Wednesday, April 26, 2006

visit of Latin American tour operators to India

39 of them from 19 countries of Latin America and caribbean are in India from 21 to 27 April at the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism who paid for their travel and local hospitality. This was an the initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism had readily agreed.
It was heartening to see a dozen of them from central american countries such as nicaragua, guatemala etc. Many of them have come for the first time.
There was a workshop for them on 26 April at Ashoka hotel. I was invited to give a talk. I highlighted the quantum jump in trade and business, the paradigm shift on both sides giving rise to a new India and a new latin america, the change in the mindset and approach to each other and the prospects of the promising future for travel business. I mentioned the new and growing trend of Indians who have started going to experience the exotic and exciting latin america of samba and salsa.

This is the first ever such visit of tourist operators from latin america. The visit has opened their eyes to the new profile of India and understand the logistics of tourism in India. Tourism Ministry has promised to print brochures in spanish to disseminate tourism information. They have also proposed to organise road shows in the region.

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