December 11, 2024 19:45 (IST)
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Australia eyes half million Indian tourists annually by 2020
Kolkata, June 5 (IBNS) Australia is hard-selling itself as an attractive tourist destinations to the rising number of Indian holidaymakers in the land of Oz as the footfall from the Asian nation increased in leaps and bounds while the two countries are hopeful of thrashing out a landmark economic cooperation treaty by year end to boost trade and investment, said a top diplomat of Australia here on Friday.
"From 200,000 visitors in last calendar year, the number of Indian visitors is set to touch 2,50,000 this year. We are eyeing the Indian market," Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling told IBNS here.
"We want half a million tourists from India in Australia every year by 2020," said Suckling.
In a press interaction, he said India and Australia are working seriously in making the India-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) a reality at the earliest.
"FTA may be a reality by the end of this year and it will open many doors. You open up and see what happens. But we are also realistic. For investments in both countries it is important to bring as many sectors under it as possible. We are sensitive to the issue of agriculture in India and while Australia itself is more open on the issue of agriculture, compared to Europe and USA, we are not heartless about the Indian situation," he said.
"We will require a lot of adjustments," he said, adding that agricultural protection in India will not be a stumbling block in the implementation of FTA.
"Everything we produce in Australia is high-cost and so we cannot anyway compete with India. But we would tell India not to close the door on everything. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants all to come and put skin in the business," said Suckling.
He said compared to 160 billion dollar trade with China, Australia's trade with India is only 15 billion dollars a year and it should be improved hoping that FTA wil provide for significant business opportunities for both countries.
(Reporting by Sujoy Dhar)
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"We want half a million tourists from India in Australia every year by 2020," said Suckling.
In a press interaction, he said India and Australia are working seriously in making the India-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) a reality at the earliest.
"FTA may be a reality by the end of this year and it will open many doors. You open up and see what happens. But we are also realistic. For investments in both countries it is important to bring as many sectors under it as possible. We are sensitive to the issue of agriculture in India and while Australia itself is more open on the issue of agriculture, compared to Europe and USA, we are not heartless about the Indian situation," he said.
"We will require a lot of adjustments," he said, adding that agricultural protection in India will not be a stumbling block in the implementation of FTA.
"Everything we produce in Australia is high-cost and so we cannot anyway compete with India. But we would tell India not to close the door on everything. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants all to come and put skin in the business," said Suckling.
He said compared to 160 billion dollar trade with China, Australia's trade with India is only 15 billion dollars a year and it should be improved hoping that FTA wil provide for significant business opportunities for both countries.
(Reporting by Sujoy Dhar)
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