The Ministry of Tourism, Governemnt of India in a significant milestone, has been elected to the prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Board, underscoring its pivotal role in driving tourism growth across Asia Pacific markets for the term 2024-26. This development positions the Ministry among the select National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) spearheading the advancement of tourism in the region. Furthermore, the PATA India Chapter will represent 28 global PATA Chapters on the PATA Board during the same tenure.
With the Ministry of Tourism and PATA India Chapter assuming pivotal roles on the PATA Board, India is poised to play a leading role in shaping the future of tourism in the Asia Pacific region.
The announcement coincided with the successful conclusion of the 3rd edition of the PATA India Tourism PowerHouse, held on February 21, 2024, at The Claridges Hotel, New Delhi. Attended by over 100 industry leaders, the event garnered significant interest and engagement. Themed ‘Trailblazing the Future of India Tourism’, the PowerHouse provided a platform for insightful discussions and strategic insights into the trajectory of India’s tourism landscape.
Director General of Tourism, Manisha Saxena, articulated India’s burgeoning tourism potential, highlighting opportunities and challenges on the horizon. Addressing concerns about reduced budgets for overseas tourism promotion, Saxena reassured stakeholders of the Ministry’s commitment, emphasising the allocation of a collective budget for both domestic and international markets to drive promotion and marketing initiatives effectively.
Noor Hamid, CEO, PATA, offered a global perspective on tourism development, forecasting a significant growth trajectory for the Indian market over the next five years. While acknowledging India’s remarkable strides on the domestic tourism front, Hamid emphasised the country’s robust aircraft acquisition spree, with nearly three new aircraft expected to be delivered per week over the next two years.
Prof Haiyan Song, Research Head, PATA and Dean of Hospitality and Tourism at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, shared insights from the latest PATA Tourism Monitor report, highlighting South Asia, including India, as a burgeoning powerhouse of tourism in the coming years. Projections indicate a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, with subsequent exponential growth anticipated in the following years.
Under both mild and severe scenarios, it is projected that by the end of 2024, South Asia will attract 25 million and 60 million visitors, respectively. On the other end, India’s attractiveness to tourists is expected to improve by 2026. Prof Haiyan Song, Research Head at PATA, and Dean of Hospitality and Tourism at Hong Kong Polytechnic University shares more insights.
