RICK MATOWSKIInternational Manager- Eastern Hemisphere,
Tourism Australia
Indians are looking beyond the staple fare of Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast. They're raring to explore exotic virgin locations like Ayers Rock, Monkey Mia and The Great Barrier Reef, says Rick Matowski
Australia is one of the most preferred destinations for Indian travellers. We have 100,000 visitors coming in from India each year. India is number 11 to Australia globally. It's growing at 15-20 per cent now - which is fantastic, whilst other markets are slowing down. India is today a sizeable market. But it's a market that is clearly well defined. At the moment we are seeing very high traffic in the honeymoon segment and the families segment - two of our key sectors out of India.
The great thing about the honeymoon market is - because Australia is so unique in terms of experiences, there's lots of variety to choose from. Honeymooners want to go to places that possibly their parents hadn't been to. They want to have bragging rights when they return home; they want to tell people they've been to some exotic place.
All around Australia we have attractions that are very different; that the honeymoon segment loves. We've got places like the Great Barrier Reef; the unspoilt beaches around the Gold Coast; Adelaide's Kangaroo Island; Melbourne's Phillip Island with its penguins; Sydney's Blue Mountains; and the iconic Ayers Rock. But the Indian travellers are a discerning lot; and they're becoming more dispersedly driven. In addition to the regular fare, they're also getting around to places like Tasmania to see the whales swimming with their calves; they're going to South Australia to sample the wines at the vineyards; they're going to the west coast of Australia - to a place called Monkey Mia to swim with the wild sharks.
I guess the huge variety we have here is the thing that hits them the most about Australia They become very effervescent about their advocacy about this country. Also, because Australia is still so unknown, it has a bit of excitement about it.
We are trying to put together products that excite the traveller; that will make a difference to their honeymoon, because a honeymoon is a once in a lifetime thing. And for us, the honeymooner is the best advocate for Australia - the experience honeymooners have in Australia potentially brings us another 20-30 people. We have to have products that suit their needs and that's the important thing.