Nishant Kashikar
For the last six years, the number of Indians visiting Australia has been growing in double digits, says Nishant Kashikar, country manager, India and Gulf, Tourism Australia. In 2020, the country was all set to welcome the highest number of Indian visitors ever seen in a calendar year, thanks to it hosting two World Cups (Men’s and Women’s T20), in addition to India’s tour of Australia.
Cut to the Covid-19 pandemic; Australia closed its borders, bringing tourism to its knees. Since then, the ICC T20 World Cup has been pushed to 2022, and while the India tour of Australia did carry on as planned, Indian fans couldn’t travel to watch it live.