The US capital of Washington, DC, has become the latest city to eye the Indian outbound market, and as part of this, for the first time, a high-level team was on a three-city tour of India to increase the awareness of the city in India, among the consumer and trade.
The visit was in partnership with Etihad, Dulles Airport, and the US Travel Association. Its team was led by Elliott Ferguson, President and CEO of Destination DC, who told this correspondent that they will be targeting the leisure market also from India, apart from business and MICE. India, with 80,000 arrivals in 2015, was in the 6th position, after China, the UK, Germany, Australia, and France.
The DC Cool campaign was being promoted in a big way.
Michael Martin, Manager of International Marketing for IPW said that the June 3-7, 2017 tour was being promoted, and he expected more Indians to be there in 2017.
Ms. Theresa Belpulsi, Vice President of Tourism and Visitor Services for Destination DC, told this correspondent that they were promoting the East Coast in a big way, in collaboration with NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, and other places. The excellent railway network and the fast pace of life were good marketing points.
Ferguson said that they would look at the issue of having a representative office in India in due course.
