Kingfisher joins tourism team off to attract Indians

KINGFISHER Bay Resort is one of 17 businesses taking part in a tour of India this week to sell Queensland's tourism hotspots to Indian travel agents and media.

Kingfisher Bay Resort has the chance to broker new deals and strengthen relationships with Indian travel representatives. Picture: Supplied By Kingfisher

KINGFISHER Bay Resort is one of 17 businesses taking part in a tour of India this week to sell Queensland's tourism hotspots to more than 400 Indian travel wholesalers, retail agents and media.

Minister for Tourism Jann Stuckey said India was one of the fastest growing markets for Queensland tourism operators and had strong growth potential.

Tourism Queensland acting chief executive Leanne Coddington said Queensland welcomed 30,000 Indian travellers in the year ending June 2012, which was a 15% cent increase on the year before.

"Indian visitors to Queensland have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5% since 2010 and the market has great future growth potential," she said.

"Our research has also identified that the Indian growth market is keen to experience famous sites, nature, adventure and novel activities that they couldn't do in India.

"Young Indians are more likely to holiday abroad than their parents and are attracted by the romance of a road-trip - driving Queensland's scenic routes in a convertible for example.

"Tourism Queensland has a strong presence in India with an office based in Mumbai, responsible for marketing and publicity activities aimed at capitalising on this emerging market as well as building trade and airline relationships."

Ms Stuckey said Queensland was a great state with great opportunity and the Queensland on Tour sales mission gave participating businesses the chance to broker new deals and strengthen relationships with Indian travel representatives. 

"The tourism businesses will travel to Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai where they will have face-to-face meetings, presenting our leading tourism destinations and a range of products including island resorts, wildlife and theme parks, hotel chains and rainforest retreats," she said.

"The Newman Government is committed to promoting Queensland in key international markets to drive visitation and help us achieve our goal to double annual overnight visitor expenditure by 2020."