Other Topics : Art Culture - Fashion - Tourism

Latest & Hot Tourism News : * hourly updation

Jet setting Indians travelling to Asia, Pacific
DPA

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 28 (DPA) A travel association Wednesday hailed the rising growth in Indian tourists in all countries in Asia and the Pacific

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) forecast a growth of up to 15 percent in Indian tourist arrivals at some major Asia-Pacific countries in the next few years, namely Cambodia, Hong Kong and Australia.

"India is considered to hold significant potential as an outbound tourism market because of its expanding middle class and its population size, which is comparable to China's," said director of PATA's Strategic Intelligence Centre (SIC), John Koldowski.

"India is a highly complex market, due to its large size and myriad target segments," Koldowski told delegates at a regional travel fair held in this Malaysian capital.

The five most popular destinations for Indian travellers in 2004 were Singapore, the US, Thailand, China and Hong Kong, he said. 

Koldowski said the findings were encouraging for travel companies focusing their efforts in attracting Indian tourists.

Delegates were also informed on travel patterns of Indian nationals in general, such as Indian consumers being generally price sensitive and making travel decisions together with family members.

The average length of stay of an Indian traveller on vacation was 12 to 15 days, and most Indian trips were found to be family-oriented holidays with plenty of shopping, nightlife and amusement parks for kids.

Asia's tourism industry has been badly affected by the bird flu virus outbreak, as well as last year's Dec 26 tsunami that ravaged the region.

Indo-Asian News Service