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Indians in love with Australia |
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By Mak Ying Kwan
Australia is one of the top destinations of choice for higher-end incentives and corporate events from India. Indian buyers TTGmice spoke to at the recent AIME (Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo) held in Melbourne said they were seeing more groups from Indian companies heading to Australia in 2008 and 2009.
New Delhi-based Indian Incentives director of marketing, Mr Gaurav Sajwan, said: “Indians like Australia.”
Buyers said incentive groups from Indian companies tend to be small, between 20 and 50 people, but larger groups would have about 100 people. The average length of stay is between seven and 10 nights.
Nagpur-based Jagsons Travels director, Mr Harmandeep Singh Anand, said: “Sometimes, the company pays for three or four nights and the delegates extend on their own, on personal accounts, for several additional nights. Most will head to other parts of Australia to experience different aspects of the country.”
Direct air access, such as the Qantas flight from Mumbai to Sydney, has made Australia more attractive as a MICE destination. Mr Sajwan said another plus was the availability of Indian restaurants owned and operated by Indians in major Australian cities. “They are able to provide pure Indian vegetarian meals for us.”
While Indian passport holders have to apply for a visa to enter Australia, Mr Sajwan felt it was not an issue and did not reduce Indians’ enthusiasm for the destination. Buyers listed the Gold Coast as the favourite spot for Indian incentives and corporate events.
Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are also popular.
Mr Anand said he had started to promote Darwin in the Northern Territory to his corporate clients.
“It is something different and Indians are starting to be a little bit more adventurous in their travel.”
However, buyers emphasised while Australia was popular, it would “never” replace Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand as the main incentive destination for Indians. The long travel time to Australia compared to South-east Asia is a factor. Cost is another.
Mr Anand said: “Not many Indian companies have US$1,000 and above to spend on each delegate. Those with more modest budgets will still seek out South-east Asia.”
The budget for incentives and corporate events ranges from between US$1,500 and US$2,000 per head.
It can go up to about US$2,700 per head for more elaborate events, especially those by companies in the insurance and automobile industries.
The market for overseas incentives and corporate meetings from India is likely to expand as more large international companies, drawn to the subcontinent’s growing economy, establish their presence there.
Mr Anand said US aircraft manufacturer, Boeing’s new US$118 million maintenance, repair and overhaul facility near Nagpur, opening in July or August this year, could lead to more outbound MICE business.
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