Ministry of Tourism


The Ministry of Tourism is leading India’s participation in the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, scheduled for November 5-7, 2024. This event aims to boost inbound tourism and establish India as a premier global travel destination. A delegation of nearly 50 representatives, including stakeholders from state governments, inbound tour operators, airlines, and hoteliers, will be present to highlight India’s cultural diversity and extensive tourism offerings.

The WTM, held at Excel London, serves as a significant platform for promoting travel. With a large Indian diaspora of around 1.9 million, the UK stands out as one of the largest sources of tourists for India. In 2023, India welcomed 9.5 million foreign tourists, with approximately 920,000 visitors from the UK, making it the third largest market for inbound tourism.
The initiative ‘Chalo India,’ launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to engage the Indian diaspora to promote tourism by encouraging them to invite their non-Indian friends to discover the beauty and cultural richness of India. To facilitate this, the Ministry has created a ‘Chalo India’ portal where diaspora members can refer their friends. As an added incentive, a complimentary e-tourist visa is offered to foreign guests.


The Ministry’s statement emphasized the importance of the Indian diaspora in promoting India’s heritage and culture as a leading tourist destination. Given the UK’s significant Indian community, the ‘Chalo India’ initiative is set to launch prominently at WTM 2024.

This year, the India Pavilion will feature themes such as wedding tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism, and the spiritual event ‘Mahakumbh.’ A special mock ‘mandapam’ has been constructed to recreate the ambience of an Indian wedding, showcasing the country’s vibrant traditions.

In addition to the tourism departments from states like Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry, various stakeholders, including tour operators, airlines, and the IRCTC, will contribute to the India Pavilion. The ministry noted that India’s status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy reflects its commitment to sustainable tourism and addressing climate change challenges, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.


 

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