Queensland targets cashed-up Indian holidaymakers

New Delhi, Jan 30 (UNI) Attracting young and wealthy Indian holidaymakers to Queensland, Australia, is the prime focus of Tourism Trade Mission currently being led by Tourism Minister Margaret Keech in India.

''Visiting and understanding the Indian market will enable us to develop more competitive tourism packages and secure increased direct aviation access to and from India. These factors are important in increasing visitor expenditure and growing visitation to Queensland'', said Ms Keech while addressing reporters here today.

The visitor expenditure from India to Australia grew 23.6 per cent for year ending September 2006 while 31 per cent of Indian visitors to Australia visit Queensland. More than 23,000 Indians visited Queensland during the same period with nearly 60 per cent visiting specifically for holidays, she added.

Ms Keech expressed hope that under the Emerging Marketing Strategy, Queensland will see a 400 per cent increase in expenditure by Indian holidaymakers by 2016.

She said the 'Gold Coast' is the number one tourism destination for Indian travellers, attracting over half (54 per cent) of total India visitors to Queensland by the end of September 2006.

''We are developing a strong marketing presence in India, working together with local trade and the airline industry to develop future tourism opportunities'', the Tourism Minister added.

During the ongoing visit the group will hold meetings and functions with key India tourism operators to sell Queensland as an ideal international holiday destination.

She informed that 25 Queensland tourism operators had registered for the trade visit, a significant increase from 14 operators attending in 2006.

Ms Keech said she will officially open the new Tourism Queensland office in Mumbai shortly and meet with her newly appointed Indian Marketing Manager Ms Supriya Correa.

The Minister is also looking forward to launch State Government's new 6.5 million dollar nation-wide television campaign 'Where Else But Queensland' in early February.

Indian tourism to Queensland is growing at 17 per cent on year-on-year basis and percentage is expected to increase during 2007, she added.

Tourism Queensland is the state tourism authority, responsible for the marketing and promotion of tourism to Queensland, Australia.

It services the Indian travel trade via its offices in Mumbai and Brisbane.

UNI