The roadshow, which was run in collaboration by Tourism Western Australia (WA) and Business Events Perth, saw 16 WA hotels, attractions, experiences, and Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) present their product to more than 300 Indian agents in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Tourism WA Managing Director Carolyn Turnbull said India was a priority market for the state, representing an enormous growth opportunity for the WA’s visitor economy.
“India is one of our fastest recovering markets post-pandemic, and now is a crucial time for us to strengthen our relationships with in-market agents to leverage this potential and ensure we are maximising the growth of this market,” said Ms Turnbull.
In 2019, India was WA’s 11th largest visitor market, with 31,000 visitors spending an estimated $63 million in the state.
By September 2023, visitor numbers had recovered to 87 per cent of pre-COVID levels, and India grew to become WA’s seventh largest international market by visitor numbers, with 27,000 visitors spending an estimated $91 million in the state, driven by an increase of nearly 50 per cent in spend per person.
Tourism WA Executive Director Marketing, Melissa Forbes, led the India Roadshow and said trade events form an integral part of Tourism WA’s in-market strategy.
“This Roadshow presented a great opportunity for West Australian suppliers to showcase their product offering and to build business relationships with Indian agents,” said Ms Forbes.
“Our visit to India also represented a great opportunity for us to understand the current travel trends in this key market.”
Business Events Perth Chief Executive Officer, Gareth Martin, said as the Western Gateway to Australia, international markets are integral to securing business events that diversify WA’s visitor economy.
“Our focus sharpens on India as a key market, with the country’s proximity to Western Australia playing a pivotal part and providing us a unique platform to showcase Western Australia’s business event offering,” said Mr Martin.
Attending the roadshow from WA’s tourism industry were RTOs Australia’s Coral Coast, Australia’s South West, and Destination Perth.
Other WA operators in attendance included Busselton Jetty, Caversham Wildlife Park, Crown Perth, Duxton Hotel Perth, Kinetic, Lumineer Adventure Tours, Matagarup Zip+Climb, Optus Stadium, Perth Wildlife Encounters, Pinnacle Travel Group, Rottnest Island Authority, SeaLink Rottnest Island, and Swan River Seaplanes.
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