Visit California hosted the organisation’s first Sales Mission to India from Jan.13–17, 2020, visiting Delhi and Mumbai. The mission delegation, led by Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta, included California destination CEOs and senior travel executives from the state’s leading destinations, tourist attractionsand hotels. The mission marked the tenth anniversary of Visit California’s marketing activity in India.
The delegations met travel agents, tour operators, media and wedding planners on the multi-city mission. The delegates represented a variety of California’s family attractions, culinary experiences, outdoor adventure and signature laid-back luxury offerings, illustrating why the Golden State is one of the most preferred holiday destinations for upmarket travelers from India. In addition to two days of meetings, Visit California also hosted VIP networking events in both cities, and a media event in Delhi.
The Sales Mission run in conjunction with a fact-finding mission in Delhi, hosted by California’s Bay Area Council. Both missions were joined by California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, adding additional diplomatic impact to each delegation’s presence.In Delhi, Beteta was joined by the Executive Director of the California Film Commission, Colleen Bell. Beteta and Bell will meet the Film Producers Guild of India to unveil the “California Incentive Collection,” a set of offerings and incentives from California destinations and the California Film Commission. Offers will be available to the Guild, as well as other film, television and content production houses from India to encourage increased entertainment production in California.
The Indian market is critically important to California tourism. In 2018, 353,000 Indian travelers visited California, spending $1.1 billion in the state, with an average stay of 23.5days.Current projections show an annual 5% to 6% increase in visitation forecasted for the foreseeable future. It is estimated that by2023, Indian visitors will contribute over $1.5 billion to the state’s tourism economy.
California Sales Mission Delegates:
- Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau
- Citadel Outlets
- Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Hilton Hotels of San Francisco Union Square
- Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
- Los Angeles Tourism& Convention Board
- Mono County Tourism
- Pier 39
- Red and White Fleet
- Roaring Camp Railroads
- San Diego Zoo/ San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- San Francisco Travel Association
- Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
- Simon Shopping Destinations
- Universal Studios Hollywood
- Visit Santa Barbara
- Visit West Hollywood
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
