Skift Take
Driven by increasing purchasing power, Indians are travelling in droves to the US. Major sporting events held in the US will further boost tourism as Indian sports fans are willing to travel long distances for events.
Bulbul Dhawan
According to data released by the National Travel and Tourism Organization (NTTO), during January-May 2024, India was the second-largest international sending market for tourists to the United States, excluding Canada and Mexico.
Over 263,000 Indian tourists visited the US in May, up 32% from May 2023. Over 882,000 Indians visited the US between January and May, up 37%. The UK was the largest market for the US.
Taking into account arrivals from Canada and Mexico, India was the fourth-largest international sending market in the first five months of this year, according to an NTTO statement.
Preferred long-haul destinations: The US is one of the preferred long-haul destinations for Indian travellers. According to online travel agency MakeMyTrip's first trends report released in April, New York was one of the most searched cities for long-haul travel destinations by Indians, along with London and Toronto.
In 2023, 1.7 million Indian tourists are expected to visit the US, and NTTO expects this number to grow to 2 million by 2027.
“With new flights planned for the second half of the year, travel to the US will become even easier for Indian travellers,” Brand USA said.
Brand USA said in a statement that the US is currently co-hosting the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and has seen significant interest from Indian sports fans. It also expects upcoming events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 to drive more sports tourists from India. An earlier Skift report noted that the online travel agency is witnessing a surge in sports tourism in India, with demand for sporting events increasing by more than 20%.
Visa issues: The U.S. Embassy in India announced earlier this year that visa processing times across India had been reduced from 1,000 days to about 250 days. However, appointment wait times vary at each consulate in India, and in some locations they can still take more than a year.
To attract tourists, the US said it is actively working to reduce visa processing times and increase travel opportunities and perks for Indian travellers. The North American country issued a record 1.4 million visas to Indians last year, of which over 50% were tourist/business visitor visas.
Speaking at the Skift India Summit, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said US President Joe Biden had specifically asked him to reduce the backlog of Indian visa applications. He added that five million Indians already hold US visas, which are usually valid for 10 years.
Radisson signs 10 new hotels in India
Radisson Hotel Group has signed 10 new hotels in India in a span of four days. These deals will also see the hotel chain enter five new markets in the country.
The deals also include three renovations under the Radisson Individuals brand. The company has also signed India's first cricket stadium hotel, the Radisson Blu Hotel in Rajasthan, Radisson said. Separately, two Radisson-branded hotels have been signed in Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
India is an important growth market for the hotel chain, executive vice president Ellie Younes said in a statement.
“India has experienced significant economic growth over the past few decades, leading to rising disposable incomes and a growing desire for luxury lifestyle experiences. We recognise the immense potential of this thriving market,” Younes had previously told Skift in an interview.
The group recently debuted its luxury brand, Radisson Collection, in India and plans to roll out 15 Radisson Collection hotels in the country over the next five to seven years.
Adani to invest $21 billion in airports over 10 years
Adani Enterprises plans to invest about 1.75 trillion Indian rupees ($21 billion) in airports over the next decade, which will be managed by Adani Airports Holdings, the conglomerate's airports unit that runs seven airports across India.
This is a significant increase from the group's previous plan to invest 600 billion Indian rupees ($7.25 billion) over the next five to 10 years.
The Adani Group is currently working on developing urban areas at airports in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati as it looks to increase revenue from non-aeronautical segments.
India allows visa-free entry for Thai tourists: Report
India has decided to reciprocate Thailand's visa-free policy for Indian tourists. As per reports, starting July 1, Thai tourists will be able to enter India visa-free for six months. This move may eventually be made permanent.
Last month, Thailand extended its visa-free entry policy for Indian tourists until November 11. This extension allows Indian tourists to travel visa-free for an additional six months beyond May 10, 2024, the last day of the original policy.
Currently, Maldivian passport holders can enter India visa-free. Additionally, nationals of Nepal and Bhutan do not require a visa to visit India, except if they are entering from China.
Meghalaya Tourism Board partners with BookingJini
Meghalayan Age Limited, the tourism promotion and development agency of the Meghalaya state government, has partnered with hospitality SaaS platform BookingJini.
Through this partnership, Meghalayan Age Limited aims to leverage BookingJini's technology solutions to simplify the booking process in the hospitality sector in the state.
The state's tourism industry is estimated at about INR 16 billion ($191.5 million). Last year, state officials said Meghalaya expects tourism to grow to INR 120 billion ($1.4 billion) by 2028. The state also aims to increase annual tourist numbers to 2 million.
IHCL signs deal with Taj Hotel, Kanpur
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has signed the deal for the Taj Hotel in Kanpur, adding the 150-room hotel to its portfolio, taking the company to 13 hotels operating in Uttar Pradesh with another 13 in development.
IHCL CEO Puneet Chatwal said the city of Kanpur was recently included among India's smart cities and is witnessing advancements in infrastructure, which is helping the hospitality industry grow in the city.
The company is also looking at tier-2 and tier-3 cities to expand its portfolio and has revived its Gateway brand for that purpose. IHCL has 322 properties in its portfolio, of which 100 are under development.
Photo credit: 1.7 million Indian tourists to visit US in 2023
