The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board participated in the World Travel Market (WTM) London 2026, held from November 3 to 5 at ExCeL London. The State showcased its tourism portfolio with a dedicated pavilion located at Stand N11-209 during the three-day event.
The delegation was led by Dr. Abhay Arvind Bedekar, Additional Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. The team included Rakesh Goliya, Manager of Events & Marketing, along with ten representatives from hotels, Destination Management Companies, travel agencies, wildlife tourism, and other tourism sectors from Madhya Pradesh.
The pavilion inauguration was conducted by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union
Minister of Tourism and Culture, and Smt. Sudha Murty, Member of Parliament and Founder of the Infosys Foundation. Their participation marked a prominent opening alongside state officials and tourism stakeholders.
During the exhibition, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board officials held over 70 B2B meetings with international tour operators, travel agents, and destination management companies. Discussions focused on creating new destination itineraries, developing travel circuits, and enhancing Madhya Pradesh’s role in global travel programs.
The delegation engaged in more than eight media interviews with international platforms, including Globetrotter Magazine, Travel Gossip, Lyca Radio, and WTM TV. These interactions served to promote the
State’s tourism narratives and increase its visibility in overseas media outlets.
On November 3, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board collaborated with Friends of Madhya Pradesh (FoMP), UK Chapter, to host ‘The Madhya Pradesh Chronicles – An Evening of Untold Narratives’ at TH@51 Restaurant & Bar, located in St. James’s Court, a Taj Hotel in London. The event featured 32 storytellers from international media and creative communities. Presentations included contributions from Dr. Bedekar, Vidhi Beri representing art and craft traditions, wildlife photographer Saleel Tambe, and mythologist Seema Anand.
Madhya Pradesh’s multi-faceted tourism offerings were emphasized throughout the event, highlighting UNESCO World Heritage
Sites, historic towns, wildlife reserves, spiritual centers, rural experiences, as well as its traditional crafts and lesser-known attractions. The State aimed to promote immersive travel experiences and wider geographical distribution of tourism across its region.
The participation at WTM London 2026 reinforced Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board’s brand positioning as ‘The Heart of Incredible India’. The combination of trade engagements, stakeholder involvement, and targeted media outreach helped build international relationships and increased interest in including Madhya Pradesh in global travel itineraries and programs.
