Travel India
India’s Minister of Tourism, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, has confirmed attendance at this year’s World Travel Market 2011, the largest travel event in the world. Sri Sahai will reveal his 2012 plans and highlight the rising stature of India as an already burgeoning tourist destination, promoting cultural, wellness and eco-tourism.
Tourism in India is the largest service industry, accounting for 6.23% of national GDP and nearly one in 10 jobs. Buoyed by the success of the Indian Premier League (cricket) and hosting its first F1 Grand Prix last weekend weekend, the country is expecting visitor numbers to increase in excess of 10% this year, with worldwide viewers exceeding 570 million.
Currently India lies as the 40th most popular destination for tourists from around the world. With a $12billion investment over the next two years in hotels and infrastructure and the creation of an additional 25 million jobs, India aims to crack the top 20 for the first time, surpassing the likes of Australia, Switzerland and South Africa in the process. The aim is to increase the tourism industry to US$275.5 billion by 2018, boosting tourism revenues by approximately 42%.
India has already been highlighted as a tourism hotspot by the World Travel and Tourism Council due to its 10-year growth potential and the Minister is keen to ensure that the growth plays a meaningful role in the overall socio-economic development of the country. The Government of India, UNWTO and WTTC have decided to join hands for making tourism a global agenda; a “Global leaders for Tourism campaign” through which it is hoped to position tourism as a driver for growth.
India’s Ministry of Tourism has been regularly participating in WTM by setting up an India Pavilion, with participation of State Governments and the Travel Industry as co-exhibitors. In addition to buyer-seller meets, activities in the India Pavilion will be available such as cultural performances, bangle & bindi distribution, mehendi application, the Press Conference and an India Evening.
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