India is currently doing reasonably well in Cross border tourism with neighbouring SAARC and South East Asian nations . During 2018, the country received 4 million inbound travellers from 14 countries of this region, almost 40 percent of its total foreign tourists arrivals during that year. The Outbound Tourism from India to this region has been as much as the inbound.
It is however an apt time for India and the nations of this region to work together and synergise, to draw maximum advantage of bordering each other. The changing need of people to travel shorter distances and safer destinations in the ‘New Normal’ is also a good reason for these nations to augment inter border tourism.
India has already been working in this direction for quite some time.The initiatives of India namely, New E-Visa regime ; Healthy bilateral relations ; MOUs for tourism cooperation; Act East Policy; SAARC Tourism Ministers and Tourism Secretary Forums ; Indo-ASEAN Tourism summit and improvement in air, rail, sea and road connectivities will go a long way to boost tourism for India and for the region. Asian Highways project, once fully operational ,will be a game changer for the region.
There is however a tremendous scope for India to further accelerate its inbound tourism from this region, by promoting Buddha Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Spiritual tourism, Ancient history, heritage,Culture and Nature tourism ,all of which are attractive themes for the people of some or all nations of the region.
I compliment ABTO for organising Web Seminar on ‘Cross border Tourism’ with speakers from 12 nations of this region and for having the august presence of Hon’ble Minister of State,Tourism (I/C) Govt of India as the Chief Guest at the Seminar.
It was my pleasure to speak at this International event.
My thoughts on the subject are in the attached video film.
Posted by Vinod Zutshi Ias Retd on Monday, July 20, 2020
