British travel trade and industry suppliers showed why Britain is the must-go-now destination for buyers from across India as VisitBritain hosted its first trade mission to the country in more than three years.
Destination Britain India took place from 19 to 21 November in Delhi and saw dozens of British industry suppliers from across the nations and regions meet with 75 top buyers from India to do business.
The three-day trade event included a series of pre-scheduled one-to-one business meetings. The suppliers set to attend included hotels, retailers, visitor attractions, tour operators, transport providers and local destinations from across Britain.
VisitBritain CEO, Patricia Yates said: “We are delighted to again be hosting this flagship trade event to India, a timely and valuable opportunity for British tourism suppliers and destinations to get their products in front of top buyers, driving bookings to Britain. India is one of our most important inbound visitor markets, also boasting strong airline connectivity including to regional destinations and we know there is pent-up demand for travel. Working with the travel trade in India is crucial to ensuring they are ready to sell Britain, as well as broadening travel itineraries to encourage visitors to explore further and stay longer.”
Delegates also had the opportunity to meet with the wider Indian trade at networking receptions and attend product seminars, including from West Midlands Growth Company, Marketing Manchester and Visit Cumbria, to hear about the latest market developments and trends. VisitBritain also showcases its GREAT Britain ‘See Things Differently’ campaign promoting the fresh and exciting experiences on offer, inspiring visitors to explore more of Britain, to travel across the seasons and to come now.
Visitors from India spent a record £764 million in the UK in 2022, exceeding 2019 levels by 2%. This growth has continued into 2023. India is forecast to be a £1 billion inbound visitor market by 2024, making it one of the UK’s fastest-growing major tourism markets.
Airline seat capacity from India to the UK is also showing strong recovery and growth. Looking at September 2023, seat capacity was up 53% compared to the same month in 2019. As well as its Destination Britain India trade mission, VisitBritain continues to work closely with industry and partners in the market to promote Britain’s outstanding tourism offer and experiences that visitors can only have here.
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