Guiding Indians to choose favourite holidays

CHENNAI: Times have changed and so has the way Indians spend their holidays. Earlier, travel plans were made well in advance to fit into the school summer vacation. But now, families choose to take more number of vacations, each of a shorter duration. This allows them to see more places, and they are not averse to going abroad when a long weekend is available, says Rohit Hangal, Director of Sphere Travelmedia and Exhibitions.At a press meet along the sidelines of the 11th edition of India International Travel Mart, Rohit said that there is still a long way to go for Indian tourism, as its potential is not being tapped. “Tourism is the world’s largest industry. In terms of foreign exchange earnings, India ranks fourth, contributing around $8 billion annually, even though we attract only 0.25 per cent of tourists worldwide. But the industry is not high on the list of the Planning Commission. So much more can be done,” he said.The number of outbound tourists from India stands at 16 million, whereas only 6 million are inbound. Rohit said, “Indians do not stay in anything less than four star accommodations. Even in an expensive place like Switzerland, Indian tourists are among the top five per day spenders. The same applies to those residing in the UK. Shopping is a major part of vacationing, and Indians contribute to their economy.”More than 15 states have organised stalls at the three day exhibition held at the Chennai Trade Centre. Eight to 10 countries, including Poland and Oman, who have come for the first time, have holiday packages on offer. With natives of each country and region manning the stalls, visitors can get a first hand account of the places they want to visit.Thailand and Dubai are the partner countries for this year’s event, which has been touted as being the biggest ever edition of IITM in terms of participation. Switzerland is one of the featured countries. From India, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat are the partner states, and Puducherry, Karnataka and Punjab are the featured states.Travel agents, tour operators, hotels and resorts, cruises, airlines and online travel portals can help potential travellers compare and judge the child friendliness of the place and decide if they want a pilgrimage, an adventure, a family outing, a luxurious sojourn or a backpacking vacation. The entry for the exhibition is free.