Incredible, But it's India!

 

Infographics: Minal Shetty

When recession hit the world, India got away lightly. But the tourism industry did take a hit: Despite still being an attractive — read cheaper — destination for Western travellers, international tourists visiting India declined by 3 percent. So the Indian hospitality industry looked hopefully to the domestic market. And, Indians happily obliged.

Despite increasing room rates, domestic travel within India increased by around 6.5 percent. But foreign shores seem to have lost a bit of their charm for Indians too: the number of Indians travelling abroad decreased by 1.5 percent, from 10.15 million last year to 10 million this year. Interestingly, though, some less known places have suddenly become more popular. Macau, for instance, saw a 120 percent growth in the number of Indian tourists from 11,626 in 2009 to 25,631 in May this year.

(Compiled by Nilofer D’Souza)