India's Domestic Tourism Boom May Be Its Biggest Inbound Problem

Skift reports that Suman Billa, additional secretary at India's Ministry of Tourism, told the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) annual convention that domestic tourism success is masking India losing ground in inbound tourism, and that India risks becoming too comfortable relying on its vast domestic market. Billa pointed to a widening gap between inbound and outbound travel, arguing India is effectively a net foreign-exchange loser from tourism, with outbound growth at 4.8%, much higher than inbound. The report adds that India is becoming more expensive and crowded while its international marketing muscle has shrunk dramatically.