How to Win Indian Tourists: Start With the Food
Photo Credit: Unsplash / Georgios Domouchtsidis
Skift Take
Destinations are responding to the demands of Indian tourists, making Indian food and services a common sight in global travel hotspots.
On my recent trip to Hanoi, walking through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, I had no trouble finding comfort food: Indian restaurants were thriving in almost every lane. It was a stark contrast to my visit in 2019, when I struggled to find any.
It makes perfect sense: In 2023, Vietnam brought in 392,000 Indian visitors, a 231% increase from 2019, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT). In just the first half of this year, Indian tourist numbers grew by 164%. This isn’t just happening in Vietnam — other nations are similarly responding to the demands of Indian tourists, making Indian food and services a common sight in global travel hotspots.
According to Booking.com’s Travel Confidence Index 2023, over half of Indian travelers consider it crucial to have access to Indian food.
Dubai is a prime example of this trend. Indians make up the largest group of internat
