TravTalk - India

India climbs up Oz chart

As the fastest growing inbound market for Australia, India is now on track to achieve the fifth consecutiv­e year of double-digit growth in arrivals as well as in spend.

- Manas Dwivedi

India has once again earned the distinctio­n of being the fastest growing inbound market for Australia. A report released by Tourism Australia revealed that the country welcomed 352,500 Indian visitors by the end of November 2018 and registered 18 per cent growth over the previous year. Holding the Indian market of utmost importance, John O’Sullivan, Managing Director, Tourism big thing in boosting tourism between India and Australia is unlocking the direct point to 700,000 or 4.5 per cent of the total diaspora living around the world lives in Australia. Indian and Australia also have a great cultural connection unlocking the potential. The way we can do that is through aviation access. The Australian the economic engagement between India and Australia by 2035. Tourism Australia is constantly working to leverage this potential,” he reveals.

Immerse in new experience­s

The country has some aggressive marketing activities to raise its appeal among the Indian high-value travellers. Sullivan the #UnDiscover Australia campaign on television and digital media that showcases has to offer. We have also partnered with ESPN cricinfo with television presenter and model, Australian states and interactin­g talents by showcasing their hometowns and Australia as a holiday destinatio­n to their Indian fans through a series of 22 destinatio­n videos. We have also leveraged the popularity of our Friend of Australia — Parineeti Chopra and Harsha Bhogle, and Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, truly nothing like Australia among their followers. Apart from that, we have launched Marketplac­e campaign that in just three weeks. The launch of Premier Aussie Specialist Program with online webinars and face-to-face training initiative­s has helped strengthen our relationsh­ip with the travel industry. We are also looking forward to the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in 2020 in Australia.”

Figures don’t lie

According to data released by Tourism Australia, Indian their Australia trip during October 2017 to September 2018, a growth of 10 per cent is our eighth largest source market in terms of the number of visitors to Australia. Similarly, India is our seventh largest by visitors. We think, by 2030, tourist source markets. If the growth rate continues to spur, we project that India could become one of our top three markets,” informs Sullivan. Tourism Australia is actively working with every Indian state and territory to enhance connectivi­ty between the two countries. Sullivan says, to our growth trajectory. It is also about offering a good price to the Indian consumer. Through our airline marketplac­e, managed online through MakeMyTrip or Australia. com, we have partnered with major airline services in Australia out of India to provide the best possible fares to our Indian consumers for better connectivi­ty to Australia with either point to point connectivi­ty connecseen through Air India or through other partners such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, etc.” Melbourne is the most favourite city among Indian travellers in Australia, Sullivan informs. Indian visitors to Victoria in travelled to Sydney and New South Wales. We are also of markets like Queensland, Tropical North Queensland, Indian visitors every year. In markets like Canberra, we have seen almost 55 per cent growth in the number of Indian visitors,” he

India is our eighth largest source market in terms of the number of visitors to Australia. Similarly, India is our seventh largest market in terms of expenditur­e by visitors

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India