Destination NSW (New South Wales) has appointed
Samar Chokshi as Country Manager – India, one of the state’s top
inbound markets.
Samar joins Destination NSW from Tourism Australia
in India, where he spearheaded a range of high-impact initiatives
to boost Australia’s appeal to leisure and business travellers.
“We are delighted to have a professional of
Samar’s caliber joining Destination NSW to help turbocharge the
growth of the Indian market to NSW. His track record in promoting Australia as a
destination in India is outstanding – as are his relationships
with stakeholders right across the Indian travel and tourism
sector,” said Destination NSW CEO, Steve Cox. “Samar’s appointment and strategic
partnerships to grow airline capacity and open new markets
underscore the importance of India to NSW and our commitment to
ensuring Sydney and NSW are well positioned for success.”
India is one of NSW’s priority markets, rebounding
strongly in the 12 months since Australia reopened its
international borders to now rank fourth in overseas arrivals.
Prior to the pandemic, India was the fastest growing market to
NSW, with Indian travellers spending an estimated $444 million in
the
year ending December 2019.
“NSW and Sydney have such a rich, diversity of
experiences and landscapes that are highly appealing to Indian
nationals and prospective visitors to Australia. Sydney and
surrounds plus the many stunning regions will be a key focus for
our Sydney-Plus strategy in India,” Samar said. “It’s an honour to lead marketing and promotional activities for NSW in
India and to identify new and growing opportunities to profile
this beautiful state.”