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Unconventional destinations are travellers' pick

Countries like Bhutan, Oman and Egypt are trying new strategies to lure travel enthusiasts

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Sanjay Hakhu, director, Sphere Travel Media, and Rohit Hangal Director, Sphere Travelmedia, at KTPO trade centre, Bangalore.
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If you thought that Egypt is only about pyramids and mummies, then you need to think again.

Dr Adel El Masry, the director of the Egyptian Tourism Office in India is working hard to position Egypt as a water sports and adventure destination. From diving in the Red Sea, to snorkelling at Sharm El Sheikh, to lazing around the beaches at El Gouna, to cruising in River Nile, the Egyptian tourism department is doing it all to attract travellers from Bangalore and India.

According to Dr Masry, the Egyptian revolution of 2010-11 led to a drop in the tourist inflow by 25%. "We are trying to re-position Egypt beyond just pyramids, as an adventure tourist spot for its white deserts, horse riding and water sports around the Red Sea and beaches," says Dr Masry.

Before the revolution, Egypt would receive over 176,000 Indian tourists annually. The number dropped to one lakh per year post the revolution. "The country is now very safe and stable. We want to increase flow of Indian tourists by atleast 25%," says Dr Masry.

Phuntsho Gyeltshen, tourism officer, Tourism Council of Bhutan, who feels that though his country is getting popular with Indians, echoes Dr Masry's ideas. He feels that Bhutan should be seen beyond a cultural destination overflowing with mountains.

"There is lot of adventure activities like white water rafting, mountain biking, spas, meditation and wellness that takes place in Bhutan. We are hoping to promote tourism on those lines as well," says Gyeltshen, adding that annually about 50,000 visitors from India.

"By participating in travel fairs and exhibitions, we are hoping to increase these numbers," says Gyeltshen. Bhutan, Egypt and Oman are also aggressively marketing their heritage and destinations to attract travel buffs- a strategy that Malaysia and Thailand followed years ago. "We want the evolved traveller to come and visit us," says Lubaina Sheerazi, India Representative, Oman Tourism.

Though Oman has always had a huge number of Indian expatriates, as a travel spot, we have started promoting the country only since 2010. We want Indians to look at it as a place beyond the desert, and consider the turtle nesting spot, beaches, mountain camping options, gorges, canyons etc," says Sheerazi.

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