The West Midlands Growth Company has launched a new partnership with the Indian market, the West Midlands India Partnership (WMIP), which aims to boost tourism between the countries over the next five years.
It has been developed in partnership with Invest India, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Consulate General of Birmingham office.
The region has seen the tourist visits increase by 16% in the last five years, with more than 38,000 Indian tourists visiting the Midlands in 2018. WMIP aims to expand on this strong foundation through targeted marketing and communications campaigns, to encourage new Indian visitors and businesses to the West Midlands.
Neil Rami, chief executive of the West Midlands Growth Company said: ?The West Midlands-India relationship is a priority for our region?s tourism, trade and investment programme, as we prepare for the shared opportunities that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will bring.?
Through WMIP, towns in the Midlands and India will explore joint activity through a twin city model, enabling both places to expand their networks, seek investment and collaborate on investment and visitor projects.
The partnership will support a government-funded cricket match in Birmingham in 2022 Commonwealth Games, with the Tourism, Trade and Investment Programme designed to maximise the economic benefits of the global spectacle. The programme will feature in-market activity linked to Games-focused events such as the Queen?s Baton Relay.
