PA/17/14 28 May 2014
AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION REACHES TOURISM MILESTONE
The Australian High Commission in New Delhi is celebrating a new landmark - for the first time in its history it has issued more than 100,000 tourism visas to Indians in a single financial year.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Mr Patrick Suckling, held a brief ceremony at his Residence to mark the achievement.
The High Commissioner felicitated New Delhi resident Mr Manoj Saraogi, who received the 100,000th tourism visa issued in the 2013-14 Australian financial year.* Mr Saraogi’s wife and two children also attended the event.
Mr Saraogi and his family will leave New Delhi next week for a holiday to The Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne and Sydney.
Mr Suckling gave Mr Saraogi and his wife a gift to mark the occasion- two free Bridge Climb vouchers, which will allow them both to climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and get a bird’s eye view of Sydney’s beautiful harbour.
“I’m sure Mr Saraogi and his family will have a wonderful time in Australia”, Mr Suckling said.
“They will not only get the chance to enjoy Sydney’s iconic sights, they will also be able to relax on the Gold Coast’s stunning beaches, and explore one of the world’s greatest living treasures- The Great Barrier Reef.”
Mr Suckling said Mr Saraogi and his family will join an increasing number of Indians who are travelling to Australia for tourism, business, and to visit friends and family.
“The number of Indian visitors to Australia in the first three months of 2014 jumped by 10 per cent, fuelled by increasing numbers of tourists, and people visiting friends and family within the growing Indian diaspora in Australia”, Mr Suckling said.
“Tourism is vital part of the broader bilateral relationship between India and Australia, and we expect that these numbers will keep on growing.”
*1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014