Australia unveils new tourism strategy for India

Australia, the world's sixth-largest country, has unveiled a new tourism strategy for India, aimed towards tapping into the future tourism potential of the world's second most-populous nation representing around 17 per cent of the global population.  

The 'India 2020 strategic plan' unveiled by the country's minister for tourism Martin Ferguson at the Australia Tourism Exchange in Perth yesterday identified the main opportunities and sets out the approach required to build Australia's appeal, targeting a bigger market share of the 50 million Indians expected to travel overseas in the next decade.

"India is a market of strong future potential for Australian tourism given this nation's rapid rise through this Asian Century,'' Andrew McEvoy, managing director, Tourism Australia said.

McEvoy acknowledged that India is ''unique and complex market,'' that is becoming increasingly competitive requiring a strategic approach to build a platform for any substantive future success by the Australian tourism industry.

"Long haul holiday travel taken by Indians out of their country remains at relative small levels, but is developing fast as global travel is now appearing on many Indians' life resume," McEvoy said.

"By investing now Australia can strengthen its position to be better placed for the future when long-haul travel, in particular, leisure, becomes more common."