California is the preferred US destination for travelers from India due to the rich cultural diversity, variety of attractions and activities and abundance of unique experiences awaiting visitors. Continuing its commitment to the Indian market, today the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC) introduced its new “California Expert” online training program – located at www.californiaexpert.in – during the US Travel Association’s India Trade Mission. A Web-based Travel Trade Portal is also newly available to complement the virtual California Expert education with a suite of tools and resources to help market California to clients.
“India is one of the fastest growing emerging markets for California,” said Caroline Beteta, CTTC President and CEO. “The new California Expert program and Travel Trade Portal are essential elements of our strategic program designed to educate the travel trade on the many options our state offers visitors. These online tools will empower agents to effectively and creatively sell California to their customers and help us introduce the Golden State to the increasing number of Indian travelers who can now make their California dreams a reality.”
The California Expert program is designed to educate travel agents and tour operators by increasing their knowledge of the state. Training topics include California’s distinctive regions, attractions, beaches, lifestyle, entertainment, shopping and history, with the end result of helping travel professionals design the perfect Golden State itinerary for their clients. All travel agents that complete the program will earn a California Expert certification. Plus, the first one hundred people to complete the program will be eligible to participate in a prize drawing through which two lucky agents will win a VIP trip to California.
Once agents and operators have completed the California Expert program, they can log-on to the recently launched Travel Trade Portal at www.traveltrade.visitcalifornia.com. This new global Web portal hosts many tools to help sell California, including event listings, itinerary planning resources, in-state industry contacts and thousands of photographs.
“We are extremely excited about the launch of the California Expert program for the Indian travel trade,” said Sheema Vohra, President Sartha Marketing Consultants and CTTC’s representative in India. She added, “We have received a very positive response to our educational forums and with this online training program we aim to further educate the travel trade on the endless holiday options California offers travelers.”
The California Expert program and Travel Trade Portal are yet another step forward in providing Indian travel agents with the optimum planning and marketing tools to continue riding the wave of interest in California. Arrivals from India to California increased by 18% in 2010 and positive growth has continued in 2011. According to the US Department of Commerce Office of Travel & Tourism, arrivals from India will grow 94% between 2010 and 2016. California currently receives 28% of US market share, which equated to 184,000 visitors in 2010 who spent $188 million in the state.
About California Travel & Tourism Commission
CTTC is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $95.1 billion annually in California (18 percent of which is international), support jobs for 873,000 Californians and generate $6.1 billion in state and local tax revenues. Request a California vacation packet on www.visitcalifornia.in.
