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The recent re-launch of Air India services to Australia coupled with regular visits by leading tourism delegates from India will lead to a healthy growth in numbers of Australian tourists to India. India’s tag as an incredibly diverse and affordable product “within the reach of consumers” will also help in the increase which sees Australia among the top 10 tourist-generating markets in the world for India’s inbound tourism. In recognising the importance of Australia as a source market for India in the tourism sector, Parvez Dewan, Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, recently led a delegation to Australia from India, the party made up of more than 20 organisations for the “Incredible India PATA Road Show”. The road show came hot on the heels of last year’s successful visit and visited Melbourne before moving onto Sydney. Mr Dewan, who is also chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) India Chapter, said his country had witnessed a substantial increase in the inflow of tourists from Australia in the past few years. More than 214,000 Australians visited India in 2012, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an increase of 11.8 per cent on the previous year’s figure of 191,300. This year’s tourism road show was arranged and conducted by India Tourism Sydney, the overseas office of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in co-operation with the PATA India Chapter. “It is an integral part of an ongoing drive to help attract more Australian tourists to India under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India’s ‘Incredible India’ campaign,” said Mr Dewan. “The presentations showcased India’s portfolio of tourism products and a line-up of activities that travellers could indulge in while visiting the sub-continent. They were designed to better equip Australians with significant information for them to explore the various attractions of India.” The delegation included executives from Air India, Asia Travel & Tours, Distant Frontiers, Go India Journeys, Impression Tourism Services (India), Indo Asia Leisure Services, Lotus Destinations, Mercury Travels Limited, Network Travels, Travel Link, Travel Spirit International and Travel Corporation (India). Adventure specialist Shikhar Travels was also in the party along with Trail Blazer Tours India Private Limited, cruise companies Jungle Travels India and Vivada Cruises and hotels Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts, Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces and The Oberoi Group. State tourism corporations Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation were represented along with officials from PATA, the Ministry of Tourism and the India Tourism Sydney. “Given the buoyancy in the Australian dollar, tourism to India is an affordable product and well within the reach of consumers,” said Mr Dewan. “Air India’s daily non-stop flight operations, effective 30th August, 2013, to Sydney and Melbourne, will only bring the two countries closer and enable enhancement of people to people contact through tourism. “The contribution made by the Indian High Commission and the Indian consulates in Sydney and Melbourne as well as the Australian Government in commencing the direct flights was overwhelming,” Mr Dewan said. “Good air-connectivity is essential for the growth of the tourism industry.” The re-emergence of Air India services to Australia after a long gap is expected to give a tremendous boost to tourism for both Australia and India. Air India’s daily non-stop service to and from capital Delhi will be delivered by the state of the art Boeing Dreamliner touching down in both Melbourne and Sydney every day. |
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Mr Parvez Dewan |
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Rob Webster, NRMA Travel, Helen Reynolds, Landmark Travel, Yvonne Hamilton, Travel Scene St Leonards |
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