India and Australian State of Victoria here today held a bi-lateral meeting to discuss ways to further strengthen cultural and tourism relations between the two sides. During the 40-minutes meeting, the Indian side was led by the Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik and the Minster for Arts, Women’s Affairs and Consumer Affairs for the Australian State of Victoria Ms. Heidi Victoria led the visiting delegation.
Both sides agreed to constitute a Joint Forum of tour operators to encourage and increase of people-to-people contact. They also agreed to expedite the signing of MoU between the two sides to further strengthen the cooperation in the tourism sector.
Shri Shripad Yesso Naik noted with satisfaction that since the introduction of Dreamliner flight from India to Australia, both connectivity and tourists flow has increased between the two countries.
He invited investors from Victoria to invest in India in the field of hotel industry, tourism and infrastructural development. He conveyed to the visiting delegation that India allows 100 percent FDI in Hotel on automated basis.
The Minister said, both the countries may like to invite the travel agents,/ tour operators, travel writers/photographers to each other country for promoting their tourism destinations and products.
Ms. Heidi Victoria offered collaboration between the two countries in museum, galleries and teaching institutions. It was agreed during the meeting that both the sides may exchange the details of the training facilities available in the field of tourism, hotel management, catering technology etc.
Ms. Victoria invited Shri Naik to visit Australia, the Indian side accepted the invitation for a visit on a date convenient to both sides later.
Australia is one of top 10 tourist generating markets for India as far as inbound tourism is concerned. Number of Australian visited India in the last few years:
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
149074
|
169647
|
192592
|
202105
|
218967
|
Number of Indians visited Australia in the last few years:
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
116001
|
124888
|
138705
|
148191
|
159279
|
The India tourism office in Sydney looks after promotion and marketing of India in Australia. The Ministry of Tourism has been hosting journalists, photographers, travel agents, travel writers etc. from Australia under its hospitality scheme.
Courtesy: pib.nic.in
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