India wants to increase its share of inbound tourism

India wants to increase its share of inbound tourism to from the current global share of 0.65 of international tourist arrivals, to 1% of all global tourists by 2016. To meet this aim, the government estimates an additional 400,000 hotel rooms will be required, and plans to announce public private partnerships to ramp up room capacity in the country, tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahay said in London.

At the World Travel Market in London, the world’s leading trade fair for the tourism and travel industry, India picked up two big World Travel Awards: for Best Destination and Best Marketing Campaign for its Incredible India campaign in London. Mr Sahay, who attended the inaugural day global travel fair with other ministers including from J&K, also announced that India intends to host its first ever Global Travel Market in December 2012.

The World Travel Market, held annually in London is the leading travel industry trade fair in the world, and India has a significant presence at the event. Mr Sahai also announced plans to double India’s in bound tourism by 2013, and said that tourism in India is already on the rise this year, with the number of visitors increasing by 10% between January and October 2011.