BANGKOK/NEW DELHI, July 17 (Reuters) – Indian tourists are streaming into Southeast Asia, cementing the world’s most populous country’s position as a key growth market for a travel and tourism sector that is feeling the pinch of China’s slower-than-expected re-opening.
From airlines like IndiGo (INGL.NS) and Thai Airways (THAI.BK) to hospitality chains offering thousands of rooms, companies are tapping into India’s burgeoning middle-class and growing spending power, executives and analysts said.
“Southeast Asia is obviously very well positioned for a lot of the growth that is inevitably going to come from India,” aviation analyst Brendan Sobie told an industry conference last month.
The travel and tourism industry is critical for several Southeast Asian economies and contributed about 12% of the region’s gross domestic product before the COVID-19 pandemic. It also employs more than 40…
