Pune : The land of Kangaroos, Australia, leads list of most preferred holiday destination by Indians. In the latest report released by Tourism Australia,the arrival figures for the year ended June 2017 have reflected over 2 lakh 77,100 tourists visiting Australia from India. This significant growth of 15 percent, relative to the same period last year,making India the 9th largest inbound market for tourist arrivals. This increase also marks a double digit growth for the fourth consecutive year.

 

As per the report, the state of Maharashtra ranks as the leading source market for Australia. For the year ended June 2017, over 59 thousand tourists from Maharashtra visited Australia, spending AUD 310 million (approx. Rs.1,550crores) on their Australian holiday.Maharashtra contributed to a growth of 18 per cent and 41 per cent in arrivals and spend respectively, for the year ended June 2017.

 

Commenting on the tourism statistics, Mr. Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India & Gulf, Tourism Australia, said, ‘Over the years, we have undertaken several focused campaigns as part of our consumer outreach efforts. Our collaboration with Zee Marathi’s popular show, Chala HawaYeu Dya, over the past two years, has definitely helped us to not only build awareness, but also drive visitation from our number one state. We also work closely with our key Aussie Specialist Agents and airline partners to offer a compelling reason for potential travelers to choose Australia as their next holiday destination. Visitors from Maharashtra are looking forward to experiences, including aquatic & coastal (beaches), self-drive, nature, wildlife and adventure on their Australian sojourn. With a growing penchant for travel, we expect growth from our top metro cities to continue over the years to follow’.

 

Tourism Australia has come a long way as it recently celebrated its 50th year of existence. The destination has witnessed a continuous growth in tourist arrivals from India in the recent years. To enhance the tourism experiences of Indian travelers in Australia and to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the tourism board has collaborated with several key distribution partners in India, offering tactical packages with significant value-additions. Recognizing the potential of the Indian market, the Tourism Board recently appointed Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra, as a 'Friend of Australia', making her the first Indian woman celebrity to receive this honor and be associated with the destination.