Oz tourism operators get lessons on Indian culture as tourist traffic from nation continues to grow

Tourism operators in Australia are being given lessons in Indian culture as more tourists from the Asian country make trips Down Under.

According to news.com.au, lessons in cuisine, bindis and henna tattoos are being given and hoteliers are also installing satellite dishes to pick up Indian TV channels, along with offering Masala tea and introducing vegetarian dishes to breakfast menus.

The number of Indian visitors to Australia rose by nearly eight per cent to 164,000 in the previous financial year according to ABS figures and is expected to increase further when Air India begins direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne this week on Dreamliner planes, the report said.

Forty million Indian tourists travel internationally each year and this is rising by 10 per cent per year, the report added.