TravTalk India Online Magazine
The MOT is set to organise the first Global Tourism Investors Summit (GTIS) in New Delhi from 10-12 April this year, which will see a plethora of projects being showcased by states. Arvind Singh, Secretary, Tourism, shares his views with TRAVTALK.
Nisha Verma
GTIS is aimed at promoting India as an ‘investment destination’ for tourism and provide a common platform for the central/ state governments and the investors to discuss investment possibilities in the tourism industry of India.
GTIS 2023
Sharing details for the same, Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, said, “The main aim is that we have been seeing significant investment from both domestic and foreign investors mainly in the hospitality and accommodation sector in the past. However, there was no investment in the last two years because of the pandemic. Thus, GTIS is to rekindle interests of the investors in that sector and to show them the new areas or new products where there are possibilities of investment. Thus, we have roped in the states, and we are doing roadshows in various parts of the country. States have come out in an encouraging way. They will showcase the investible projects they have in hand in different parts in the Northeast, in deep South, Lakshadweep or Andamans, in front of the investors.”
He informed that leading representatives from the domestic sector will be there and it will be a well participated event. “The states will put forth hospitality projects; amusement parks; theme parks; or any other place of tourist interests. Anything that supports tourism infrastructure, and the operation and maintenance of tourism related infrastructure will be showcased at GTIS,” he said.
Open sky policy
Speaking on the suggestion of open sky policy, Singh said that while in domestic civil aviation sector, number of flights have gone up, the corresponding increase is not seen in the number of international flights yet. “The number of flights has not yet gone back pre-COVID levels. Thus, limited capacity, coupled with other geopolitical issues like the price of oil or gas going up due to the war, is probably leading to a rise in fares. However, there is a need to increase capacity. One reason for capacity not going up, which I saw as Chairman-AAI earlier, was that there was no major acquisition of wide-bodied aircraft by Indian airlines. Air India was going through the process of disinvestment, and hence it was not doing any acquisitions. The other airlines were concentrating on domestic aviation or not interested in long-haul flights. Now, with Air India being in private hands, we are hearing of their plans to expand and increase their network through aircraft acquisition. This will ease the process and increase the supply among Indian carriers. I think the government will then take a proper stand. Apart from that, there are bilateral rights and political elements involved in this,” he updated.
Participation in trade fairs
Despite overseas tourist offices closing in March, the MOT will take part in all trade shows wherever the tourist offices are there till they are open. “They will not vanish and the officers will be here as part of National Tourism Board of India (NTBI). We had a successful participation in WTM and FITUR. We expect a strong participation at ITB Berlin also. Going ahead, we will be participating with the help of local missions and local ambassadors taking keen interest. In fact, our ambassador in Berlin wants to do many events on the sidelines of ITB Berlin in March and we are going ahead with the same,” he added.
Business leads
Speaking on how inbound operators would be able to take help of NTBI, Singh said, “As per the proposed structure of NTBI, there will be someone to head all regions in the board. There will be a trade’s pointsman in the board for every region, who will connect tour operators to relevant persons in the embassy or the market representative. The job of the person in the NTBI will be to connect Indian trade with the person stationed locally on ground. On the ground will be the mission person from the embassy and the local marketing representative agency, whom we appoint through a process of selection.”
He informed that there will also be a representative of the MEA in the NTB, apart from representatives from Ministry of Culture, MoCA and Ministry of Commerce. “Thus, there will be a synergy between the MEA and the board. Since the message has come from the PM about promotion of trade, technology and tourism, all the missions are being monitored by the MEA.”
Marketing campaigns
Singh said that they also want the marketing campaigns to start early. Before the NTBI comes into being, he informed, “We are taking case by case approvals for participation in exhibitions and shows like we did at WTM and FITUR. Now, we are going to do the same at ITB Berlin. Alongside we will do an event in Berlin.”
Transition to missions
Speaking on how the overseas offices will be handing over to the missions, Singh explained, “Our proposal initially was that while we would get the senior level tourist officers back to the country, we would be employing the local level staff within the embassies so that the transition process is smooth, but that was not agreed to. Hence when we get the staff back, they would be our main personnel from the tourism industry in the board and with their experience globally, they will be helping the trade and doing the handholding in connection with the missions of the local persons who will be there on board. They can travel from India whenever they have to do some physical work, but the station will be at the national headquarters.”
Arrival targets
Singh said that they are expecting to go back to pre-COVID numbers for inbound by next year and domestic by this calendar year itself. “The G20 would give it a push and we have projections. We expect 100 million tourists by 2047. There is a trajectory we are working on,” he added.
Cruise Tourism
Singh said cruise operators were optimistic. “According to them, the cruise market in India will explode. Thus, we have invested a lot and given money to the ports to invest in cruise terminals.
