Tourism chiefs set sights on India

TOURISM chiefs are making a major push this year to attract thousands of Indian visitors to Ireland.

This news comes as talks advance between Dublin Airport and Air India concerning the airline picking Dublin as its new European hub.

Tourism Ireland has a budget of €50 million for the 2010 to 2011 season to promote tourism and it said there will be a big focus on India.

Last year Ireland welcomed 10,000 visitors from India and it is expected that this figure will increase this year.

Chief executive of Tourism Ireland, Niall Gibbons, said Ireland is losing out on India’s growing outbound traffic due to no direct air connectivity.

He said if Dublin becomes the airline’s European hub then it would be “extremely beneficial” for Ireland and it would be able to attract more Indian travellers.

Tourism Ireland said India has been a strong focus for its new emerging market segment.

Mr Gibbons said they are working hard on visa issues for Indian visitors. He said the turnaround to get visas is five days but they are trying to reduce that.

“We ourselves are doing a lot of promotion in trade and media to create more awareness. We have opened representation in Delhi and Mumbai and are looking at Bengaluru,” Mr Gibbons told a travel trade magazine.

He said Tourism Ireland is promoting Irish castles, food and drinks, dancing, music, culture and golf.

“The key target cities for us are Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata,” he said.

He said the average length of stay for Indians is 10 to 15 days, which is fairly high, with a spend of around €700 per trip per person.

“In the year of 2012, when the Olympics take place in London, we expect to attract a lot more Indians to Ireland,” he said.

Ireland and India share a healthy trade link and also in education, he added.

Tourism Ireland said 13 Bollywood films have been partly shot in Ireland and they are promoting that aspect as well.