U.S. Travel Association Leads Third Annual Trade Mission to India

The U.S. Travel Association is leading the third annual India Trade Mission on September 8-11 in Mumbai and New Delhi. The travel trade mission will bring double the number of senior executives from U.S. destinations and travel suppliers as last year to meet with Indian travel agents.

“The U.S. travel community is eager to forge new relationships with our Indian partners,” said Bryan Lewis, Chief of Staff for the U.S. Travel Association. “The Indian travel market has grown exponentially in recent years and is a growing source of inbound travel to the United States. We expect this mission will build on our previous missions and enhance the ties between our countries’ travel industries and encourage more Indian visitors to come discover America.”

India’s strong economy has created enormous growth in international travel in recent years. Nearly 600,000 Indian visitors traveled to the United States in 2008, an increase of 44 percent from 2006, and contributed more than $4.3 billion to the U.S. economy, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. The majority (59%) were visiting for business-related or professional reasons, while 43 percent were visiting family or friends. Top activities among Indian travelers to the U.S. include shopping (87%), dining in restaurants (74%), sightseeing in cities (43%) and visiting historical places (35%).

The India Trade Mission will bring delegates to both Mumbai and New Delhi, featuring a networking dinner and a trade show in each city. The mission will also include an India Market Forum, where industry experts will offer their perspectives to the delegation, and a Media Roundtable, which will serve as an opportunity for participants to meet with members of the Indian media.

U.S. destination and travel supplier participants for the 2009 India Trade Mission include:

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, California Travel and Tourism Commission, NYC & Company, Empire State Building, Choice Hotels, Florida Space Coast Tourism, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Highgate Hotel, Gray Line Sightseeing, Hotel Beacon, Red & White Fleet, Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tour America and Tours Limited.

For more information on visiting U.S. Destinations, visit www.DiscoverAmerica.com.

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The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $770 billion travel industry. U.S. Travel’s mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org.