Faster Visas, More Direct Flights: What India-U.S. Tourism Needs – India Report
Photo Credit: India has not really capitalized on its potential, said Suman Billa, Additional Secretary with India's Tourism Ministry. Pexels / Ankit Gupta
Skift Take
Travel is growing between India and the U.S. but there is a lot of room for growth. The key will be knocking down barriers and making travel easier.
What can India and U.S. do to boost tourism? According to the first Indo-U.S. Tourism and Hospitality Summit held by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in Delhi on Friday, the answer is speedier visas and more direct flights.
Suman Billa, Additional Secretary with India's Tourism Ministry, said that the bulk of India-U.S. air travel is through third countries like those in the Middle East or Europe. "If we get more direct flights, not only will the market become more cost competitive for people to travel both ways, but it will also add to the convenience of traveling to the U.S. But for some reason, this is not happening," he said.
Currently, for the most part, Air India, American Airlines, and United Airlines are the carriers operating non-stop flights between the two countries.
Billa further noted that even though the visa for the U.S. is valid for 10 years, the process is cumbersome.
Still, there's been a lot of progress. In Janua
