Post pandemic, India, like all other countries is in overdrive to get its economy back to normalcy as much as possible. Tourism for India has been a major earner. The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated ₹16.91 lakh crore (US$220 billion) or 9.2% of India’s GDP in 2018 and supported 42.673 million jobs, 8.1% of its total employment.
No wonder that the Indian government has recommencing its tourism marketing to the world through its official arm ‘Incredible India’. Melbourne saw the official initiation of India’s campaign ‘Tourism Promotion 2022’, hosted by the Consulate of India at its Melbourne office which saw representatives from various stakeholders attending the afternoon session on March 17.
Mr. Raj Kumar, Consul General of India, Melbourne extended a warm welcome to the guest followed by various speakers representing – the AICC (Australia Indian Chamber of Commerce), Government of India Tourist Office (GOITO) Singapore, Indian Association of Tour Operators, Ayush Information Cell Australia, Invest India and the Australia India Travel and Tourism Council.
The entire afternoon was MCed by Mr Girish Singh Kavia, Consul(Commerce) CGI, Melbourne who also delivered the Vote of thanks.
Also read: With three Maitree (friendship) programs signed, Australia India closer than ever
The good news for those travelling to India – with more flights (from March 27) included the reintroduction of E-visas.
E-Visa offers a convenience par excellence especially these days when travelling for something which can be done at the desktop seems not only cumbersome but completely meaningless.
Medical tourism is big chunk of tourism in India estimated to be more than US$ 3 billion in 2015. It was expected to cross US$10 billion by 2022 but the COVID pandemic dented it completely.
The government is now turning on the machinery to get those foreigners back on planes to India.
Before the COVID pandemic started in early 2020, over 17.9 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2019. The Indian government is targeting to not only reach that quickly but to further grow its tourism sector exponentially.
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