Chennai: The high value travelling and also the increasing propensity to travel are making many Indians prefer Australia for business, tourism and studies besides family trips. Chennai has emerged as the fourth largest source market for Australia and visitors from this metro has contributed to about Rs 500 crore to Australian economy through tourism.
This contributes to about 100 million Australian dollars. “We have seen an increase of 21 per cent in the spends by the visitors from Chennai while Indians on the whole spent about 1.14 billion Australian dollars during their trips last year,” says Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia.
India, he claims, is among the top 10 markets in the world for Australia and Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai are the fastest growing markets for Australia.
India’s contribution to Australian economy through tourism went up by almost 19 per cent and touched 1.14 billion Australian dollars. Indian visitors have spent around Rs 5,500 crore to the Australian economy over the last 12 months.
“Australia has emerged as an ideal and cheaper destination compared to Europe. We desire to see India emerge as among the top five positions,” says Michael Newcombe general manager, South- South East Asia & Gulf countries, Tourism Australia.
Mr Michael who was in the city told this correspondent that Australia sees a huge potential in India as a source market and this needs to be unlocked. About 3,00,800 Australians visited India last year.
Though the bilateral trade agreement between India Australia has caused a surge of tourism activity, Australia wanted the aviation industry to participate in a robust manner. “We want more direct flights between Australia and India… we now have an open immigration policy.. 85 agencies in Australia can process visa applications electronically and we have also introduced three-year multiple entry visa,” says Mr Michael. “India has fascinating places. I like Mumbai. Indians are humble and proud of their heritage,” Mr Michael whose wife is a yoga enthusiast, says about India.
