Promoting Holland As A Stand-Alone Destination

- Shalini Dasgupta

The Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC), is seeing India as a potential market for boosting its tourism driven economy given a steady increase in Indian arrivals to the country in the first quarter of 2017. Holland recorded a growth of over 19 pc in Indian arrivals to Holland from January to March this year. Carola Muller, Global Travel Trade Manager, the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC) Holland Marketing spoke to India Outbound about Holland’s tourism strategies and expanding connectivity. NBTC is responsible for branding and marketing the Netherlands nationally and internationally.

What is the potential of the Indian outbound market for Holland?

India was the fastest growing market in 2016. The growth in visitor numbers from India was estimated at 33 pc in the previous year, which went from 100,000 arrivals to 130,000 Indian visitors in 2016. This year, we forecast a 15 pc growth in that number, which would mean around 145,000 Indian visitors. By 2020, we expect this number to reach 185,000, which is a substantial growth. Jet Airways and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have flights ensuring connectivity between the two countries, thus making it easier to reach the target number significantly. We are trying to ensure that people visit many more places in the Netherlands throughout the year. India is the 15th largest source market for Netherlands.

Please elaborate on the role of NBTC in promoting Holland as a tourism destination.