Newstrack

PATA initiates India total tourism report

Rabindra Seth - Delhi

Bangkok-based Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), which in its studies has so far concentrated on international tourism, recently decided to take a look at a member destination's total tourism, that is, inbound, outbound and domestic.

Masterminded by the association's Strategic Intelligence Centre, headed by John Koldowski, the first country chosen for this study was Russia. India is the second nation selected (the first in Asia Pacific) as Koldowski explains because of its emergence as an economic power house and its huge potential in all three segments of travel. A team of researchers led by veteran analyst, Nancy Cockerell - an old India hand whose contributions include a World Tourism Organisation-funded project for a national tourism board for this country - is now giving final shape to the Total Tourism India Report. Both Koldowski and Cockerell spent several days in Delhi and Mumbai meeting officials and leading members of the industry during November and December 2006.

The Report will be unveiled at a seminar in New Delhi on February 22 by the tourism and culture minister, Ambika Soni. Apart from a panel of industry representatives, those participating in the seminar will be PATA president and CEO, Peter de Jong, Koldowski, and James Murray, Visa International's executive vice president (South and South-east Asia).