CNTO Adopts Two-Pronged Strategy To Enhance Tourism Between India And China
Jyoti Koul /New Delhi

Projects A 20 Per Cent Growth From India In 2002

In an effort to tap the potential Indian tourist market, the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) is planning to adopt a two-pronged marketing strategy to sell China, through travel agents and tour operators. This initiative would mutually promote India in China and vice-versa. Going by statistics, China has projected a growth of over 20 per cent in their tourist arrivals from India, this year as against 35 per cent, last year.

Subsequently, the CNTO in Singapore for ASEAN countries would initiate the programme by inviting Indian tour operators and travel agents to experience the destination and deliberate on the possibilities of aggressive tourism promotion rapidly. By offering these incentives to agents and getting them familiarised with the products that China has to offer, there will be a group of about 25 agents who would become authorised agents promoting China.

According to Zhang Guangyu, deputy director, China National Tourist Office in Singapore for ASEAN Countries, “Realising the potential of the Indian market, we are planning to tap the same through an aggressive promotion between the two countries. We are finalising the dates and other details with Indian tour operators and travel agents as and when, we can carry forward our promotional programme with them. Through these agents, we would also project China as both leisure and business destination. We are also looking at India very keenly as there is a much stronger air connectivity between China and India now and we want to encash on this aspect as well.”