This is in today's Hindustan times. Makes we desi feel proud.

India in Lonely Planet’s top 5
HT Corporate Bureau
New Delhi, January 15

India as a destination is getting hotter. A survey conducted by the Lonely Planet guidebook has ranked India the fourth most popular destination in the world. Thailand, Italy and Australia occupy the first three places, while New Zealand is fifth.

Over 7,500 respondents from 134 countries participated in the online survey which marked Lonely Planet's 30th anniversary year. The participants were predominantly from Europe, North America and Australia.

A third of all travellers nominated Asia as their favourite region. Europe followed a close second with 30 per cent.

Thailand, considered the most hospitable country, received 20 per cent of the overall vote followed by Australia (13 per cent).

According to the Ministry of Tourism, inbound tourism to India boomed during the winter months with a 15 per cent growth and an additional Rs 3,000 crore earnings in foreign exchange.

\"Our focus on infrastructure and promotion of India in key source markets has paid off,\" said Rathi Vinay Jha, secretary, Tourism.

\"The 'Incredible India' campaign has enabled us to tap source markets like Europe and increase the inflow from there,\" Amitabh Kant, joint secretary (tourism), told HT.

The Lonely Planet survey found that the 'typical independent traveller' of the 21st century was a professional, with a degree or postgraduate qualification. The backpackers of the 1980s and 1990s too are travelling but they have \"refined their travel habits and choose their destinations and travel style carefully\".

Hot, hotter, hottest

>> 7,500 respondents from 134 countries took part in Lonely Planet’s online survey

>> The top nominated countries were Thailand, Italy, Australia, India and New Zealand

>> Among the participants’ predictions for the next big thing in travel was space travel

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Pramod Chopra
Senior Mortgage Consultant
Mortgage Alliance Company of Canada

if Indian Tourism does marketing like America it can grow many many many times its current capacity.

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