This week, Australia’s Tourism Minister, Simon Birmingham, announced the India Host Program which will assist Australian tourism operators providing tailored premium experiences for Indian travellers.

The program has been developed by the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC), in partnership with Tourism Australia and Austrade.

The number of visitors from India travelling to Australia is expected to grow to nearly 1.2 million within the next 10 years and could be worth over $9 billion annually to Australia’s economy.

“We want to assist Australian tourism operators to better appeal to India’s young demographic and growing middle-class that is driving their desire for premium products and experiences.

The timing of this initiative couldn’t be better with the T20 Cricket World Cup taking place in Australia next year which we know will be a huge drawcard for Indian tourists,” said Minister Birmingham.