The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board became the first US destination to open a tourism office in India last week. The office is based in Mumbai, and has a focus on driving travel and motivating Indians to increase their length of stay in Los Angeles. The office will work with the travel trade to develop customised and tailored product itineraries in line with consumer and travel trade interests. The office will also develop and support existing and any new air service to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Encouraged by growth indicators in India, especially the growing outbound travel segment, Los Angeles Tourism&rsquos latest forecast projects a year-over-year growth of 4.4% in 2019 with 135,000 visitors from the country, and a year-over-year average of 5% over the next five years meaning nearly 165,000 Indian travellers by 2023.
In terms of spends by foreign tourists, the Indian outbound travel market offers immense potential with India being the fifth-largest foreign exchange generator for the US at ($15.8bn), after China ($36.4bn), Canada ($22.1bn), Mexico ($21.1bn) and Japan ($16bn).
So, California calling anyone
