RIYADH – The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and India Tourism Office are jointly organizing an India Tourism Road Show in Saudi Arabia from May 19-22. India has established itself as a round-the-year destination - a destination for all seasons and for all reasons. India offers something for every traveler. It has a vast range of tourism destinations and products, from magnificent Himalayas in the north to the beautiful and serene backwaters of Kerala in the south, legendary forts and palaces of Rajasthan to world class heritage sites like Hampi (Karnataka), the embassy press statement said. The statement added that India has the sprawling beaches on the west coast to the calm lakes on the east coast, from exotic one-horned rhinos of kaziranga (Assam) to magnificent herds of elephants of Bandipur (Karnataka), from magnificent lions of Gir (Gujarat) to royal tigers of Sunderbans (West Bengal), from variety of cuisine to exquisite shopping. India has also emerged as a destination for wellness, medical and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism. The wellness and medical tourism sector has been growing at the rate of 20 percent per year. The Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Yoga, Siddha and Unani are some of the most ancient systems of medical treatment in the world. India has a number of world-class hotels, resorts and trains. It has evolved itself as a luxury destination offering the ultimate luxury services to the high-end travelers. Indian destination management companies are offering door-to-door services to such high-end travelers. The luxury trains of India offer a unique tourism product. These trains provide excellent amenities to tourists besides visits to various tourist places. Some of these are the Royal Rajasthan, Palace on Wheels, Golden Chariot, Maharaja Express and Deccan Odyssey. India is a world-class sports destination, while it is a shoppers' paradise with a wide range of jewelry items and other products. The Middle East, and particularly Saudi Arbia, is one of the main source markets for inbound tourism in India. In 2011, around 26,000 Saudi nationals visited India, registering a growth of over 12 percent over the previous year. The Ministry of Tourism of India, in association with the Indian embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah, is again holding Tourism Road Shows in Saudi Arabia. Road Show in Jeddah on May 19 at Hotel Hilton; in Riyadh on May 21 at Hotel Sheraton; and in Dammam on May 22 at Hotel Sheraton. Parvez Dewan, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, will lead the delegation, accompanied by leading destination managers, tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, state governments from India. Recently, India has lifted the restriction of two-month gap for entry of foreign nationals, including those from Saudi Arabia, between the two visits on tourist visa. This decision has facilitated travel of international tourists to the country. – SG
