Mumbai has just witnessed an international exhibition on the travel and trade industry-the Travel & Tourism Fair, organised by Fairfest Media. Barely two weeks later we have another fair on the travel industry being held at the same venue, beginning on March 12.

Travelogue 99, a three-day exhibition is being organised by the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). Both Fairfest and TAAI feel that they are best placed to promote the travel trade business.

"Fairfest has been organising such fairs for several years, therefore we have the experience," said Sanjeev Agarwal, managing director of Fairfest. TAAI should concentrate on its core activities, he said, addingthat organising an exhibition is a specialised business.

On the other hand, TAAI chairman Adi Katgara says, "TAAI is an organisation of professionals engaged in the travel and trade business for many years. We are not interested in managing only one show but are dedicated to the development of the industry as a whole."

While both organisers agree to have these events organised back to back is neither good for the industry nor ideal for consumers, none want to change the schedule.

"We always have this fair at this time every year. It is TAAI who started their exhibition for the first time last year. They should have opted for a different time," said Agarwal.

TAAI's exhibition is not just brining the travel agencies, tour operators, hoteliers and other related organisations together under one roof, but it also includes seminars on the travel trade related issues, says Katgara.

Fairfest has its own USP. For the benefit of consumers Fairfest has been introducing new ideas in the exhibition. Forinstance, this year the fair had a separate section on international tourism, said Agarwal. TAAI believes that success of last years debut has encouraged it to make the event an annual one. Fairfest on the other hand thinks that TAAI should in fact support its fair instead of promoting its own where it gives discounts to its members. TTF has same rates for all participants unlike TAAI, says Agarwal. And all of this is getting a little confusing for the traveller.