SPECIAL REPORT
D n n
Destination
BY DIDHITI GHOSH*
T
ravelling for some people is a colourful opportunity
to explore new places, and for others, it is just a break
from their monotonous schedules. Some travel to seek
an adventure out-of-the-box while others travel in search
of peace and serenity. However, for a majority of Indians,
travelling has become more of a tranquilizer to the anxious
bustling life than gaining new experience.
India is fast gaining popularity as a tourism destination
amidst inbound travellers with top-notch markets. Research
conducted by ICICI Lombard based on the Indian population
shows that a majority (50%) of them travel in search of
adventure, while some (42%) travel to spend quality time
with their loved ones. Other major reasons to travel include
self-discovery (41%), exploring diff erent cultures (38%), and
establishing status and prestige (38%).
An article in Forbes notes: Encouraged by its pace-setting
7 percent GDP global growth rate, rising personal income
levels and changing lifestyles, huge middle class as well
as the availability of low-cost airfares and diverse travel
packages, India is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing
outbound travel markets in the world, second only to China.
If expectations are realized, the UNWTO predicts today’s 20
million outbound Indian travellers will more than double to
50 million by the year 2020.
Latin America: A Blooming Tourist Destination
Andean peaks, Amazonian rainforest, Patagonian
glaciers, Incan ruins, colonial towns, white-sand beaches and
vertiginous nightlife: the wonders of South America set the
stage for incredible adventures. Data from Statista reveals the
numbers behind Latin America’s blooming Tourism Industry.
Ranked fourth in this list, Latin America’s Travel and Tourism
Industry made a total contribution of more than 371.8 billion
U.S. dollars to the region’s GDP – including 135.6 billion
directly contributed by the industry. By 2026, the total GDP
contributed by the Latin American Travel and Tourism
Industry is expected to rise to around 600 billion U.S. dollars.
The nostalgic visitor’s eyes defi ne the region from a
diff erent yet exquisite angle. South America is a continent
of streaks and highlights: Rio’s beaches, Peru’s Machu
Picchu, the Galapagos in Ecuador, Monday Falls in Paraguay
and the Iguazú Falls which can be reached from Foz
do Iguaçu in Brazil and PuertoIguazú in the Argentina, or
from Ciudad del Este in Paraguay. South America’s diversity
doesn’t end with landscapes; one will fi nd colonial towns
where cobblestone streets lead past gilded churches and
stately plazas little changed since the 18th century.
La vida musical or musical life is the LatAm tourist’s
treasure trove. Not much compares to hearing the rhythms
PARAGUAY 2019 • 35