From July 23 to July 25, Bengaluru hosted the 18th iteration of Tourism Australia’s premier trade event, Australia Marketplace India (AMI). For the first time since 2019, this important B2B event made a comeback with the intention of helping Australian tourism industry representatives build and forge business ties with important qualified Indian travel agencies and tour operators. 86 Australian tourism companies showcased their goods and services over the course of the three-day event to a record-breaking 94 Indian travel agents, highlighting the nation’s growing appeal as a vacation spot for Indian tourists.
In order to promote Australian vacations and the nation’s newest and most varied offerings and experiences, AMI has played a crucial role in bringing Australia’s top travel agents and stakeholders from the Australian tourism industry together. A wide range of companies, including lodging and tour operators, attractions, experiences, cultural institutions, as well as state and local tourism organisations, participated as Australian tourism representatives and distributors this year. This year’s event saw a 20% increase in seller delegates compared to AMI 2019, who support Tourism Australia’s commitment to growing Indian tourism demand to support a competitive and sustainable tourism industry by exploring destinations through novel experiences and goods. 94 companies from 8 Indian cities, including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata, have been chosen to represent the Indian travel buyers.
“India has been Australia’s fastest growing source market and continues to be one of Australia’s most valuable and promising tourism markets now and into the future,” said Andrew Hogg, Executive General Manager – Eastern Markets and Aviation, in a statement about the event. Our main platform, Australia Marketplace India, brings together some of Australia’s top industry experts and tourism delegates to highlight Australia’s appeal to trade stakeholders in India and to promote future growth in visitation and tourist spending from India. Our Indian travel partners, who are among our strongest supporters in promoting Australia as a top vacation spot for Indian High Yield Travellers, continue to provide us with excellent support.
Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager – India & Gulf, Tourism Australia, stated, “With several marketing, public relations, distribution, and partnership initiatives aimed at increasing Australia’s attractiveness and consideration, India has improved its ranks among Australia’s source markets and reached a milestone by emerging as the first market to recover to pre-Covid levels. The crucial role played by our Key Distribution Partners, Aussie Specialists, and Business Event agents in luring Indians to Australia cannot be overstated. In the coming ten years of travel, we hope to maintain our current course and unleash India’s potential growth.
In terms of visitor arrivals, India was Australia’s fourth-largest inbound tourism market for the year that ended in May 2023. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that Australia welcomed about 375,500 visitors from India in the year that ended (YE) May 2023, exceeding pre-Covid levels. Indian tourists spent AUD 1.97 billion in YE March 2023, up 16% from YE March 2019 and above pre-Covid levels.
Source– Travel biz
