US eyes 1.2 mn Indian visitors in 2016

Aiming to attract nearly 1.2 million Indian visitors from India, the US is undertaking various initiatives including 'India Mission' to position the country as a premier travel destination.
"We are looking at nearly 1.2 million visitors from India in 2016. In 2015, we are expecting over a million with a growth of 8 per cent over last year," Brand USA Research & Analytics Vice President Carroll Rheem told PTI.
In 2014, US had 9,61,790 arrivals from India, she added.
Brand USA, established by the Travel Promotion Act 2010, as a public-private partnership today concluded its fourth annual India Mission here that saw 43 participants from over thirty US companies.

"The main drivers of growth besides that attractiveness of destination is visa policy and the increase in air capacity to the US. We are looking at increasing share of leisure segment which at present is almost equal to business segment," Rheem said.
When asked about the average duration of stay per person visiting the US, she added: "The average median duration of Indian visitor was 18 nights per person. In 2014, the Indian visitors spent an overall sum of USD 9.6 billion a growth of 7 per cent over the previous year."

On being asked about India's ranking in terms of arrivals to US, Rheem said: "Right now India is at number 11 in terms of arrivals to the US. By 2021 we expect it to jump at number 9."

Currently UK and Japan are the country's biggest overseas markets, she added.
The fourth annual India Mission had participation from 31 US firms including destinations, hotels and receptive operators.