The Department of Tourism is set to welcome more than 300 tourists from two Indian MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) groups, Italco, a cement company and Quality Circle Forum.

Italco is a cement manufacturing company, while Quality Circle Forum is a group of professionals involved in quality control for both government and private entities in India.

The groups are scheduled for shopping and clubbing around Metro Manila’s cosmopolitan districts and island-hopping in Cebu’s prime beaches.

“The emerging market of India is a significant source of arrivals, specially since global tourism groups point to the remarkable growth of India’s outbound tourists which are also in the high-spending bracket,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

The tourism chief cited the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) World Travel Trends Report 2009, wherein India’s outbound travelers recorded a 13% increase in overall trip volume in 2008, surpassing initial forecasts.

According to the report, more and more destinations are setting up tourism offices in India which is a booming source of arrivals that augment slowdowns in other affected markets.

“Indians also travel in groups not only for MICE events but also with their family. And as a recession-proof segment, they will not hesitate to spend on high-end accommodations such as five-star hotels and shopping sprees at our first-rate malls,” shared Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions.

India has been billed as a star emerging market with its more than 1 billion residents and burgeoning middle class. Business trips comprise the bulk of its outgoing travels. The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) likewise predicts more Indian travelers with its forecast of 50 million outbound tourists by 2010.

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