INDIA: The Indian government is looking to Southeast Asia to boost its tourism sector and is giving incentives to visitors from ASEAN countries.
With long-haul destinations like the UK and US impacted by the global meltdown, India is turning its attention to destinations closer to home, like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
The government is planning to give long-term, multiple entry visas to visitors from ASEAN countries.
India has been actively organising promotional and marketing events in the ASEAN countries to showcase its tourism sector.
There is an immense potential for tourism generation from the ASEAN region due to geographical proximity and good connectivity with most of the member countries.
Among the special packages for ASEAN tourists is “Walk with the Buddha”, that includes travelling to various Buddhist sites.
Ambika Soni, Minister for Tourism, Government of India, said: "This is a potential market both for outbound Indians to Southeast Asia, the ASEAN countries and for receiving tourists to India. We are putting in place infrastructure and budget accommodation because that's what everybody is really looking for."
After the Mumbai terror attacks in November last year, security is another factor that is deterring tourists from visiting India.
As a response, the country has been organising high profile visits. Argentinean football legend Diego Maradona visited India ten days after the Mumbai attacks. The annual Volvo ocean race also kept its date with India despite a security alert.
"Lots of proactive steps have been taken such as concentrating on domestic tourism, which is a very large component of travel trade here in India. And in addition, announcing April 2009-2010 as the Visit India year. So the industry and the ministry have got together where everybody coming to India would get a little value-added to their visit," added Ms Soni.
India's annual tourism growth has been 12 to 14 per cent, much higher than the world average of six per cent. But after the global financial crunch and the terrorist strikes, it has come down to seven per cent.
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