The discerning Indian globe-trotter is being wooed by foreign tourist boards such as Kenya, Jamaica, Mauritius and Hong Kong.
As disposable income rises, more Indians are opting for an annual foreign holiday and are moving away from the romantic charm of Europe and the multi-ethnic colourful destinations of South Asian countries, say industry representatives.
The outbound tourist travel estimates that 12 million people travelled out from India, and this is expected to cross 50 million by 2020, said a study by World Tourism Organisation. This year many island destinations have made a foray into India to tap the burgeoning India outbound potential.
With its rich wilderness and easy visa norms, Kenya has been a sought after destination for the Indian traveller. In fact, Indian tourists travelling to Kenya have increased by 36 per cent in the last two years, said the Kenya Tourist Board.
Among the other destinations, Mauritius too has seen a growth in Indian arrivals.
Arrivals for 2010 witnessed a 26.80 per cent increase over 2009 tourist arrivals, whereas, Indian arrivals in the first quarter of 2011 increased by 33.40 per cent year-on-year.
“With a multicultural society and a strong Indian influence, the country has also become an ideal choice of an innovative, exotic wedding venue that at once makes couples from India feel at home while hosting weddings,” said a spokesperson of the Mauritius Tourism Board.
South Africa is another destination that has attracted Indian travellers in large numbers. South Africa witnessed a vibrant increase in Indian tourist arrivals to the country in 2010 with a jump of close to 17.3 per cent.
The rainbow nation was one of the most frequently travelled destinations in 2010 with travel numbers rising from 61,007 in 2009 to 71,587 in 2010, according to the South Africa Tourism Board.
A paradise for avid shoppers, from original Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee to Appleton rum, straw hats and ceramics to reggae music and clothing — the treasures of Jamaican culture are no longer the best-kept secret among savvy Indian travellers.
Despite of the economic turmoil, Jamaica registered a growth of 36.3 per cent in Indian arrivals in 2009 over 2008, which the Jamaica Tourist Board says, has been an ongoing trend.
Even places like Hong Kong, that once used to be a business destination, is turning into a popular holiday option. According to the Hong Kong Tourist Board, overnight visitors in the first five months of 2011 rose to 1.25 lakh as against 78.076 same day visitors during the same period.