''If you haven't seen India before, the PATA 2002 is a good excuse," PATA's Sheron Hannaford told members who gathered at the India Tourist Office in Sydney for an update on the upcoming New Delhi conference. "and if you've already been there, " she added, "then PATA 2002 has a program to make you glad the decision to go again." The evening organized by the India Tourism (Sydney) office saw the top echelons of PATA membership arrive for a formal invitation extended by India's Consul in Sydney, M. Ganapathi. He made a compelling case for members to attend the conference and closed with a short film which portrayed the attractions that awaited them in India. Anil Oraw of the Tourist Office, mentioned the growing popularity of India as a destination for Australians. "Popularity that has seen tourist numbers from Australia grow by an average of over 20 percent each year for the last five years," he said. "Beside, India is being inundated with glorious images of Australia on television and in Bollywood movies that use the country as a popular location. All of this reflective in an increase in Indian travellers also coming here in greater numbers. Growing traffic in both directions is good for business all round, "the consul general concluded.

Anil Oraw 02 9264 4855 Indtour@ozemail.com.au