The USA continues to make waves in India with a record 1.4 million visitors going to see country attractions in 2018. This made India 10th in number of arrivals and 5th highest in spending, which reached US$15.78 billion in 2018, compared with US$14.70 billion dollar in 2017.
The 8th travel mission from Brand USA to India saw 38 companies and 53 delegates. The mission went to Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
This correspondent spoke to a few members of the trade team to learn about what the team members had to say.
Ruth Kim, international market executive for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, must be one of the few professionals to be honored by the city for her contribution in tourism promotion. She said she had successfully tried a reverse method to boost arrivals, where she brings agents from Asian countries to the USA, and they in turn market the USA in their countries.
Ms. Kim has promoted Chinese New Year in the USA and hopes to do the same with Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights. She hopes to increase the IPW visits by Indians during the months of May to June next year.
Ruth revealed that Las Vegas hosted 24,000 conventions last year, which brought 6.5 million visitors to the famed city of entertainment and dining.
Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, has a rich history and heritage, and Jim DePhillippo, tourism sales manager for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that the new Fashion District was getting much attention.
He said several new hotels were coming up and others are being renovated, showing the confidence in the potential for tourists to see the new and old of what the city has to offer. India stood 4th in arrival numbers after UK, China, and Germany.
The state of Utah was promoting its national and state parks, while Hornblower cruises highlighted its increased ship fleet and vegetarian food offerings during cruises.
