PACIFIC ISLANDS: India's new playground

With improved connectivity and easier visas, Indian travellers have turned to exploring the Pacific region visiting countries like Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and the Philippines like never before, with a craving for authentic, experience-rich travel beyond traditional hotspots.

- GARIMA SHARMA

In October, Air India launched flights to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, as part of its strategy to expand its global footprint. The flights to Manila establishing for the first-time ever a direct airlink between India and the Philippines is part of a concerted effort by airlines, Indian and foreign, to boost connectivity in order to tap the growing outbound travel market in India, with a special emphasis on opening new routes to areas that were never served before or poorly served.

In November, India and China will resume direct flights after a hiatus of nearly six years, while in April Air India enhanced frequency of its flights to Japan and Qantas, the Australian flag carrier, has also announced resumption of services to India.

The better connectivity reflects a growing demand in India for travel to the Pacific Ocean countries, including the relatively remote parts like Fiji or Palau, but also to hot destinations like Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The Pacific region has emerged as the latest and hottest playground for India's globetrotters, and the numbers have risen sharply within a short period. The travel industry in India has noticed the shifting preferences and are responding to their clients' queries and demand about their latest wish lists.

“The Indian traveller is now constantly on the lookout for newer destinations and trending and viral destinations for Instagram is in vogue. It is more about knowledge and the tourism boards need to take initiatives in spreading the awareness about unique offerings in the newer destinations,” Shalini KJ, Travel Curator at Click2Travel, a boutique travel firm in New Delhi, tells India Outbound.