Destination DC, the official destination marketing organisation for Washington DC, in its first direct effort to market the United State of America’s capital city to the South Asian countries, was in India along with Etihad Airways, Washington Dulles International Airport and U.S. Travel Association. The delegation visited Mumbai Hyderabad and New Delhi recently d will move to Hyderabad and New Delhi further this week. U.S. Travel Association is also promoting IPW, it’s premier international marketplace for travel industry and largest generator of travel to the U.S., which is scheduled to take place from June 3 to 7, for the first time in Washington, DC.
Washington, DC offers diversity in terms of tourist offerings. From a range of museums and art galleries to dining and nightlife to high-end designer retail shopping options to iconic monuments and memorials, the capital city is growing as a desirable tourist destination. Elliott Ferguson, President & CEO, Destination DC, in an exclusive to Travel Span said, “India is a strong and emerging market for Washington, DC and has immense potential in terms of leisure travel and business development. In 2015, one out of every 10 Indian visitors to the US visited the capital region.”
Washington, DC recorded 80,000 visitors from India in 2015 thereby making it the sixth largest overseas market. U.S. Department of Commerce’s statistics show that nearly 1.13 million Indians visited the country in 2015, and this number is forecasted to increase by 25.6%, to 1.41 million visitors by 2020.
Ferguson added, “Air travel from India is continuing to increase on a regular basis. We are keeping the airlines at the top in the priority list to tap the Indian travel market. Washington Dulles International Airport is served by Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi and with its strategic partner Jet Airways. Etihad Airways operates 252 weekly flights between India and Abu Dhabi, offering onward connections to the U.S. and Washington, DC in particular.”
Michael Martin, Manager, International Marketing, U.S. Travel Association, added, “IPW has experienced steady participation from the Indian market, averaging 15 delegates annually. Given the large increase in projected inbound travel growth from the Indian market, U.S. Travel Association’s goal is to increase India’s participation in IPW for 2017 and beyond.”
