Mumbai, Feb 13: The fourth edition of The Gypsy Travel Festival (TGTF), held on 7–8 February at Jio World Drive, convened travellers, tourism boards, creators, chefs and brands for a two-day experiential showcase designed to explore destinations through culture, cuisine and conversation. Hosted across four curated zones, The Horizon, Discovery Box, Explorer’s Lab and F&B Lounge, the festival featured 55+ partners and drew a highly engaged audience of curious travellers.
The programme blended performances, workshops and panel discussions that translated travel into lived experience. Cultural showcases ranged from classical Thai dance by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Way of the Sword – Kendo demonstration to Kenya’s Maasai Adumu jump dance and hands-on Ushanga beadwork, where participants not only learned the symbolism behind traditional adornments but also took home their handcrafted creations as meaningful souvenirs. Each booth featured engaging, interactive activities designed to delight and reward visitors, with brands such as Sapporo, SOTC, and Thailand hosting inventive games that kept patrons actively involved. Workshops such as Sacred Strokes: Tibetan Calligraphy invited audiences into meditative artistic practice, while culinary sessions including Flavours of Thailand, Brewed Around the World, curated tastings and Wine 101 encouraged palate-led discovery.
Panel discussions and conversations including Food as the Gateway to Travel, Food Fireside Fables, Veggie Voyages, Where’s the Veggie?, Bucket List on Budget, Travel with a Cause, How Content Creators Design High-Value Trips and Backyard Tourism were met with strong audience engagement, with attendees actively participating, asking questions and leaving with practical insights, fresh perspectives and a clearer understanding of how to approach travel more thoughtfully.
“This edition underscores a clear shift in how travel is being perceived and pursued. Today’s traveller is informed, intentional and seeking depth, looking beyond itineraries to understand the cultural, historical and human context of a place. At The Gypsy Travel Festival, we endeavour to create a credible and curated platform where meaningful travel conversations take shape through dialogue, gastronomy, craft and lived cultural exchange. As India’s travel landscape continues to evolve, we remain committed to fostering a more nuanced and responsible travel narrative, one that begins long before the journey itself,” said Lubaina Sheerazi, Co-founder, The Gypsy Travel Network.
“The Gypsy Travel Festival was thoughtfully conducted, and we at RARE India were delighted to participate. Visitors to our stall showed genuine curiosity about our work and sustainability initiatives within the travel space. The intimate format, with a carefully curated number of exhibitors, created meaningful engagement. We would certainly consider returning for the next edition,” said Shobhana Jain, Director – Hotel Audits & Sustainability, RARE India.
“Club Med was delighted to return for our second year at The Gypsy Travel Festival. It was inspiring to see so many passionate travellers engage with the festival’s vibrant atmosphere. The platform enabled meaningful conversations about what makes the all-inclusive Club Med experience distinctive. We look forward to welcoming many of these travellers to our resorts soon,” said Rohan Kulkarni, Sales Head – India, Club Med.
“Being part of The Gypsy Travel Festival 2026 was an enriching experience for Kenya Tourism. We arrived excited and are leaving inspired, having engaged with a highly discerning and curious audience. TGTF offered a strong platform to showcase Kenya’s culture, wildlife, beaches and diverse travel offerings. We were pleased with the overall engagement and look forward to returning in 2027,” said Fiona Ngesa, Deputy Director – Asia, Middle East & Oceania, Kenya Tourism Board.
Positioned as a participation-driven platform rather than a conventional exhibition, TGTF continues to evolve as a space where destinations are discovered through interaction, storytelling and sensory engagement – reinforcing travel as something experienced, understood and remembered long after the journey ends.
