RIYADH, 3 February 2007 — A senior executive of the Kanoo Group, a major Saudi conglomerate with diversified interests including tourism, urged the Government of India Tourist Office to put up a branch office in Riyadh to kick-start India’s tourism promotion drive targeting Gulf nationals.
Nabil Kanoo, one of the directors of Ahmed bin Yousuf Kanoo Group, said that in the absence of India’s tourism bureau in the Kingdom, it would be difficult for India’s tourism promotion campaign to make any headway.
“We had submitted a proposal to the Indian ambassador, but nothing came out of it,” he said.
Air India has said that in conjunction with Government of India Tourist Office it will spearhead a tourism promotion drive targeting Gulf nationals.
In a joint interview, F. J.Vaz, Air India’s regional director in Dubai, and Ratan Ghosh, Air-India’s manager for the Central Province, said there was a good potential for promoting India as a tourist destination for Gulf nationals, who were already visiting that country for the recruitment of manpower.
“What is important is to understand the nuances of the tourism market, especially in Saudi Arabia, and the requirements of the tour operators,” Vaz said during his visit to Riyadh in connection with “India Week.”
The event was organized by the Indian Embassy to commemorate the first anniversary of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India last year. A number of travel agents from Riyadh attended the function, where K.L. Das, director of India Tourism, was also present.
Ghosh said the airline was doing well with a growth rate of around eight percent in its annual revenue last year. Besides the passenger load, he said the airline was also discharging its social responsibility. “We carry dead bodies free of charge to any destination in India.”