To Indian industry leaders, China is already a hot business destination. The land of the dragon is now poised to be the next hot destination for outbound Indian tourists.
Leading domestic tour operators, and even airlines, are busy designing various tour packages to China. Air-India has started testing the waters for a thrice-a-week flight to Shanghai.
The China tour products are likely to hit the market in the coming weeks, which industry sources said, had been delayed by the outbreak of the Sars epidemic.
The fatigue factor in Southeast Asian destinations such as Singapore, Thailand, Malyasia and Indonesia; the Indian affinity for anything Chinese, from food to silk; and the mystique involving interior China are driving the craze, travel companies say.
Frederick Divecha, senior vice-president at SOTC, the outbound travel division of Kuoni Travels, told Business Standard:
