India Travel Trade Workshops Showcase 2013 UK Offerings

Feb. 28, 2013 - PRLog -- VisitBritain is hosting its annual Sales Mission in India to provide UK suppliers with the opportunity to meet over 200 agents from across India.  The country’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain is holding their 2013 India Travel Trade Sales Mission, promoting holiday destinations, tour packages and attractions from the UK, highlighting to regional travel agents the value-for-money deals, family attractions and unique experiences available to the Indian holidaymakers in the lead up to the long summer break.  The workshops are being held in the Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai and at the Le Meridien, New Delhi.

Representatives from tourism, retail, major attractions and sporting industries will participate in the India Mission 2013, encouraged by the emergence of the country as a major player in terms of tourism visits to Britain over the last couple of years, with rising figures for both spend and visits being witnessed.

The India Travel Sales Mission 2013 allows UK suppliers to present their products and services and close sales with an interested audience. New and established companies showcasing from the UK include tour operators, key attractions and hotels.

In 2012, it was not only the Olympic Games that drew the Indian visitors to the UK shores. Ahead of the Olympics in July was the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Weekend in June, where celebrations included the River Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant and hundreds of art and culture events that took place all over the UK.

Britain is a major beneficiary of outbound travel from the Indian region wherein the best performing quarter for was April-June 2012, the major holiday season for India, where 145,000 visits by Indians took place. This is a record high figure compared to figures for last 10 years for India promising that 2013 will indeed be another record year for Britain in the region.

The British High Commissioner, Sir James Bevan KCMG said, “The links between the British and Indian tourist industries, so enthusiastically promoted by VisitBritain, make a significant contribution to the special partnership between the UK and India that Prime Minister Cameron described on his recent visit.  For many of us, tourism is the front door to each other’s countryside, culture and character.  The UK offers a feast of opportunity for Indian travellers, be it as a family holiday, as a weekend stopover after a business trip, or a surprise getaway with all the luxuries of the high life.  Our friends from India will enjoy a warm welcome, a chance to see things both familiar and unexpected, or simple indulgence in creature comforts in a home away from home.

Keith Beecham, Overseas Network Director, VisitBritain said: “This mission will help foster relations with key trade who can help us achieve our ambitious targets for visitors from the Indian region. We’ll put British businesses in front of decision makers, generating growth from a high spending region. The massive exposure Britain enjoyed in 2012 has enhanced our image and we are encouraged by the same to offer the best in this market for 2013."

He further adds, “Our research also suggests that potential visitors want to see more than just London and the Indian Trade mission will look to educate the industry, making sure they know all there is to know about Britain.”

Shivali Suri, Country Manager – India, said “With the success of a memorable 2012 behind us, we at VisitBritain carry forward the legacy from the Olympics through our 'GREAT Britain You're Invited' campaign into its second year and hope to be able to use key events in 2013 to entice a greater number of Indians to choose Britain as a destination for their holidays."