Now Indian Actors to Boost Australia's TourismBALH

Now Indian Actors to Boost Australia's Tourism Efforts

SYDNEY — Indian TV actors Saakshi Tanwar and Ram Kapoor may not be as well-known as Oprah Winfrey, but the pair are set to follow in the footsteps of the U.S. chat show queen in upping the profile of Australia as a tourist destination.

The stars of 'Bade Acche Lagte Hain,' produced by Balaji Telefilms for Sony TV, will jet to Australia for filming of the latest series of the top-rated drama, which is watched by 42 million viewers on the subcontinent. The plot involves the couple taking their honeymoon in Sydney, a decision that Australian officials hope will trigger a wave of other love-struck Indians travelling Down Under.

"This provides us with an opportunity to showcase the best of Sydney and surrounds as a honeymoon destination," says George Souris, New South Wales state's minister for tourism and major events.

Sydney's attractions include the iconic Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Bondi Beach and nearby wilderness spots like the Blue Mountains National Park.

In the year ending June 30, India ranked as New South Wales's 11th biggest market in terms of visitor numbers and was worth 826 million Australian dollars ($885 million) in total expenditure to Australia.

But this has the potential to take off rapidly through better marketing, officials say. Tourism Australia estimates that Indian visitors have the potential to spend up to $2.25 billion Australian dollars by 2020.

The state's profile will also rise when the Indian cricket team tours Australia from mid-December to early March, while New South Wales tourist officials have signed an initial agreement with Singapore Airlines to work together on marketing campaigns in the Indian market.

This may also help improve Australia's image in India after a spate of attacks on Indian students in 2009, an incident of "curry bashing" earlier this year in which the Australian authorities charged a 15-year-old boy with murder and the controversy over a swimsuit designed by an Australian designer which featured a Hindu goddess.

Australian tourism officials have been stepping up promotional activities to counter the negative impact of the rapid appreciation of the Australian dollar, which has made the country more expensive for many overseas visitors, including those from the U.S. and U.K.

Earlier this year, Oprah Winfrey hosted a series of Australia-themed shows in the shadow of the Sydney Opera House, and visited tourist hotspots like Hamilton Island in the picturesque Whitsundays region of Queensland state with the backing of Tourism Australia.

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