Outbound

Tourism Houston eyeing Asia, Middle East

Andrea Lopez - Mumbai

Aiming to target both the leisure and business markets, Houston is eyeing Asia and the Middle East for better participation from these regions on the tourism front, and is hopeful that Emirates Airlines' non-stop service from Dubai to Houston will help in this regard. The airline’s operational increase from thrice a week to daily services since February 2008 makes Houston Emirates' second US gateway and the state is determined not to lose out on the opportunities this presents, particularly to boost tourism in the state.

Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Ed Dramberger, tourism marketing manager, Europe, Middle East & Asia, Greater Houston Convention & Visitor's Bureau, who was in Mumbai recently, said, "Houston is opening as a business and leisure destination like never before, especially with the enhanced air connectivity between the UAE and Texas. We are therefore open to working with travel agents in Mumbai and New Delhi."

Apart from being home to the world's largest rodeo and livestock show, the state also boasts of nearly 70 restaurants in the mid-scale and upscale segment, 165 golf courses and 'the Galleria', the fourth largest shopping centre in the US. The Houston Pavilion, a mall on a grand scale is also scheduled to be opened in 2008. Remarks Dramberger, "Houston has a large percentage of Indian population, second only to California, making it a popular destination for VFRs, which is about 15 per cent of total tourist into Houston." He also mentioned that construction of larger convention centres was on the anvil. "A new cruise terminal is scheduled to open in the next few months and we are in talks with more cruises to begin operations," he said. The state is also eyeing the Latin American markets, including Argentina and Chile.