TanzaniaÂ´s Safari Operaters Woo Indian Tourists In The Name of SRK and Abhi-Ash!

TanzaniaÂ´s Safari Operaters Woo Indian Tourists In The Name of SRK and Abhi-Ash!
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Seeing the huge potential from India for future, travel agencies from Tanzania and Uzbekistan are trying to highlight their cultural relations with India and strike a chord with Indian tourists.

Tanzania is the second East African economic powerhouse after Kenya and it has already launched a new tourism promotion blitz dubbed - "think Asia" with an eye to diversify its tourist sources.

"We started promoting ourself in India last year. There has been 50 per cent increase in Indian tourists coming to our country. Indians are peaceful travelers and spend with open heart," says Lukiza Makubo, marketing manager of ML Tours and Safaris Ltd, Tanzania.

He says due to Mahatma Gandhi, Indian culture is very popular in African continent and after global slowdown, its good time to promote Tanzanian tourism in India.

"Indian films are very popular in our country. Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek and Aishwarya are very popular. It would be good to get more Indians to visit our country. Indian government does not issue travel advisories frequently, unlike western countries," says Makubo.

A total of 11.07 million Indian tourists visited other countries in 2009. The number is expected to grow and reach 15 million this year.

Another country looking to have a share in Indian tourism market is Uzbekistan. The country was formed after disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991, but Indian culture has been very popular there earlier as well.

"Three years ago, only 300 Indians visited our country. Last year, it went up to 10,000. Indians do not know much about our country and we are making efforts to promote ourself," says Nargiza, marketing manager of Sogda Tour.

"70 per cent Uzbeks watch Indian films and all the Khans are very popular. Its just a three-hour flight from Delhi and a tourist will have a great time visiting our historical cities," she says.

India is one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets in the world. World Tourism Organization has predicted that India will account for 50 million outbound tourists by 2020. Singapore, USA, Malaysia, Thailand and Dubai continue to attract Indian tourists.