DRMumbai: With an increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting India, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) participated in its first ever Tourism Roadshow in China organised by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India in association with Indian Embassy, Beijing and Consulate General of India in Guangzhou and Shanghai.
The event was held in major cities including Guangzhou, Wahun and Shanghai from August 28th to September 2nd. K J Alphons, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India, Jaykumar Rawal, Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra, Gautam Bambawale, Indian Ambassador to People’s Republic of China, Vice-Governor Hube region Wuhan, Chang Hyei and other officials were present.
The Roadshow in China consisted of buyer-seller meets, Incredible India seminars, a presentation on tourism promotion strategy by Chinese companies which focused on why Chinese travellers should travel to India and the state of Maharashtra. The main aim of Tourism Roadshow in China is to draw Chinese travellers by highlighting the Buddhist circuits across the state and the country.
Circuits in Aurangabad, Pune, Nashik, Mumbai, Satara and Kolhapur, Raigad and Nagpur were promoted to encourage Buddhist Tourism. In fact, MTDC preserves and encourages the rich heritage and Buddhist culture of the state of Maharashtra and influences them in the expansion of a world-class, sustainable site of distinction which enhances the lives of travellers and inhabitants alike.
China is one of the major outbound tourist markets in the world, generating 144 million outbound travellers. The association aims to tap the Chinese market and increasing Chinese tourist arrivals to India along with maximum footfall in Maharashtra.
Jaykumar Rawal said, “The roadshow has received an overwhelming response from all the stakeholders across China. Maharashtra is already becoming a preferred destination among international travellers. The roadshow was a new experience for the members of both the nations, as it gave a prospect of exchanging new ideas and facts about our countries which will assist us to attract Chinese travellers. Maharashtra has all that a Chinese traveller would need right from heritage to contemporary state-of-the-art accommodation units.”
Vijay Kumar Gautam (IAS), Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra added, “We have received an overwhelming response from China during the Tourism Roadshow. It is just a beginning and I think a lot of things are yet to be explored. We look forward to inviting more Chinese travellers to our country in the years to come.”
