USTA conducts fifth India mission
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The US Travel Association (USTA) hosted its fifth annual trade mission to India from 11-15 September. Twenty-eight representatives visited Mumbai and New Delhi to promote increased travel to the US and to conduct meetings with tour operators, airline representatives and travel agents.
India is among the fastest growing emerging travel markets worldwide. In 2010, annual visitation to the US from India increased by 18%, according to the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI). By 2016, India is expected to be the ninth largest generator of international arrivals to the US (up from 12th currently) with nearly 1.3 million arrivals – a 94% increase over 2010.
This continued growth in travel is a driving factor in the US travel industry’s ongoing priority to improve the visa and entry process, which would allow more international visitors to travel to the country. In May, the US Travel Association released a report outlining a plan to reform the visa system, including increased staffing, reduced visa interview waiting times and an expanded the Visa Waiver Program.
“International travel is vital to the United States, as it provides important opportunities to improve economic competitiveness, strengthen national security and advance public diplomacy,” said Malcolm Smith, Vice President of Business Development for the US Travel Association. “India is a dynamic, burgeoning travel market, and we look forward to continuing to build relationships and develop business opportunities between our two countries.”
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