The US Travel Association is hosting its fifth annual trade mission to India from September 11-15. A delegation of 28 representatives is scheduled to visit Mumbai and New Delhi to promote increased travel to the United States and to conduct meetings with tour operators, airline representatives and travel agents. This year marks the first time the mission includes a day dedicated solely to meeting with media in New Delhi.
India is among the fastest growing emerging travel markets worldwide. In 2010, annual visitation to the United States from India increased by 18 percent, according to the US Department of Commerce-Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI). By 2016, India is expected to be the 9th largest generator of international arrivals to the US (up from 12 currently) with nearly 1.3 million arrivals, a 94% increase over 2010 arrivals of 651,000.
This continued growth in travel is a driving factor in US Travel’s ongoing priority to improve the visa and entry process, which would allow more international visitors to travel to the United States. In May, the US Travel Association released a report outlining a plan to reform the visa system. The heart of US Travel's plan is to increase staffing, reduce visa interview wait times and expand the Visa Waiver Program.
“International travel is vital to the United States, as it provides important opportunities to improve economic competitiveness, strengthen national security and advance public diplomacy,” said Malcolm Smith, vice president of business development for the US Travel Association. “India is a dynamic, burgeoning travel market, and we look forward to continuing to build relationships and develop business opportunities between our two countries.”
Smith will lead representatives from: California Academy of Sciences; California Travel and Tourism Commission; Circle Line Sightseeing; CTN Tours; Disney Destinations; Empire State Building; Fairmont Raffles Hotel International; Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; Hilton New York; Holiday Inn Civic Center San Francisco; New York Marriott Marquis; New York Water Taxi and Circle Line Downtown; NYC and Company; Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau; Premium Outlets; Red and White Fleet San Francisco Cruises; San Francisco International Airport; San Francisco Travel Association; TOUR USA CANADA; TOURS LIMITED LLC; Universal Parks and Resorts; VISIT FLORIDA; and Visit Orlando.
US Travel is also aiming to boost participation by Indian tour operators, meeting planning professionals and media at its International Pow Wow marketplace – the single largest generator of travel to the United States. The 2012 International Pow Wow will be held in Los Angeles, April 21-25.