Indian tourists to arrive in record numbers

TRENDS:THE NUMBER of Indian visitors to Ireland is expected to reach record levels this year as the benefits of a visa waiver system kick in.

The waiver system was introduced in July and allows visitors from 16 countries, including India, to enter Ireland as long as they have a valid UK visa.

At least 19,000 Indian tourists will visit Ireland this year and the numbers are expected to increase with the introduction of Dubai-Dublin flights by Emirates from January 9th – this service includes connections to 10 cities in India.

Tourism Ireland, which promotes Ireland abroad, organised a two-city roadshow in Mumbai and New Delhi last month which included presentations to 160 Indian travel trade professionals.

Tourism Ireland’s general manager Amanda Burns described India as the most important emerging market along with China.

The country has a growing middle class along with a huge diaspora, especially in the UK.

Those with the means are highly prized tourists and tend to significantly outspend tourists from other countries.

In addition to the visa waiver scheme and new connectivity, tourism officials are hopeful that Air India will use Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport as a hub for its transatlantic flights bringing more potential tourism business to our shores.

Ireland’s profile as a tourism destination was enhanced by the filming of the Bollywood blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger (Once There Was a Tiger) last month which stars two of the biggest movie actors in India, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.

Tourism Ireland already has a successful golf programme targeting Indian golfers who are restricted by the absence of golf courses and also the monsoon from participating in their sport fully.

The organisation believes there is a lot of potential in India’s growing golfing market which already attracts between 500 and 1,000 Indian golfers a year to Ireland, most of whom are in the wealthiest strata of Indian society.

Organisers of golf tours believe that market could grow to 10,000 golfers a year within five years.