38 Destinations
Modern-day chess originates from an ancient Indian game called ‘chatarunga’ which translates as four divisions (of the military): infantry, cavalry, elephantry and chariotry
INDIA India Tourism / AS3125
India’s list of natural charms and captivating attractions seems never-ending. From the country’s welcoming populace to its lush land- scapes and exceptional cuisine, there’s much that defines this exciting destination. Home to 1.25 billion people, India provides
visitors with a colourful kaleidoscope of sights and experiences that draw in huge visitor numbers. The South Asian destination expe- rienced a double-digit growth in international tourists in 2016 — with 8.89 million travellers representing a 10.7 percent increase from the year before. Meanwhile, combined visitor spend was US$23.1 billion (AED84.85 billion), a 15.1 percent year-on-year rise. India’s largest market is Bangladesh, with
1.37 million visitors entering from its north-east- ern neighbour in 2016 — up 21 percent on 2015 numbers and almost triple the 0.48 million visi- tors in 2012. The boom is partly attributable to the high number of Bangladeshi citizens using medical facilities in India, as the nation’s medi- cal tourism industry flourishes.
In second and third place respectively for
inbound visitors in 2016 were the USA with 1.31 million visitors (up 8.2 percent) and the UK with 0.95 million visitors (up 10.4 percent). Part of the country’s success in attracting
this growing number of international travellers comes from the Ministry of Tourism’s ‘Incredible India’ marketing campaign, which espouses the nation’s wonders to the world. India’s e-tourist visa programme, imple-
mented in November 2014, has also proved to be a roaring success. Scything through red tape to allow foreign visitors visas on arrival, the programme has now been extended to 150 countries arriving at 16 Indian airports. Exotic wildlife, holistic retreats, vibrant
festivals, beautiful beaches and architectural marvels are just a few of the sights and experi- ences on offer — along with a comprehensive 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to choose from. In addition, infrastructure plans include
India’s largest market is Bangladesh, with 1.37 million visitors entering from its north-eastern neighbour in 2016
the transformation of Lakshadweep, a tropi- cal archipelago off India’s southwest coast, into a tourist hub featuring eco-resorts and scuba diving centres. There’s also a raft of new hotels entering the market, including Alila Fort Bishangarh, Jaipur which will open this year in a 230-year-old fort. Other 2017 hotel launches include Westin Beal Resort & Spa, Le Meridien Goa, Aloft New Delhi Aerocity and Four Points By Sheraton Thavanakkadavu Backwater Resort.
Victoria Terminus, Mumbai Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh
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