India Tourism Road Shows in Saudi Arabia
India Tourism Road Shows in
Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Tourism with the objective to tap the high end tourists
from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) organised Tourism Road Shows in
the cities of Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah. The shows were held from 7th to
11th of this month.
A strong Indian delegation comprising officials from the Tourism
Departments of Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra, members of the
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Air India, Jet Airways, Taj
Group of Hotels, Medical and Wellness facilities etc., from India were
present to showcase the multitude of tourist attractions of India to the
Saudi Arabian Traveler. The Indian delegation was led by Shri RH
Khwaja, Union Tourism Secretary.
The State delegation of Jammu & Kashmir was led by the Minister of
Tourism & Culture Shri Nawang Rigzin Zora and the Minister of State
for Tourism Shri Nasir Aslam Wani. The Ambassador of India, Shri Hamid
Ali Rao, was also present during the event in Riyadh.
The Road Show held in the city of Dammam on 7th January 2012 witnessed
the presence of over 154 participants representing the members of the
Travel Trade, Media and opinion makers of this sector. During the event
held in Riyadh on the 9th January, as many as 172 members of the travel
industry and media participated and got a glimpse of Indian tourism
products and its rich cuisine. The final leg of the Road Show was held
in Jeddah on the 11th January 2012.
According to travel statistics, 4.5 million Saudis representing nearly a
quarter of the population, travelled abroad and spent about US $33
billion last year. India is fast emerging as a preferred destination for
the Saudi tourists.
Foreign tourist arrivals into India have witnessed a steady increase
over the years, touching 6.29 million in 2011, an increase of 8.9% over
2009. During the year 2010 there has been an increase of nearly 38% in
the inbound tourism from KSA to India with around twenty two thousand
tourists. The Visa issuance figures of the Indian Mission indicate a
similar high growth in the year 2011.
One of the highlights of the Road Show was the focus on the ‘Medical
& Wellness’ Tourism potential of India. India’s vast potential as a
Health and Wellness tourism destination, backed by its medical
facilities and world-class doctors, para-medical staff and hospitals,
ancient healing systems such as ‘Ayurveda’ and other rejuvenating
programs were show-cased.
The cost of medical services in India is almost 30% lower to that in
Western countries and the most cost effective in the region. Indian
hospitals excel in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, joint
replacements, transplants, cosmetic treatments, dental care, orthopedic
surgery and much more. All medical treatments and investigations are
done using the latest, technologically advanced diagnostic equipment.
Moreover, India is just about four hours away making it easier for
patients to visit even for follow-up – offering unmatched proximity and
value-for-money.
The Road Show also highlighted destinations which are becoming popular
for holiday and the business traveler like the Luxury Trains viz. Palace
on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, The Deccan Odyssey and the Golden
Chariot etc. in addition to the Palace Hotels, Luxury Spas etc. The
other niche tourism products being publicized were adventure, eco and
wildlife tourism.
The presentations were followed by interactive sessions with the members
of the Indian Tourism Industry which provided an opportunity of
building awareness about the Incredible India tourism product. This will
contribute significantly in sustaining the growth of high spending
tourists from KSA
No comments:
Post a Comment