Union Minister of State for Tourism (I/C) Dr K Chiranjeevi called on Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh here and discussed the preparations and a joint campaign strategy, in the run up to the launch of the Air India’s maiden dreamliner flight from Delhi to Sydney and Melbourne, on August 29.
The launch of the Dream liner service between India and Australia could further increase the tourist traffic between the two countries. Australia already ranks among the top ten source destinations for in-bound tourists to India. The number of Australians visiting India has significantly risen in the last five years, from 1, 35, 925 in 2007 to 1, 86, 002 in 2011. Besides the large Indian diaspora in Australia will also be benefited through this service. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, twin-engine jet airliner with far superior flight experience, developed by Boeing. It is said to be the company’s most fuel-efficient airliner. The launch of the Dreamliner will be a significant development and a feather in the cap of the Indian aviation.
Both, the Union Minister of State for Tourism and the Union Minister for Aviation, are scheduled to travel, on the Air India’s maiden Dreamliner next month, and participate in the road shows in Sydney and Melbourne to spread awareness and boost the prospects of bi-lateral tourism. It may be recalled that the then Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson had earlier met Dr K Chiranjeevi in the month of December, 2012 and had called for direct air connectivity to boost tourism sector between the two countries. At that time Chiranjeevi had expressed his resolve to strengthen bi-lateral tourism between both the countries. The launch of the Dreamliner service is a significant step in that direction. To effectively leverage the launch of the Dreamliner, Ministry of Tourism will be organising a road shows in Australia, with the participation of Air India and the Travel and Tourism Industry in September to build on the better connectivity between two countries.