The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH) has released a document that details how India can work towards her target of 75 million tourists by 2035.
To achieve the ambitious targets, considering India’s 10.9 million foreign arrivals and US$30.05 billion foreign exchange in 2019, FAITH’s tourism vision 2035 proposes four strategic pillars – shared national tourism approach, value accretive regulations, investment drivers, and market excellence.
The vision document stresses the need to raise India’s competitiveness as a tourist destination by lowering taxes and making key policy changes, such as offering industry status to the tourism sector and allowing single window e-clearance for all tourism and hospitality projects.
It also recommends creation of five mega tourism zones in different states, focus on last mile connectivity, appointment of global tourism brand ambassadors, and focus on shorthaul international tourism, as well as the formation of national tourism council with participation from the prime minister and chief ministers of different Indian states.
Nakul Anand, FAITH chairman, said: “We believe that India has a great opportunity to achieve 75 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2035 if the government considers our recommendations. India, despite her immense tourism potential, only captures 1.2 per cent of the world’s international tourist arrivals.
“However, with required policy changes and focus on key segments including heritage, adventure, Buddhist circuit, medical and MICE, India can record 75 million inbound tourists (in addition to) 7.5 billion domestic tourism visits. This will result in US$150 billion foreign exchange earnings from inbound tourism, and US$225 billion from domestic tourism.”
Garish Oberoi, former president of the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India, criticised India’s high Goods and Services Tax (GST), blaming it for making both domestic and inbound tourism expensive.
“The 18 per cent GST category for hotels with room rates of more than 7,500 rupees (US$100) must be abolished and merged with the 12 per cent GST category. Gradually, GST should be brought down further, below 10 per cent with full set-offs in line with global trends,” urged Garish.
Chiming in with recommendations for India’s business events sector, Amaresh Tiwari, vice chairman, India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB), said a global MICE bidding fund with a corpus of five billion rupees was needed.
“We (also) need to create city convention bureaus in each of our main cities, which will work with ICPB as their hub to carry out a global bidding activity,” he said.
Frasers Hospitality will open its first property in Phnom Penh come October 2022, the first of three openings slated for Cambodia over the next few years.
By 2026, Frasers Hospitality will have three properties in Cambodia – the 88-room Capri by Fraser, Phnom Penh in October 2022; the 78-room Capri by Fraser, City Centre in 2024; and the 200-room Fraser Residence Sen Sok, Phnom Penh in 2026.
Tonya Khong, senior vice president, head of Asia-Pacific at Frasers Hospitality, said: “Our three properties will be operational in the next few years and ready to accommodate the return to travel, as well as the anticipated boost from regional events such as the 2023 Southeast Asian Games and the RCEP. Moving into Cambodia signals our long-term ambition to grow our presence in the country and South-east Asia.”
Both Capri by Fraser properties are located in the heart of the Cambodian capital, and only a five-minute drive from each other. Both properties will have a mix of hotel rooms, studio apartments and one-bedroom units, designed to cater to transient business travellers and mid-level executives on extended stays.
In the vicinity are banks, finance, real estate and pharmaceutical companies, as well as non-profit organisations. The properties are also within walking distance of government offices, embassies, malls and F&B outlets.
Guests can expect the hallmarks of the Capri by Fraser brand such as the Spin & Play concept, where they can utilise self-service laundrettes while having a go at video games on the latest consoles, and a 24-hour gymnasium. Another signature social space is The Den, a large communal and versatile space fitted out with the latest technology.
Meanwhile, Fraser Residence Phnom Penh is in Sen Sok, an up-and-coming district on the north-west fringes of the city centre. Slated to accommodate expatriates on extended stays, the serviced apartment is part of an integrated development that includes a retail mall, medical centre and an office tower. It is also close to amenities such as international schools, malls and a golf course, and a 15-min drive to the CBD and industrial parks.