Australia and India round table

THE inaugural Australia India Travel & Tourism Council round table took place in Sydney with representatives from tourism bodies, tour operators, airlines and hotels in attendance.

Yesterday’s event signalled the start of greater efforts between the markets to encourage bilateral tourism by recognising the issues, challenges and opportunities in an attempt to strengthen and build momentum on what is currently a two-way growth phase.

Tourism Australia’s rep in India, Nishant Kasikar, highlighted current results with 274,500 Indians travelling to Australia for the year ending May 2017, representing an increase of 15% on the previous year.

According to Tourism Australia, Indian travellers injected $1.34 billion into the Australian economy and this is projected to grow to $1.9 billion and 300,000 visitors by the year 2020.

Outbound tourism shows no sign of slowing with 293,000 travellers from Australia heading to India in 2016, up from 253,000 the year prior, according to Kanchan Kukreja, assistant director for India Tourism.

Both markets agreed a lack of direct air services represented a challenge to achieving further growth with Air India being the only carrier to fly non-stop between the countries.

Monument fees and sightseeing taxes imposed at a moment’s notice in India were also seen as a challenge for Australian operators that brochure product prices of holidays having to absorb such cost adjustments.

Tour operators in attendance spoke of the need for Tourism India to keep the focus on the trade with familiarisations, road shows and agent training a key part of helping to raise awareness and sell the destination.

Pictured are representatives at the inaugural AITTC round table.