Encourage ITP charters to India
HS Duggal, Managing Director, Minar Travels, says safety of women travellers is a major challenge in promoting inbound tourism and mentions that there is an immediate need to support Indian tour companies to bring more ITP charters.
The inbound business looks encouraging for the coming season. The picture in India in general terms is good. With economic improvements in source countries, the number of arrivals will improve. The Indian tourism industry has good enough reason to cheer as the new government hopefully will work to tap the untapped potential of tourism. In fact the Prime Minister designate has highlighted the need to focus on brand India. And with the easing of visa regime and more international flights to more Indian cities, India is bound to get more numbers.
What are the challenges in promoting inbound tourism?
The biggest challenge is the image of India, which has been dented to some extent due to lack of safety for women travellers. Also, the Incredible India campaign needs to be revived as it has been a long time since such kind of promotion has been done.
What is your strategy to promote inbound?
Our strategy is to offer new destinations. We will concentrate on offering themes like Archaeology and Heritage, Spiritual Tourism, Desert Tourism, and more of trekking which will help boost our summer season which otherwise is slack. The Gulf region and the Middle East outbound market is becoming a key source market for inbound tourism in India. We are also targeting a number of special interest tours and packages covering various aspects of India which specially cater to the NRI segment.
What are some of the measures to better inbound business in India?
Visa-friendly regime, friendly ITP Tourist charter guidelines are some of the measures to bring more inbound business. Inbound tourism operators should be put on par with export services sector for all the benefits. ITP tourist charters are operated in places where there is no direct air connectivity but of late the ITP Tourist Charter guidelines have become a stumbling block and the very purpose of these tourist charter flights is getting defeated. Hence there is immediate need to support Indian tour companies to bring more ITP charters instead of discouraging them to bring Tourist Charters to India.
Is Minar Travels planning any new marketing initiatives?
Marketing initiative is an ongoing process in Minar and we keep adding and redefining initiatives as per the need and nature of the market.