Travel trade indispensable for Argentina
The outbound traveller in India seeks consultation, airfare booking support and information about new itineraries from the travel trade fraternity. Thus, INPROTUR is looking at working with the trade in India to capture a share of business and leisure tra
The first South American country to have ventured into India, Argentina is aggressively marketing itself through travel agents in India. According to Roberto
Palais, Executive Secretary, National Institute of Tourism Promotion in Argentina ( INPROTUR), almost 80 per cent of the bookings for Argentina from India are done through travel agents. “As Argentina is a new destination for the India outbound market, the consumer here seeks consultation and airfare booking support along with information about new itineraries from the travel trade fraternity. Thus, we are looking at working closely with the trade in India to capture a share of the ballooning numbers of business and leisure travellers from India,” he says.
Talking about the growth in outbound segment from India, he elaborates, “We have witnessed a tremendous increase in Indian arrivals to Argentina, from 3,500 in 2011 to 5,000 in 2012. Even in 2013, despite the depreciating rupee, around 5000 outbound visitors came to Argentina. We are primarily targetting the leisure travellers, honeymooners and adventure seekers as Argentina is a niche destination. However, last year, we received impressive MICE visitors from India, including a 150-member MICE group into Buenos Aires. ICCA has ranked us as No. 18 in the world for MICE. According to the ICCA, Argentina is the most visited country in South America. We hope to tap more MICE visitors from India as well.”
Argentina is also the gateway to Antarctica and this has opened a whole new cruise tourism opportunity for Argentina and generated interest in the Indian market. “We want to promote the nature, culture, vineyards, nightlife, handicraft and festivals of Argentina to the Indian market,” he adds.
Regarding the positioning of Argentina in India,
Medha Sampat, Founder, Knack Marketing, opines, “We would like Indians to explore Argentina as a mono destination. The average length of stay of an Indian traveller is five days as Argentina is usually combined with other South American destinations. Thus, our destination training sessions are aimed at educating and enabling agents to create itineraries and advise travellers who are looking at experiencing Argentina as an all- in- one tourist destination.”