India to woo high-spending foreign tourists

Tuesday, 14 January 2003, 20:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: India is to launch a mega campaign in the electronic media to woo high-spending foreign leisure travellers. To be launched next week, the 'Incredible India' promotional film produced by the travel and tourism industry's Experience India Society will be telecast on major global channels till March 15 to highlight the varied hues, cultural experience and a range of holiday experiences a visitor can choose from, Tourism Minister Jagmohan said here Monday. "The $2 million promotional campaign will target high-spending tourists from Australia, Europe and Southeast Asian markets," Jagmohan told reporters. "With efforts in progress to improve the infrastructure at places of tourist interest to serve as a backup, we hope to improve the tourist inflow to India," he said. During 2002, India received only 2.35 million foreign visitors, a 7.2 percent drop, but "the last three months to the year witnessed a considerable revival with a 16 percent growth over the same period in the previous year," said the minister. Post 9/11, the tourism industry received a big jolt with travel advisories being issued against visits to India in the wake of border tensions with Pakistan. "The last few advisories have, however, failed to evoke any response as people are now coming to view India as a safe destination," said Jagmohan. In addition to the promotional campaign, India has been mounting exhibitions in key markets to promote cultural tourism. An exhibition of ancient sculptures titled 'Art of Mathura' has been drawing tremendous response in Hiroshima, Nagoya and Nara in Japan. Another bronze sculpture exhibition, 'Soul of India', is presently on in Beijing. "Both these exhibitions have raised a lot of curiosity and interest in India," said Jagmohan. With three flights a week having being started between China and India to Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, more Chinese leisure and business visitors are expected to arrive in the months ahead, tourism ministry officials said.
Source: IANS
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