Figure Watch

Flocking to India

The World Travel and Tourism Council President, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, was in the Capital for the India Economic Summit 1999, held last week. The roads and airports may tell you a different story, but Baumgarten was extremely bullish about the future of travel and tourism in India.

For instance, WTTC research shows that by 2010, the travel and tourism GDP of India will grow from US $ 21 billion in 1999 to US $ 70 billion.

Moreover, jobs supported directly and indirectly by travel and tourism are forecast to rise by nearly seven million in India to total 25 million by 2010. As per WTTC research, the value of international travel and tourism (visitor exports) could rise by almost 10.4 per cent per annum to US $ 18 billion by 2010.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.