The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under its“Incredible India” brand line is participating in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai -2022 being held from 9th to 12th May 2022 showcasing India’s rich & diversified tourism potential and providing a platform to the tourism stakeholders to showcase the various tourism destinations and products including Niche products. Also, it is aimed to promote India as a ‘Must See, Must Visit’ destination.
During the Mart, the India Pavilion is showcasing India as a “365 Days Destination” a year-round multi-faceted tourist destination such as Culture, Adventure, Cruise, Golf, MICE, luxury, wildlife, wellness, medical tourism, etc. India Reopening as a theme has been amplified during the mart with the ‘Namaste Campaign’ to welcome International Travellers showcasing must-visit destinations of India.
The India Pavilion was inaugurated in the august presence of Mr. Satpal Maharaj, Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand, Ms. RupinderBrar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Dr. Aman Puri H.E. Consul General of India to Dubai, Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary, Tourism & MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and Mr. Kitto Zhimomi, Commissioner &Secretary, Government of Nagaland.
Around 18 Participants from India representing the State Tourism Government of Kerala, Nagaland, and Tour Operators, Travel Agents, and Hoteliers/Resorts, will be present in the India Pavilion showcasing the diverse tourism products and services. Apart from this, the State governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka are also showcasing the tourism potential that States have to offer.
The Indian tourism outlook is certainly very promising with an upward trend in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) barring the period of the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020 when international travel was suspended in the majority of parts of the world. As the situation is getting slowly & steadily normalized and international travel has resumed, India is seeing a positive response from most of the source markets. The Gulf and the Middle East region is one of the most important markets for India. The availability of e-Visa facilities in three different segments that is tourist, business & medical segment makes it far more convenient for visitors to travel to India. Also, the Ministry of Tourism has been undertaking focused campaigns to target the Indian Diaspora in line with the appeal of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of ‘ChaloIndia’ thereby urging the Indian Diaspora to inspire at least five of their non-Indian friends every year to visit India, calling them ‘Rashtradoot’.
India is an experiential destination with its kaleidoscope of ancient culture and heritage, ancient systems of healing like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Naturopathy, natural beauty including 70% of the Himalayas and over 7500 km long coastline, rich flora and fauna, world-class medical facilities and many other aspects make India the favored destination for the discerning traveler. The enchanting backwaters, hill stations, and landscapes make India a beautiful country.
India’s rich and diverse natural, cultural, and religious heritage provides a unique opportunity for tourism, ranging from the architecture of palaces, forts, and temples, to the grandeur of its sculptures, the beauty of its paintings, and scenic landscapes all offering an unparalleled experience. The Indian Himalayas is a complete destination in themselves and spans across six states of India namely Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and the hill regions of West Bengal.
Theme-based schemes for the integrated development of circuits for the improvement of infrastructure in the country have been launched by the Ministry of Tourism to enable tourists to experience the destination fully. The Ministry of Tourism has also taken the initiative of identifying, diversifying, developing, and promoting nascent/upcoming niche tourism products. These have resulted in the development of unique products like Rural, Adventure, Eco, Wellness, Golf, MICE, Medical, and Cruise Tourism.
One of the regions in focus is the North-Eastern region of India which comprises the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Promotion of tourism of the North Eastern States of India with its rich and diverse tourism products, variety of flora and fauna, and also home to the unique Asian one-horned Rhino, is being given special emphasis. This area is also becoming popular with tourists for River Cruises. In order to showcase the tourism potential of the region in domestic and key international markets, the Ministry of Tourism in association with the North-Eastern States organizes the International Tourism Mart (ITM) annually in one of the North-Eastern States.
India has emerged as a Destination for Medical / Wellness Travel in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The percentage of Foreign Tourist Arrivals visiting India for Medical Treatment has been increasing over the years and growing rapidly. India is poised to become a hub for medical tourism because of several factors viz. world-class hospitals with the latest technology; highly skilled Indian physicians and surgeons; cost-effective treatment; excellent quality of care and nursing; less waiting time for availing of medical services; traditional healthcare therapies like Ayurveda & Yoga combined with allopathic treatment providing a holistic wellness destination.
Safety and Security of the tourists being one of the prime concerns, the Ministry of Tourism has a 24×7 Toll-Free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline in a total of 12 languages besides Hindi & English, 10 international languages namely, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. This helpline is available on the existing Toll-Free Number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 for dialing in India and offers assistance to callers during times of distress while traveling in India and if need be alert the concerned authorities.
The Ministry of Tourism’s Official Website (www.incredibleindia.org) showcases India as a holistic destination, revolving around major experiences, such as spirituality, heritage, adventure, culture, yoga, wellness, and more. This website is also available in Hindi and leading international languages.