For a country of some 1.1 billion residents, India produces an amazing number of international travellers each year.

The sub-continent has become a significant contributor to Asia Pacific’s international arrivals count, appearing in no less than 29 of the region’s country inbound numbers in 2005 when aggregate volumes of Indian arrivals reached almost 2.5 million across the region.

Consider the following facts about India….

• By 2018 India’s population will outnumber that of China (PRC);

• At that time, two-thirds of the population will be in the working age category of 15-64 years; about 15 per cent will be white-collar workers.

• Urbanisation is increasing dramatically and, by the end of this current decade, almost 40% of the population will have shifted to urban areas;

• Average urban households will have an average annual income in excess of US$3,100.

While incomes are generally rising, there is however a wide disparity in income distribution, for example

• Almost 74% of the population earns less than US$2,000 per annum; while

• Only a little more than 6% earn in excess of US$7,500 per annum.

More than 6% of India’s population equates to more than 60 million people so this represents not only a growing middle-class, but also a substantive ‘affluent’ class.

There have also been significant policy shifts at the government level that suggest India’s rise as a regional superpower is finally gaining momentum. Some economists predict that India’s contribution to global GDP will rise from 2% to 17% by 2050. While that may be some time away, the obvious conclusion is that now is the time to act.

Within the travel & tourism industry, consider these recent developments…

• An expansion of the open-skies policy especially with Asian carriers;

• The privatization of key airports such as Delhi and Mumbai;

• As many as 15 airports now service overseas destinations; and

Whichever way we look at these changes, we can only see opportunity.

And that surely is why it is worth knowing as much as possible about India; hence the PATA “Total Tourism: India” report, dues to be released in the first quarter of 2007.

Published: 2007

ISBN: 1-932171-36-3

PATA member price: US$250/ report

Chapter member price: US$600/ report

Non-member price: US$750/ report