India, India : everyone wants a part of it

Regarding many figures, India’s potential, as a major source of the outbound travel market, is tremendous. A buoyant economy that rises by 9% each year, an upper class estimated to 40 million people with revenues above US$ 20 000 and a rising middle class reaching 300 million Indians as well as a relatively young population 25 year old in average - of over 1 billion are some figures showing such potential. Evolving mindsets and customised offers from the industry’s major players with easier access to information, via Internet and tourism boards, have increased the Indian’s will to travel. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, no less than 50 million Indians are expected to travel abroad by the year 2020 and therefore representing a sizeable challenge to these countries ready to welcome them.Indian outbound tourism has shifted over the years. Reserved to a certain elite of the nation, new travellers, emerging from the middle class, have created new trends and niches. From country hopping on a package tour to single destination trips experienced by the DINKS population and business travellers, we will see more and more Indians throughout the world. A country, like Switzerland, “ has sold the Swiss destination through the movie industry and its link with Bollywood, many European countries, like France or Austria, have multiplied signals in the same direction. Australia, identified as an ideal destination for adventure and sports, has also developed its communication towards Indian students in search of higher education facilities. One thing is certain, every countries want to take a part of it and hope to further enter Indian majors cities, such as Mumbai or Delhi, to promote their assets.In the past, travelling outside Indian’s borders was a bit complicated both in terms of disposable income for its population and due to...