New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) Showcasing their upcoming festival in August, Geneva's tourism authority hopes to attract some 5,000 tourists during from India during the 10-day event and has even notified the country as the guest of honour."This year, thanks to the festival, we hope to attract 30 percent more Indian tourists to Geneva. Last year there were some 45,000 bed-nights business generated out of the Indian tourists visiting our city," Philippe Vignon, director of Geneva Tourism, told IANS.
"This is a 10-day festival in and around Lake Geneva. It focusses on everything from food and entertainment to handicraft and many other things from not just Geneva but entire Switzerland," Vignon said.
"It is like 'Delhi Haat' around Lake Geneva."
The official was here to sign a memorandum of understanding between his agency and the Indian government's tourism ministry for hosting India as the guest of honour at the Geneva festival and other activities.
According to him, around 5,000-strong Indian delegation and tourists were expected to attend the festival in August this year. During this year as a whole, the city was expected to generate some 60,000 bed night business out of Indian tourists.
While the Indian tourist to Geneva only account for 1.7 percent of the total inflow of 2.58 million to the city, Vignon believes there is a tremendous potential in promoting tourism with the second-fastest growing country in the world.
In fact, as per the latest Forbes rich list, India is home to many billionnaires and a growing number of people were creating wealth like never before. Several global studies also list India among countries that have the fastest growing millionnaire club.
"There is tremendous potential for tourism and business also. The festival itself is a big opportunity for India to showcase its market and products and also its tourism as well," Vignon said.
Officials said the festival will also mark one of the largest fireworks display.
Geneva, which is studded with important international organisations and global business and financial companies' headquarters, has 45 percent of its population as foreigners and is an import tourist destination in Europe.