KUWAIT: Embassy of India in Kuwait hosted a networking event on Tuesday to promote Indian tourism in Kuwait in which 10 prominent tourism entities from India participated. The event, held on Tuesday at Millennium Hotel & Convention Centre, was inaugurated jointly by Sheikha Intisar Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah and Indian Ambassador Dr Adarsh Swaika.
In her brief remarks, Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah welcomed the initiative to promote tourism between the two countries, expressing vivid memories of her travel experiences to India including to Rajasthan earlier this year. Highlighting the enormous tourism potential of India, the ambassador gave a snapshot of the country’s bespoke tourism destinations ranging from hill-stations to beaches to majestic forts to niche tourism products like cruises, adventure tourism, medical tourism, yoga tourism, wild-life and luxury tourism.
"India is proud to have 43 UNESCO-approved World Heritage sites that make a strong case for India tourism,” he said. He also underlined the growing medical tourism to India that is marked by quality and affordable healthcare. Over 8,000 multiple-entry tourist visas were issued by the Indian embassy last year and the numbers are expected to grow this year, he said.
Given India’s attractiveness as a tourist destination, the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India is growing at a fast pace with 9.24 million arrivals in 2023. The number is projected to reach 30.5 million by 2028, he said. "India welcomes 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tourism industry under the automatic route. Additionally, 100 percent FDI is permitted for tourism construction projects, including the development of exquisite hotels, resorts and recreational facilities,” he pointed out.
The 10-member Indian delegation consisted of Maharajas Express – Luxury Train experiences by Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), Taj Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Fort Barwara (Jaipur) and Six Senses Vana (Dehradun), Dharana at Shillim (Maharashtra), along with wellness centers such as Prakriti Shakti – CGH Earth Experience Hotels, MEDISAFAR, and Somatheeram Ayurveda, as well as the destination management companies (DMCs) Trail Blazer Tours India (TBI) and Gateway Malabar Holidays.
Indian airlines IndiGo as well as Akasa Air also were present at the event. According to the embassy, over 100 tour operators and travel agents in Kuwait participated in the event. The visiting delegation presented India’s diverse tourism products and services to the local tour operators. In the B2B interactions, information about India’s tourism industry, tourism-related products and opportunity for collaboration with Kuwaiti counterparts in the tourism sector were discussed. A good number of tourism stakeholders in Kuwait attended the event. The "Exploring Incredible India 2.0” B2B networking event is part of the embassy’s initiative to highlight India as a preferred destination for Kuwaiti tourists.