India Tourist Arrivals Set to Topple Records
With just a few days left before the end of 2005, India is on course to break several tourism milestones.
Tourism arrivals from Australia are set to top the 100,000 mark while overall worldwide arrivals are expected to exceed 4 million. Both figures would be all-time records, said Shanker Dhar, Regional Director – Australasia, India Tourism.
Last year there were 80,000 arrivals from Australia and with the 35 per cent growth experienced in the first nine months of the year, “Australia is virtually assured of entering the big league of significant tourist generating markets for India”, he added.
In 2004 the Indian tourism industry earned a foreign exchange revenue of Rs 218 billion (A$6.3 billion) while 3.4 million tourists visited the country. Both figures were also record achievements, said Mr Dhar.
With a vastly increased tourism profile and accelerated marketing efforts set to further boost tourism growth and revenue over the next few years, pundits in the Indian Tourism Ministry have revealed a number of promotional strategies to reach an ambitious target of 10 million tourists by the end of 2010.
The Indian Tourism Ministry is embarking on a campaign that will promote India all over the world by decorating the massive tail sections of 25 Air-India jet aircraft with its distinctive “Incredible India” logo.
As well, the Ministry is also investigating a plan that would allow tourists from selected markets the facility of obtaining visas on arrival.
Further to this the Ministry is preparing a plan to develop and heavily market 15 special tourist destinations and circuits.Efforts are being made to dramatically increase room numbers. There are currently some 100,000 hotel rooms available in India with another 34,000 rooms in various categories currently under construction.
“India is the hottest tourist destination in the world and the measures being introduced by the government are certain to maintain its favoured status not just with Australians but tourists around the world,” said Mr Dhar.
For further information, contact Shanker Dhar, Regional Director – Australasia, India Tourism
Tel (02) 9264 4855, FAX (02) 9264 4860
E-mail: [email protected]
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