India In The Spotlight

Travel agents can look forward to a higher profile for India in this country now that India Tourism again has a full-time director here, says the man who assumed the post this spring, reports Ian Stalker in a special India supplement in this week’s digital edition of Canadian Travel Press.

Anil Oraw, who arrived in the Toronto office in April and has held previous India Tourism postings in the head office in Delhi and abroad, notes that the office hadn’t had a director since June 2011 until his arrival.

“There’s no question it makes a lot of difference,” Oraw says of having a country-based director, adding Canada “is a very important market” for India.

Last year saw some 255,000 Canadians visit India and Oraw is hoping for growth of 10% this year, thanks in part to what he says is India Tourism’s having a more visible presence here now than it has had in the past couple of years. “People are ready to travel to India. There’s a lot of interest, a lot of inquiries.”

Oraw says his office is keen on working closely with the travel trade, participating in the likes of joint promotions, joint marketing and fam trips.

For the full story in the special India supplement in this week’s digital edition of Canadian Travel Press, click here.

And this week’s CTP – the last of 2014 – also features reports on:

• Potential changes on the horizon for Cuba – click here – as the US renews diplomatic relations with the Caribbean nation.
• The latest news about Contac – click here – and the receivers plans for a quick sale.
• What’s with Egypt? And why is it closing its Canadian office – click here.

Plus there’s lots, lots more in the Dec. 22, 2014 digital edition of Canadian Travel Press – so make sure you check it out.