Improve the image urgently

India is an important trading partner for Germany, as the visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel at the start of October showed. One week earlier, German and Indian tourism experts met at the fvw DRV Destination Forum India in New Delhi. This event certainly didn’t get the media attention of the Chancellor’s visit. But it showed clearly why there is a problem with visitors from Germany.

India still has an image problem here, caused by reports about violence against women in Indian society. Of course, the tourism industry cannot change such structures. But it can show officials in Indian tourism how important a better image would be. At the moment they prefer to talk about extending the electronic visa, which they hope will generate rising visitor numbers.

This doesn’t affect the country’s image, though. Other measures are necessary. It’s definitely a good move to invite multipliers such as interested travel agents to the country. With their experiences, they can overcome consumer prejudices. So the effort pays off for both sides.

India is a country for repeat visitors, because it has so much to offer tourists like hardly any other Asian destination. So the conditions are good that more visitors could start to arrive soon.