AIRLINES, TRAVEL TRADE ANTICIPATE BOOM IN TOURISM TO China

The first direct flights between India and China have resumed, after a break of close to six years, mainly due to deterioration in bilateral political ties. With the resumption on the anvil, outbound travel trade in India is enthusiastically preparing for resumption of Indian tourism to China.

- TEXT: RANVIR NAYAR PHOTOS: CNTO

On October 27, an IndiGo Airbus A320 from Kolkata landed in Guangzhou in southern China in a historic flight as this was the first direct flight between the two countries in well over five years. The air connectivity between the two countries had been suspended following rising tensions and a border clash between the two nations which led to a freeze in political relationship.

With the thaw in bilateral ties having set in and taken roots, the two countries agreed to resume direct flights and as part of that, IndiGo has launched the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight. Doubling its network in China, the airline has also announced the launch of a daily direct flight from Delhi to Guangzhou on November 10.

Joining the largest Indian carrier is the second largest Chinese airline, China Eastern, which will fly from Shanghai to Delhi from November 9. Other carriers from both the nations, notably Air India and China Southern, the largest carrier in Asia, are expected to begin services in the near future.

The outbound travel trade in India has not only welcomed the resumption, but has also spotted an immense underlying demand for travel from India to China and accordingly many of them, have already run campaigns promoting their upcoming tours to China.

One such agency is Veena World, a large tour operator based in Mumbai, but with extensive footprint in large parts of western India, which is anticipating a significant interest amongst Indian tourists for travel to China, thanks to the direct flights.