Global, local tourism cos make a beeline for the Indian traveller

NEW DELHI: Amid talk of a slowdown in the economy, here is some heartening news. The travel and

tourism

sector, still on the uptick, is not only making a beeline for Indian tourists, but also offering hard-to-turn-down deals and packages spanning both domestic and international destinations.

International tourism boards are looking at India will renewed interest. Singapore Tourism Board, for instance, with a presence in India for 25 years, says the Indian market cannot be ignored.

“Indians are taking more holidays, sometimes up to three a year. Apart from tourists from tier I markets, we also saw a healthy 12% increase in Indian tourists from secondary cities. India is a market no one can ignore,” said G B Srithar, Singapore Tourism Board’s India, Middle East and

South Asia

regional director.

Azerbaijan

Tourism Board, a relatively new entrant into the Indian market, held a three-city roadshow earlier this month to attract Indian tourists, and claims its holiday offerings are better value for money than many other destinations. With a direct flight connecting Delhi to

Baku

and e-visas being issued in three hours, CEO Florian Sengstschmid has pitched the country as a great destination for weddings and honeymoons.

Travel companies are also reinventing their tourist offerings to make domestic travel more attractive. After PM Narendra Modi’s announcement on 17 iconic sites in India being identified for being developed as world class tourist destinations, companies like SOTC have curated a list of hand-picked recommendations spanning India’s culture, history, heritage and cuisine. To cater to budget travellers, SOTC has introduced EMI options and offered travel-now-pay-later modules to encourage travellers.

“With the introduction of new travel destinations within India, increase in millennial tourists, as well as new themes in domestic travel, we have seen a significant demand in domestic tourism. We have curated 15 iconic destinations under our budgeted tour offering to cater to this growing demand to explore India’s diverse beauty. A month-wise calendar highlighting must see destinations of India will guide customers through these 15 vacations,” said Daniel D’souza, president and country head, leisure, SOTC Travel.

Travel brand Yatra has kickstarted a ‘Pehle Desh, Phir Videsh’ campaign to promote tourism ahead of the peak season. “For years, travellers have been unaware of various beautiful places in the country, and now we bring them to the fore for them to explore,” said Sharat Dhall, Yatra.com’s chief operations officer