In recent years, Australia has become one of the most favorite holiday destinations for Indians. According to Business Insider, more than 300,000 tourists from India arrived in Australia in 2017.
As Indian tourists flock to Australia in record numbers, various state governments of the country are working hard to attract a high number of tourists by offering various travel plans and packages.
With a view to boost the tourism sector in the state, the New South Wales government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India's online travel agency MakeMyTrip.
A tourist stands on a path leading toward the Sydney Opera House and a construction barricade in Sydney, Australia. Source: AAP Image/ AP Photo/Paul Miller
Under the deal with MakeMyTrip, the New South Wales government will hope to develop tourism across the state including regional NSW.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Adam Marshall, said, "India is New South Wales' fastest growing inbound tourism market. Since 2013, the number of Indian visitors to New South Wales has more than doubled and the market is now worth around $350 million in visitor expenditure to the state annually."
As per Business Insider, Indian tourists' annual visits alone have grown by 15.3 per cent, more than the 13.3 per cent growth recorded for tourists from China in a year.
Tourists visiting Sydney's world famous icons, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House Source: AAP Image/Dean Lewins
Promotion of regional NSW
The MoU with MakeMyTrip will focus on promoting travel to Sydney and regional NSW. Adam Marshall said, "The government wants to drive tourism to regional parts of the state, including Coffs Harbour, the Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley, Kiama and Port Stephens."
It is hoped that the deal with MakeMyTrip will boost business opportunities for local hotels, shops and restaurants and may help to achieve the regional tourism target of $20 billion in annual visitor expenditure in 2025.
Tourists take pictures of the harbour from the Opera House at Circular Quay in Sydney. Source: AAP Image/Angela Brkic
Training programs for travel agents
MakeMyTrip Chief Operating Officer Rajesh Magow said, "The MoU with the New South Wales government will focus on driving tourism to the state from across India, including from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. The travel agents will be given training and marketing campaigns that promote travel to New South Wales."
