Priyanka Saxena Ray
What emerging trends do you foresee shaping the future of travel in the near future?
The good news is that consumers across all ages/regions are showcasing that travel remains a top priority for them in 2024. Luxury and wellness are expected to be the biggest driver for the high-end market this year. Sustainability will become one of the key drivers for travel choices in the near future; responsible tourism, social consciousness, environmental concerns and unique cultural experiences will be a key focus of this trend.
How do you envision 2024 for Inbound Tourism?
India’s record economic growth and the recent G-20 event have created a positive perception of India, rubbing off on India’s brand as a great travel destination. However, there have been no marketing initiatives by the government to promote the destination, what they need to do is create a strong digital campaign to promote India. The campaign should be a carefully planned public relation exercises keeping market sentiments in mind, along with airing of state-of-art commercials to be implemented across print, digital and social media platforms worldwide. This would prove a great step in boosting India’s image as a tourist destination.
With the rise of domestic tourism, how do you envision destinations adapting to meet the changing preferences of local travellers?
Destinations will need to be careful that they ensure they don’t have over Tourism which will impact the attractiveness of the destination. We saw this in Ladakh a few years ago and some cities are starting to face issues, especially on weekends. Sustainability is key for domestic Tourism. Educating the traveller on the impact they can have on the planet with each trip and how to reduce the same is key.
Could you share insights on the importance of sustainability initiatives within the tourism industry and how they are being implemented?
The government is very strongly committed to making sustainability a key pillar for growth and development at the destination. Initiatives like Travel for Life and India’s commitment to sustainable development goals 2030 highlight the importance of sustainability for the tourism industry as well. Industry players are realizing the important of certifications that act as key tools to drive sustainability within the company and the industry at large. India as a destination offers a lot of sustainable products both in terms of accommodation and experiences.
What developments in tourism infrastructure are crucial for enhancing visitor experiences and supporting sustainable growth?
Trains are the best way to experience a destination, India is progressing in the right directions with trains and making the journey more sustainable for travellers with trains like Vandhe Bharat.
Now we need to look into creating a better facility at monuments.
How does the GITB show contribute to promoting Rajasthan as a travel destination, and what can attendees expect from the event this year?
Rajasthan is a prime state for tourism and Jaipur as a part of the Golden Triangle circuit is what most travellers to India experience. Keeping that in mind, GITB is a very important show for the state, especially with its focus on Inbound Tourism and Buyer – Seller Meet, spread across two days. More than 11 ,000 Pre-Scheduled Structured face to face business meetings will take place between 275 foreign buyers (FTO’s) from more than 50 countries, and around 200 Indian Sellers. One can expect a power packed inaugural session and Networking Dinner and the launch of the Knowledge paper on Inbound Tourism.
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