Strengthening economic and tourism ties with India

Australia will strengthen its tourism links with India to further increase visitor numbers and support local jobs and business by growing one of its largest and most valuable tourist markets.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan and India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal renewed the Australia-India Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism Cooperation in New Delhi today.

The MoU will help encourage more Indian visitors to Australia and enhance the capabilities of Australian tourism businesses. Both governments will also work with airlines and airports to boost aviation capacity between Australia and India.

Mr Tehan said the Indian visitor market had huge potential for Australia.

“India was Australia’s fastest growing source of international visitors in 2019, with Australia welcoming almost 400,000 visitors from India,” Mr Tehan said.

“In 2019, India was our sixth most valuable market for spend, contributing $1.8 billion to our economy.

“Our countries also share important people-to-people links, with around 750,000 people of Indian origin calling Australia home.

“Hosting the T20 cricket World Cup this year will be a fantastic opportunity to encourage more Indian tourists and business travellers to visit Australia.

“Australia is working with India to strengthen our ties in many areas, and it’s timely to include tourism as Australia reopens its international borders to the world.”

Mr Tehan is in India to progress negotiations towards an India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).

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