India is becoming one of the fastest growing markets for Australian tourism and visitors. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi has granted a record 150,000 Visitor visas during the 2015-16 program year.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu, said, “It is a landmark achievement. This is the first time ever that we have reached the 150,000-mark in visitor visa approvals in India for a year.”
At a function celebrating the 150 000th visa, the High Commissioner congratulated the visa recipient Mrinal Dutt and his wife, Kanika. Ms Sidhu presented a prize to them. They will get to climb the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and have received a boomerang to remind them of their Australian adventures.
There were a record 233,000 arrivals from India during 2015, a growth of 19%, which represents the highest growth in the past seven years. India’s ranking improved from eleventh to eighth largest inbound tourists destination for Australia.
By 2020, Indian tourist arrivals are expected to be around 300,000. Tourism Australia expects India to feature in the top five inbound markets for Australia by 2025. (ANI)
Originally published on IndianExpress.
