Indian arrivals in Australia rose by 15 percent for year ended Oct.2017

An increase of 15 percent was seen in Indian arrivals in Australia for the year ended October 2017. When translated into numbers, about 294,000 Indians visited during that period, making India the ninth-largest tourist source market for Australia. This number is advancing towards attaining its Tourism 2020 goal of welcoming 300,000 Indian visitors per year, reaching the target three years before schedule. Indian tourists in Australia spent AUD1.45 billion for the year ended September 2017, a growth of 26 percent over same period in 2016 to make India the eight-largest market in terms of spending by foreign tourists.

The Australian DIBP (Department of Immigration and Border Protection), in mid-2017, extended the lodging of visitor visa applications online to all nationals of India.

With the online application process, a more convenient choice was being provided to Indians intending to Visit Australia. It is said that in an era where tourists are planning and booking trips themselves, the e-lodgement lets visitors have more independence when planning an Australian trip and is likely encourage more people from India to visit the Land Down Under.

Tania Gerlach, Chief Migration Officer DIBP, was quoted by travel trends today .in as saying that they were very heartened with the process of the e-lodgement being a success as they receive more than 60 percent of the total visa applications from tourists online. According to her, the highest-ever Tourist Visa Applicants were submitted in the month of November 2017.

With online lodgement, advantages such as e-payment of the visa application charge, round-the-clock accessibility and the ability to find out the status of applications filed online are available, she said. She stated that these visas will take lesser time to process, with applications as well as supporting documentation being made available immediately to the processing office. Gerlach added that this news would gladden the hearts of every visitor from India intending to Visit Australia either for business or for pleasure.

Nishant Kashikar, Tourism Australia’s Country Manager, India and Gulf, talking about the success, said that it was a moment of pride for them to have achieved the status of the fastest growing market in their 50th anniversary year of pitching Australia as a visitor destination to the world.

He said that their emphasis on partnerships with airlines and Oz specialist agents, content integration initiatives and enhanced digital focus has been the foundation for this success. Kashikar concluded by saying that they would like to convey thanks to their trade and aviation partners who had been partners in this journey.

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