India's tourism sector set to grow

India's ministry of tourism believes that the country's tourist industry is set to see strong growth.

According to Rajen Habib Khwaja, the secretary of the ministry, India has experienced a strong surge in interest from overseas over the past few months and the outlook for the sector remains positive. He explained: "India today is emerging as a major economy of the world with growth rate of more than eight per cent per annum. The tourism industry in India is set to grow even at a higher pace."

Recent figures published by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation showed that the Asia and Pacific region saw a 14 per cent increase in international visitors during August 2010 despite the worldwide economic recession.

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Games will boost India's appeal

India's decision to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games will help boost the international profile of the country, claims a holiday tour firm.

Annonline.com believes that the event will enable the local tourist industry to develop a brand image for the country and therefore increase the number of holidaymakers opting to take flights to Mumbai and other Indian cities.

Charles Glanville from Annonline.com explained the Commonwealth Games has led to the firm developing new tours to take in the key sporting venues. He also explained that the Games have encouraged greater investment in restoration work on the country's historic attractions.

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Best Time to Travel in India

The best time to travel in India depends upon the location of the place you want to visit and the type of experience you are looking forward to. Though, flights to India are available throughout the year, most places are best visited during the winter months of October to February. This is the time when Mother Nature envelops the scenic hill regions in a carpet of snow.

Goa and other beach destinations should also be visited during winters when the sun, sand and sea are pleasantly warm. This hot favourite destination further shoots in popularity on New Year’s Eve, when an overwhelmingly festive aura lures tourists in hordes. South India, with its captivating sights and serene backwaters is best visited during December and January, when the retreating monsoon refreshingly cools up the belt. Similar is the story with Mumbai and other spots of Maharashtra. Winters are also the right time for exploring famed Northern Indian destinations like Delhi and Rajasthan.

Escape to the hills during the intense summer months of April to September. In fact, some of the hill destinations become totally snowed up and inaccessible during winters. Uttarakhand’s Valley of Flowers becomes a riot of colours. Summers are also ideal for trekking the Himalayas. The arduous climb to the famous Kedarnath shrine of Uttarakhand offers a great tame trekking experience. Innumerable hill stations like Ooty, Darjeeling, Nainital, Gangtok and Shimla spoil tourists and locals for choice during summers when the sun god is at his unholy worst.

During festivals, the country bursts into a colourful milieu. Venerable Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Pushkar Mela (the cattle fair of Rajasthan), Lohri (a festival of the flamboyant Punjabi community) Christmas, the New Year, and the Republic Day to name a few, are celebrated with zeal.

A word of caution before you embark on your journey. ‘Pan India flights are so high in numbers that you will be boggled with an infinite choice of holiday packages’ and cheap flights to India destinations. So, get, set and go…