DOT sets sights on Indian tourist market

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing the potentially lucrative Indian tourist market which is currently being cornered by Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

In an interview with newsmen, Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano revealed the DOT’s current program to attract more high-end Indian tourist to the Philippines, specifically to Metropolitan Manila.

According to Durano, the high-end Indian tourists that the DOT is trying to attract to visit the Philippines are different from the more frequent Chinese and Korean tourists.

The Chinese tourists prefer sightseeing and visiting different tourist spots.

Korean tourists prefer going to the beach.

Well-heeled Indian tourists, on the other hand, Durano disclosed, prefer to stay in the city to shop, look for entertainment and do some gaming.

The DOT estimates that on average, Indian tourists would spend around $90 a day apart from the cost of their airfare and hotel.

Thus, for a 10-day stay in the Philippines, Durano said, a well-heeled Indian tourist could easily spend $900.

As such, Durano said, Indian tourists are the best group to attract to Metro Manila.

More likely, Durano said, the projected Indian tourist arrivals would match those of the Russian tourist market which numbers around 10,000.

Apart from the Chinese, Korean and Japanese tourist who visit the Philippines during the summer, Durano said, the DOT has seasonal visitors from Australia, Germany and Russia.

At present, Durano said, the DOT is preparing tour packages for the Indian market using Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines since they are the ones that fly to India.

Philippine Airlines, unfortunately, Durano said, does not fly to India and is instead concentrating on its Trans-Pacific route.

The average package for Indian tourist, Durano said, is around $1,000.