New Delhi, May 09: The domestic leisure tourism market is estimated to grow 25 per cent during the current financial year, far exceeding the average eight per cent growth registered in the last two years. "This is going to be a golden year for domestic leisure tourism. Everyone in the industry is bullish and expects that the segment will witness at least 25 per cent growth," the travel agents association of India president Balbir S Mayal told.
Industry forecasts over 25 per cent growth in the current 450-million-strong domestic leisure tourist segment in the current financial year against an average 8-9 per cent growth during the last two years. In order to tap the huge potential emerging in the segment, almost all hotels -- including five-star, four-star, three-star and government-approved -- have lined up aggressive initiatives.
A study by Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India pointed that almost all hotels in the country are offering special packages or promotional incentives to attract the increasing number of domestic leisure tourists. While over 75 per cent of the hotels surveyed were offering special food and beverages packages, nearly 10 per cent offer packages including airline fare and 12 per cent sight-seeing tour, the study pointed out.
Besides these special packages, hotels are engaged in promotions through various channels to attract guests through travel agents, direct mails, sales calls, joint promotions with airlines, online booking and advertising.
Bureau Report