Selling an Indian summer

India is a country that boasts diversity, offering natural beauty, culture, history, beaches, adventure, family fun and medical and wellness offerings aplenty. So why is it more than often overlooked as a travel destination from the Middle East?

There are many reasons, but firstly, let's blame the travel agents. It is commonly known that the majority of agents working in the region are Indian nationals.

Many hail from Kerala at the southern tip of India - a stunning location offering beach resorts, tranquility and importantly, the lush green surroundings that so many of us living in the Middle East crave.

This idyllic setting is on our doorstep - just a three-hour flight from the GCC - but how many agents think to promote it?

In my mind, there couldn't be a better time than now to push a place like Kerala to travellers as the monsoon season with its cooler climes and heavy rains prepares to sweep across the country.

Many Arab nationals are already thinking about booking their annual trip to Salalah in Southern Oman, which catches the monsoon - known there as the Khareef season. But Kerala - or anywhere else in India where as the rain sets in, the environment blossoms - would be a suitable location to suggest.

However it's not just the travel agents who are to blame for the noticeable absence of leisure traffic to India.

The sales and marketing heads of several luxury Indian hotel companies, including Leela Hotels & Resorts, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, unanimously concede that there are misconceptions about India amongst the Middle East community.

They claim that in the GCC in particular where labour traffic is typically from southern India, a perception is created that India is not a top-end destination.

This could not be farther from the truth. The aforementioned companies each operate several high quality deluxe properties across India with service standards equal to if not better than those witnessed in the Middle East.

Traditional Indian hospitality, which I have witnessed for myself at two of the Leela properties - in Mumbai and Kerala - is outstanding, with more than 80% of the workforce Indian nationals creating a consistency that beats the hotchpotch you can experience at hotels where the practice of employing a culturally diverse team often backfires.

As India witnesses rapid economic growth and increasing wealth in line so the country's infrastructure is improving. There's still a way to go, but the result is that India is yet to lose its inherent charm, which so many over-developed countries fall victim to.

If you're still unsure, then look to some of the region's carriers, which are upping frequencies and adding new services to India.

Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways fly to Trivandrum in Kerala directly and Etihad Airways will launch its inaugural service to this destination on Thursday.

And don't forget Air Arabia's daily service.

Travel agents should note that the ex-pat community, which is accustomed to flying with low cost carriers to save cash on the fare and spend more on accommodations and their holiday experience, will be the first to flock to India if the suggestion is made.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Destination India
Posted by Mac, UAE, UAE on Wednesday 30 May 2007 at 09:24 UAE time


I completely agree by all points mentioned above by Mr Boben Mathew, if tourrism needs to be promoted the said factors of airfares need to be keenly taken care of. Apart to that as mentioned in most of the information sites is June - Sep is off season for India, which need to be changed and put in a way that best season for enjoying monsoon, specially for potential tourist from ME/GCC

Destination India
Posted by Boben Mathew on Tuesday 22 May 2007 at 17:23 UAE time


I am a tour operator hailing from Kerala and trying to promote this destinations. There are few facts to rememeber. Normally as mentioned its an off season at these places and its ideal time to vist too due to mansoon there. But what about the airline cost during this period. Unfortunately its the summer here and every one leaves the country to their home town. Why there is a huge demand for flights to operate all desination particularly to India due to high growth rate of sucontinent population in UAE and all airlines hike their price during the season and makes a genuien traveller hesitent to visit when there are a lot of other choises available at cheaper cost when put all cost together. Other issue I have noticed is the rates during off season in particularly Kerala is very very high as compared to other asian countries. A 5 star hotel will cost you min USD 250/- per night for db room and availabilty is very minimal. Hence really speaking it is expensive hence to close the deal the travel agent will divert the sale to a similar locations like Srilanka, Thailand etc.

Tourisam in Kerala
Posted by Anil, Abu Dhabi, UAE on Monday 21 May 2007 at 09:05 UAE time


I think this is a good review , there are lot of things you can explore . It will be monsoon season in Kerala from June and you can experience the rain and cool natural climate in kerala which is only 3 hrs flight from UAE . There are many 5 star hotels and good service available . I know many people recently started to add Kerala in there tour itinerary.

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