During the 2nd day of the event, the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India conducted a press conference with the International Media and Influencers. The press conference was headed by Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India in the august presence of Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand Mr. Satpal Maharaj. The Press Conference was also attended by Mr. K.Kalimuthu, Consul,(Economic, Trade, and Commerce), Mr. Prashant Ranjan, Director Tourism, Ministry of Tourism ,Govt of India, Bollywood Celebrity Rakul Preet Singh, and International Singer Shweta Subram.
During the press conference, various verticals of tourism potential in India were discussed. Ms. Rupinder Brar stated that the Ministry has been aggressively promoting different tourism products and destinations. The major focus has been given to the potential of MICE, Film Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Medical Tourism, Luxury Tourism, Wildlife Tourism and Adventure Tourism. She stated that the Middle East has been the major target market for the Indian tourism. Large number of tourists from the Middle East visit India for MICE, medical, wellness, luxury tourism etc. Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India has been holistically promoting Indian tourism in the Middle East market. Participation in Arabian Travel Mart has been one such initiative by the Government.
During the conference, it was highlighted that India has opened up for the International visitors, for this the Ministry has already undertaken ‘Namaste India’ Campaign encouraging International visitors to travel to India. The Ministry has also been focusing on confidence-building stratégies post-pandemic.
Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand Mr Satpal Maharaj discussed the importance of tourist destinations in Uttrakhand that can be leveraged for the promotion of tourism such as adventure tourism, wedding tourism in the State of Uttarakhand. Hon’ble Minister also highlighted the initiatives undertaken by the Govt of Uttarakhand with regards to increasing the footfall of tourists in the state. He also discussed various infrastructure development projects such as Haridwar International Airport and way forward strategies being undertaken by the Govt. of Uttarakhand.
Ms. Rakul Preet Singh highlighted the importance of film tourism and the potential of India as an important destination for film-making, having all physical geographical features and landscape. She further focused on the role of North Eastern States as a potential film shooting destination.
Mr. K. Kalimuthu, Consul,(Economic, Trade, and Commerce) deliberated on the importance of the Indian diaspora for publicity and promotion of India in the overseas market. He also highlighted on the Hon’ble PM appeal of ‘Chalo India’ thereby urging Indian Diaspora to inspire at least five of their non-Indian friends every year to visit India, calling them ‘Rashtradoot’. He emphasized the role of tourism for the overall economic growth of the country.
Ms. Shweta Subram also emphasized the role of the Indian diaspora with regard to the promotion of India in the overseas market. She further highlighted that social media promotion shall be the game-changer for the promotion of tourism in India. Lots of millennial tourists use social media looking for promotional content such as travel & tourism. She also spoke about the role of social media influencers in engaging a large number of tourists/followers.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under its “Incredible India” brand line has participated at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai -2022 being held from 9th to 12th May 2022 showcasing India’s rich & diversified tourism potential and providing a platform to the tourism stakeholders to showcase the various tourism destinations and products including Niche products. Also, to promote India as a ‘Must See, Must Visit’ destination.
During the Mart, the India Pavilion will be showcasing India as a “365 Days Destination” a year-round multi-faceted tourist destination such as Culture, Adventure, Cruise, Golf, MICE, luxury, wildlife, wellness, and medical tourism etc. India Reopening as a theme has been amplified during the mart with the ‘Namaste Campaign’ to welcome International Travellers showcasing must-visit destinations of India.
Around 18 Participants from India representing the State Tourism Government of Kerala, Nagaland, and Tour Operators, Travel Agents, and Hoteliers/Resorts, will be present in the India Pavilion showcasing the diverse tourism products and services. Apart from this, the State Government of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka are also showcasing the tourism potential that States has to offer.
The Indian tourism outlook is certainly very promising with an upward trend in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) barring the period of the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020 when the international travel was suspended in majority parts of the world. As the situation is getting slowly & steadily getting normalized and the international travel have resumed, India is seeing a positive response from most of the source markets. The Gulf and the Middle East region is one of the most important markets for India. The availability of e-Visa facility in three different segments that is tourist, business & medical segment makes it far more convenient for visitors to travel to India.
India is an experiential destination with its kaleidoscope of ancient culture and heritage, ancient systems of healing like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Naturopathy, natural beauty including 70% of the Himalayas and over 7500 km long coastline, rich flora and fauna, world class medical facilities and many other aspects make India the favored destination for the discerning traveler. The enchanting backwaters, hill stations and landscapes make India a beautiful country.
India’s rich and diverse natural, cultural, and religious heritage provides a unique opportunity for tourism, ranging from the architecture of palaces, forts, temples, to the grandeur of its sculptures, and the beauty of its paintings, the scenic landscapes all offering an unparalleled experience. The Indian Himalayas are a complete destination in themselves and span across six states of India namely Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and the hill regions of West Bengal.
Theme based schemes for the integrated development of circuits for improvement of infrastructure in the country have been launched by the Ministry of Tourism to enable tourists experience the destination fully. The Ministry of Tourism has also taken the initiative of identifying, diversifying, developing and promoting nascent / upcoming niche tourism products. These have resulted in the development of unique products like Rural, Adventure, Eco, Wellness, Golf, MICE, Medical and Cruise Tourism.
One of the regions in focus is the North Eastern region of India which comprises the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Promotion of tourism of the North Eastern States of India with its rich and diverse tourism products, variety of flora and fauna, and also home to the unique Asian one horned Rhino, is being given special emphasis. This area is also becoming popular with tourists for River Cruises. In order to showcase the tourism potential of the region in domestic and key international markets, Ministry of Tourism in association with the North-Eastern States organizes the International Tourism Mart (ITM) annually in one of the North Eastern States.
India has emerged as a Destination for Medical / Wellness Travel in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The percentage of Foreign Tourist Arrivals visiting India for Medical Treatment has been increasing over the years and growing rapidly. India is poised to become a hub for medical tourism because of several factors viz. world class hospitals with latest technology; highly skilled Indian physicians and surgeons; cost effective treatment; excellent quality of care and nursing; less waiting time for availing of medical services; traditional healthcare therapies like Ayurveda & Yoga combined with allopathic treatment providing a holistic wellness destination.
Safety and Security of the tourists being one of the prime concerns, the Ministry of Tourism has a 24×7 Toll-Free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline in total 12 languages besides in Hindi & English, 10 international languages namely, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. This helpline is available on the existing Toll Free Number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 for dialing in India and offers assistance to callers during times of distress while travelling in India and if need be alert the concerned authorities.
The Ministry of Tourism’s Official Website (www.incredibleindia.org) showcases India as a holistic destination, revolving around major experiences, such as, spirituality, heritage, adventure, culture, yoga, wellness and more. This website is also available in Hindi and leading international languages.
Visit the India Tourism stand at ATM Dubai 2022 in Hall No. 3 (Sheikh Saeed Hall), Stand AS2430, or India Tourism Dubai at goirto@emirates.net.ae