 "Brand USA eyes 1 million visitors from India to US in 2015")
Brand USA today said it was looking at a million visitors from India to the United States in 2015 as it hard sells the country as a premier travel destination.
"We expect a million visitors from India to USA in 2015," Brand USA Global Partnership Development Vice President Jay Gray told PTI.
He was speaking on the sidelines of conclusion of second India Travel Mission by Brand USA.
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Established under the Travel Promotion Act 2010 of that country, Brand USA is the public-private partnership responsible for promoting United States as a premier travel destination. It's mandate is to increase international visitations to the country.
India ranked twelfth among the top 20 countries in the number of visitors to the US with 7,24,433 arrivals in 2012, an increase of 9.2% from the previous year.
"We are also expecting a 9% increase in the number of Indian visitors in 2013," Gray said.
In 2012 Indian visitors also ranked 10th in terms of money spent with a total spend of $4.9 billion, Brand USA said in a statement.
When asked what the drivers for growth will be in the number of Indian outbound visitors to US, Gray said: "It will be more about the 'experience'. The diversity and experience which US offers makes it the greatest destination."
India, China and Brazil have huge growth potential for Brand USA, he added.
Indian visitors were also important because of duration of stay and the fact that Indian visitors ranked tenth in terms of money spent, Gray said.
The India travel mission by Brand USA this year witnessed participation of 47 delegates representing 31 organisations from various US destinations that included hotels and destination management companies.