NEW DELHI: Promoting India as an incredible tourism destination is India's ‘goal' at the 2014 World Cup scheduled to be held in Brazil. According to India's tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai a promotional media blitzkerg showcasing brand ‘Incredible India', will be splashed all over the South American landscape. Sahai, said the government was looking at using the BRICS (a collaborative among the countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) connection to help push forward the campaign. “We are looking at the FIFA World Cup for big-time advertisement of India as a tourist destination as part of our plans to market India. The idea is to garner as many eyeballs as possible,” Sahai said. “Brazil will share its expertise with the other two in Beach Tourism while South Africa will focus on national parks and Eco-Tourism. India will provide inputs on Rural Tourism,” the Minister said speaking of joint tourism promotion efforts. The comments come not too long after the BRICS summit in New Delhi held last week. The Football World Cup is just one among many events in BRICS countries that India plans to use to promote tourism. “Compared to many other parts of the world, BRICS is better equipped to deal with tourism as they have more experience. What's more, we will be partnering half the world,” Sahai added. The five BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — make up half the world's population, are the fastest growing economies of the world and make up nearly a fifth of the world's economic output. “We are also looking at advertising during the London Olympics in July 2012,” said Sahai adding that the year 2013 could be declared as the India-China Tourism year provided diplomatic relations between the two countries do not strain. In its 12th five-year plan (2012-2017), India wants to increase its international tourism arrivals by one percentage point. This would involve a growth of 12 percent per year in the sector over the next five years.
