Wednesday, March 8 2006 10:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Berlin: Singling out India and China as the main drivers of growth in the travel and tourism industry, a report released at the International Tourism Fair here hassaid that India enjoys an edge over its neighbor as the average Indian traveller is considered a 'highly valuable proposition' abroad.

"Many European destinations are rethinking their China strategies and are starting to invest more in India. While China is a controlled and regulated market, Indians are already free to travel abroad wherever, whenever and however they wish," said the report, released at ITB-Berlin, the world's largest travel and tourism fair which begins today(Mar 8,2006).

"Compared to the Chinese, Indians have a higher level of travel experience and speak much better English," it said adding that the average Indian traveller was a 'highly valuable proposition' because of higher disposable incomes, growing aspirations and the country's continued liberalization of its foreign policies. "Many countries around the world recognise the potential of the market, which like China and Russia, is one of the world's best spenders. This makes the Indian leisure traveler abroad a highly valuable proposition a fact undervalued by the Indian travel industry", the report pointed out.