Increase In Number Of Indians Holidaying In Australia’s Victoria Region

Increase In Number Of Indians Holidaying In Australia’s Victoria RegionThere has been a 26% growth in Indians vacationing in Australia's Victoria state during the last year as against the corresponding period in 2008.

The data has been disclosed by a survey, which comes in the backdrop of a series of attacks on Indian pupils in Australia.

State Tourism Minister Tim Holding stated that more Indian residents than ever were vacationing in Victoria.

"The results were a great achievement when you consider the negative media coverage from incidents involving Indian students," Tim added.

The Tourism Research Australia review published Thursday expressed the number of Indians traveling to Victoria increased by 26% in 2009 as compared to 2008.

The survey showed that around 50,700 tourers traveled to Victoria, contributing about $257 million to its economic system.

Premier John Brumby said, "There are a lot of complex factors at work in terms of our relationship with India. Obviously the student violence issue... has had some negative impacts in the (Indian) community. I hope that we are past the worst of that."

The spate of attacks on Indians in Australia has caused an outcry in India. (With Input from Agencies)