World tourism to cash in on India’s newfound wanderlust

NEW DELHI: The intrepid Indian traveller is being wooed by the global travel industry. With 3 crore Indians expected to travel across the globe by 2018, tourism boards and destination management companies are leaving nothing to chance. At the SATTE 2016, currently on in the Capital, the number of exhibitors has increased from less than 700 last year to over 750 this year.

Among the top destinations for Indians are Dubai and South-East Asia. Dubai has registered a 26% increase with 16 lakh Indians visiting the country in 2015. Singapore similarly registered 10 lakh Indian visitors with a 7% year-on-year growth.
Representing a conglomerate of 11 firms from Iceland, Valgerdur Lindberg Jonsd said, “We recognise India is a huge untapped market and we would like to be the pioneers.”

UBM managing director Yogesh Mudras, organiser of SATTE, said, “We had 10,000 visitors last year. This year we already have 15,000 preregistered visitors while our exhibitors have increased from less than 700 last year to over 750 this year.”

Romania, also a first time entrant, along with other east European countries also hopes to draw Indians who might be first-time travellers and cannot afford western Europe or US.

A recent UNWTO Visa Openness Report 2015 points out, “When comparing data between 2015 and 2008 for some of the fast growing outbound markets, such as China, India and the Russian Federation, it becomes clear that destinations continue to make special efforts to facilitate visa formalities for tourists originating from these economies.” As a direct consequence India’s mobility score has increased from 32 in 2008 to 50 in 2015 suggesting that more and more countries are laying down the red carpet.