India’s inbound tourism stakeholders expect the G20 Presidency, followed by multiple summits scheduled during the year, will offer an opportunity to restore the fortunes of the sector.
India is holding over 200 meetings in more than 50 cities under its G20 Presidency, with both the central and state governments also planning tourism-centric events on the sidelines of these gatherings.
As part of the G20 Presidency, the central government is also hosting the Global Tourism Summit in New Delhi in April. All G20 member nations are expected to attend.
Asif Fazlani, managing director of Fazlani Natures Nest, said “Apart from the spotlight G20 Presidency and the subsequent meetings will bring onto India, the tourism-centric events planned by both state and central governments will help to create demand in key global source markets.”
These events will serve India’s major states such as Uttar Pradesh (home to the Taj Mahal, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World), Rajasthan, and Maharashtra as a place to promote their travel offerings to a worldwide audience.
The first Sherpa conference of India’s G20 Presidency in December 2022 included trips to well-known sites such as Kumbhalgarh Fort and Ranakpur Jain Temple in Rajasthan. India is known for its rich cultural heritage and a great variety of tourist attractions, being The Taj Mahal one of the main tourist destinations in the country. The immense mausoleum of white marble is visited by 35,000-40,000 visitors daily, with numbers touching 70,000 on weekends