diverse edition ever organised in the region.
Structured business engagement remained central to the show, with over 50,000 pre-scheduled B2B meetings reinforcing OTM’s positioning as a platform designed for measurable outcomes. Exhibitors included national and state tourism boards, airlines, hotels and resorts, destination management companies, cruise operators, attractions and travel technology providers, all engaging India as a priority growth market.
The OTM Forum set a strong leadership and knowledge-exchange agenda, bringing together policymakers and senior industry leaders from leading organisations such as MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Thomas Cook India, SOTC Travel, Paytm, TBO.com, Google India, Deloitte, Reliance Industries, IHCL, VFS Global and prominent tourism boards. High-level panels and closed-door discussions examined outbound growth, destination competitiveness, aviation connectivity, corporate travel evolution, technology and the changing expectations of the Indian traveller. A key session, “Unlocking EU–India Opportunities for Tourism and Hospitality,” highlighted growing collaboration between India and Europe.
The inaugural programme, titled “India Takes Its Place on the Global Travel Stage,” was led by senior tourism ministers from Malaysia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Sarawak, setting the tone for deeper global engagement with India. The day also featured the CEOs’ Lunch and destination-led panels focused on capturing the next wave of Indian travellers.
Reflecting the importance of air connectivity, Malaysia Airlines participated as the Partner Airline, alongside other major carriers including Air India. With strong destination presence, focused buyer access and high-level industry dialogue, OTM 2026 marked a defining moment in how the global travel industry engaged with India—not as an emerging market, but as a central force shaping global tourism strategy.
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