INDIA’S OUTBOUND TOURISM HOLDS “GREAT BUSINESS POTENTIAL” FOR MALAYSIA

By Manik Mehta

NEW DELHI, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- With India’s cash-rich middle-class embarking on
tours of long-haul destinations, more and more tourism promotion agencies of a
number of countries are intensifying their promotional activities in India.

Indeed, the latest figures clearly show that India’s outbound tourism traffic
has not only increased considerably but has even overtaken the inbound tourism
traffic to India.

This development holds out the promise of “great business potential” for
Malaysia as a destination. This is also what experts have been telling visiting
Malaysian tourism experts and exhibitors at Berlin’s annual event, the
International Tourism Bourse, the world’s largest tourism fair.

India has been spending huge resources in attracting tourism traffic from a
number of countries but, in strictly ratio terms based on the resources
allocated relative to the results produced, the outcome is far from
satisfactory.

Thailand and Singapore are among the “hot favourites” of Indian tourists who not
only get value-for-money satisfaction but also come raving about these two
countries and spread the word by mouth, a promotional vehicle that is more
effective than the massive amounts spent on publicity.

Aside from the dismal infrastructure which continues to be a big problem in
India, there are other impediments such as the outrageously exorbitant hotel
room prices, an obstructive mindset of government officials and the
proliferating “bakshish culture” which annoys many tourists who wonder why they
have to pay when the services were promised as part of the deal.

Soaring prices, inadequate or primitive public transport within cities with taxi
drivers not missing any opportunity to fleece unsuspecting tourists and fears of
terrorist attacks were the other reasons.

Not surprisingly, India’s outbound traffic has surged ahead and clearly
overtaken inbound traffic. India is, in fact, one of the top five markets for
many destinations sourcing foreign tourists.

According to tourism figures released by NGOs at the Berlin fair, about 11.58
million Indian tourists went abroad in 2009, a year which spelt economic
setbacks for many Western countries which eyed India with envy.

India’s outbound tourists witnessed a 20 per cent growth over the past year.

One Asian tourism promotion agency representative said his country’s tourism
industry had become so dependent on Indian tourism that without it, it would
face enormous difficulties, particularly in the recession period.

India, which recently cleared a new airport project outside of Mumbai, is also
bracing to meet the rise in outbound traffic.

The number of international flights to and from India has grown three-fold,
touching the threshold of 2,300 flights a week, up from some 800 in the 2004/05
fiscal year.

Because of the proximity to Southeast Asia, many of the region’s low-cost
carriers operate to India which is Asia’s only destination having eight low-cost
carriers.

Malaysia's low-fare airline, AirAsia, is already operating to India, which Tony
Fernandes, AirAsia’s CEO, told Bernama is “the market” to be in.

Thanks to its low fares, AirAsia seems to be riding high in India. Over 70
foreign airlines currently operate to India.

Raimund Hosch, the chief executive of Messe Berlin, the agency that
organises the ITB fairs in Berlin and Singapore, was very upbeat about the outbound
Indian tourism in a recent interview.

Hosch pointed out that there was considerable interest on the part of a number
of countries to tap the huge market, an interest reflected in the forthcoming
SATTE tourism fair in New Delhi from Jan 27 to 29, 2011.

Besides Asean countries, which are already represented in India, a number of
East European nations which have joined the fray and want a slice of India’s
tourism pie; will be present at the SATTE fair.

There are also the established participants such as Visit London, Indonesian
Tourism, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors’ Authority, Choice Hotels USA and
Caribbean, Sun International Hotels, Thistle Hotel and Gunman Hotels.

Malaysia is also one of the exhibiting countries; there are many from other
Asean countries which will be present at the SATTE.

Indeed, there will be hotels from Italy, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle
East showcasing their facilities at SATTE.

“I believe Malaysia has good potential to attract Indian tourists who are always
interested in places such as Genting and Langkawi. Langkawi, as a duty-free
island, is particularly interesting for newly weds and other Indians who love
shopping.

In fact, even southern city of Johor Baharu may be of interest to many Indians
because of its proximity to Singapore which Indians like to visit for shopping,”
said Eric R. Sinnaya, managing director of Morahols Travels Sdn Bhd, Langkawi,
at the recent ITB Asia in Singapore.
-- BERNAMA




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