Summer sojourns

April-July has traditionally been the period when Indians travel. This year the travel industry is set to see some action.

Industry sources estimate that there will be 60 lakh outbound travellers this year. Leisure travel alone is likely to grow by about 20-24 per cent in 2004.

With the Indian traveller coming of age, more and more exotic choices are for the taking. In the last few years tourism authorities of Dubai, Singapore and Australia have successfully marketed their destinations. Others such Macau, Spain and Canada are following suit.

South-east Asia may be a hackneyed option, but not Macau. It is marketing itself as the "quaint Europe in the Orient".

The Macau tourism board has been testing waters in the Indian market for just over a year now and business seems to be picking up. Last year 12,000 Indians went to Macau and this year officials predict a 25 per cent increase.

With its mountains, ski resorts, tropical beaches and vineyards, Spain is also fast becoming a popular destination for Indians going abroad.

In 2003, an estimated 10,000 Indians visited the country and this year the target is to double that figure. Spain is the second most visited place after France in the world.

Travel industry experts label Seychelles as a destination for the really moneyed. It is exclusive more because the air fare from India works out to be expensive.

The island continues to be a niche destination and Indian tourist inflow is expected to hover around 3,000.

Though Canada hardly qualifies as an "exotic" destination, the Canadian tourism authority is seriously wooing the Indian traveller for the past one year. There are special Indian packages which officials think will help in achieving a double digit growth. Last year, 65,000 Indians visited the count.

Time to put away your board exams and boardroom blues and pack your bags. And what better way to beat the onset of summers than to check out exotic destinations.