Pune: Sakal conducted Travel Expo from July 21-23, which experienced a sizable footfall in the first few hours after inauguration, as GST rates have made it cheaper for people to travel to their favourite destinations.

The event was inaugurated by Guardian Minister Girish Bapat on Friday at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, Swargate.

The expo is powered by Nilesh Gaikwad group and STA holidays is the title sponsor. The expo has 35 travel stalls including MakeMyTrip, Kesari Tours and Travels, Cox and Kings, Chaudhari Yatra Pvt Ltd, Sun Tourism, Girikand, BG Tours and Travels, Gargi Tours, Aumkar Tours and Travels, Off beat Destinations, TGCL Tours, Konduskar Holidays, Military Tourism and many others.

The travel stalls at the expo received a huge response for travel bookings mainly for domestic destinations and Europe.

Shripad Nawar from Kesari Tours and Travels said, “We received more than 100 inquiries, mainly for Kerala, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.”

Earlier travellers were taxed 9 per cent on every booking but now GST has reduced the burden as only 5 per cent is levied on every booking. Nishitta Ghaatge, Managing Director of Sun Tourism, said, “The travellers now have a positive attitude when they come for the bookings due to GST.”

Rajendra Marulkar, a visitor at the expo, said, “We are looking for domestic travelling and we were able to find the best packages in budget from the three stalls that we just explored.”