INTRODUCTION
Key findings
High population
Lucrative investment
Destination
Luxury destination
Risk of terror attacks
International and national
conferences
Financial and commercial
capital
Expensive real estate
Film city – “Bollywood”
© Euromonitor International
Mumbai is the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan
population of 20.5 million.
The city is the most promising real estate investment destination in Asia
Pacific, with a very strong outlook.
Most of the hotels in Mumbai offer world class services, and cater mainly to
business travellers and high-end leisure tourists.
Mumbai faced terror attacks in July 2011, which resulted in a slowdown in the
inflow of tourists during the months of August and September.
Mumbai hosts the highest number of international conferences in India, and
this attracts business tourists. The city is also well-known for organising
leisure events, which attract international and domestic tourists.
India’s most important stock exchanges are located in Mumbai. These include
the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
Mumbai is ranked among the top 10 cities in the world for the cost of office
property. Average housing costs are also among the highest in India.
Mumbai is referred to as the Bollywood capital, as it is home to most of the
key players involved in film-making, including production houses, producers,
directors and actors.
TRAVEL AND TOURISM: CITY TRAVEL BRIEFING - MUMBAI PASSPORT 1
KEY FACTS

SWOT: Mumbai
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
Gateway to western and Business hub Inadequate offer for Public transportation and
southern India budget travellers infrastructure
 As the international  As the financial capital  Mumbai is strongly  Cheaper means of
gateway to southern of India, Mumbai positioned as a luxury public transportation are
and western India, attracts both inbound destination, making it not conducive to tourist
Mumbai acts as a transit and domestic business less accessible to budget travel as they are often
hub for foreign tourists tourists. Most travellers and more crammed with local
hoping to explore the international and vulnerable during times commuters.
beaches of Goa or the national financial of economic crisis, when  Traffic jams due to
Kerala Backwaters. institutions have key tourists are more likely to vehicle congestion and
offices in the city. seek budget destinations. road construction also
deter tourists from
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS exploring the city
Transit Hub Booming economy Heavy reliance on Competing destinations
business tourists
 Mumbai is used as a  With India’s economy  As the financial capital  Its neighbouring state of
transit hub by expected to continue of India, Mumbai Gujarat is making
international tourists growing at a rapid rate, continues to be heavily substantial investments
visiting Goa, and could Mumbai will have a reliant on business to lure MICE travellers.
promote Marine Drive, higher proportion of tourists, both domestic  Aurangabad is
and other famous wealthy Indians willing and international. Any overhauling its
shopping areas, such as to travel overseas for financial slowdown is monuments, airports
Colaba, to attract these vacations. likely to hit tourism and roads to attract
tourists. significantly. leisure tourists.

© Euromonitor International TRAVEL AND TOURISM: CITY TRAVEL BRIEFING - MUMBAI PASSPORT 2
TOURISM FLOWS

Inbound arrivals suffer lower growth after the terrorist attacks

Mumbai Arrivals by Country 2010/2011  A total of 2.4 million tourists travelled to Mumbai in
2011, compared to 2.2 million in 2010.
% Growth
‘000 trips 2010 2011  Growth in 2011 was around 7%, which is
2010/2011 comparatively lower than growth in 2010.
Western Europe 761 780 2.58  The major causes for lower growth were the
North America 469 489 4.24 terrorist attacks in July, which impacted both
inbound and domestic tourism.
East Asia 149 170 13.59
 The UK and the US remained the largest source
Africa 163 175 6.89 countries, with around 17% of arrivals in 2011.
West Asia 155 165 5.98 Historically, these two countries have led arrivals;
however, they have lost share year-on-year.
Southeast Asia 95 106 11.09
 East Asia and Southeast Asia were the two fastest
Australasia 184 201 8.76 growing source markets in 2011.
Eastern Europe 47 51 8.03  Mumbai is the starting point for tourists exploring
South Asia 141 146 3.09 central and south India.
Central and South  Mumbai hosted three matches during the ICC
60 68 12.83 Cricket World Cup in 2011, including the final,
America
which attracted many tourists.
TOTAL 2,224 2,349 7.02

© Euromonitor International TRAVEL AND TOURISM: CITY TRAVEL BRIEFING - MUMBAI PASSPORT 3
TOURISM FLOWS
Business leads visitor demand
Business and MICE arrivals
 Business arrivals to Mumbai account for about
70% of the total. These are driven in part by trade
events and conferences taking place throughout
the year.
 Mumbai is also a key business hub and home to a
number of national and international companies’
regional headquarters, such as Aditya Birla Group
and Reliance Industries.
 The city is well equipped with business hotels and
convention centres to cater to business tourists.
 The US and UK lead business arrivals in Mumbai.
Most business travellers from the US visit Chennai
and Bangalore, the IT hubs.
© Euromonitor International TRAVEL AND TOURISM: CITY TRAVEL BRIEFING - MUMBAI
Leisure destination
 Leisure arrivals to Mumbai are driven by the tourist
attractions available in the Mumbai and
Aurangabad circle. These range from heritage
sites, including the Ellora caves, to religious sites,
such as Shirdi.
 Mumbai is also popular for shopping, with a
number of shopping malls in the city, where many
major fashion, electronics and other brands are
found. South Mumbai, including Colaba, is well
known for street shopping and therefore attracts
leisure tourists.
PASSPORT 4
TOURISM FLOWS

Domestic tourism is fast growing

 The number of domestic tourists in Mumbai has

been growing continuously over the years, in line
with the growth of domestic tourism in the country.
 The number of domestic tourists grew by a CAGR
of 10% between 2006 and 2011, and is expected
to grow at a CAGR of 9% during the period 2011-
2016
 The 2011 Cricket World Cup contributed to growth
in domestic trips. The leading cricket stadium
hosted 33,000 spectators and over 70% were
domestic tourists.
 Mumbai has a higher number of domestic business
trips than Delhi by virtue of being the financial
capital of the country, and business accounts for
the majority share of total tourism.
 Mumbai attracts many domestic leisure tourists
because of the temperate climate, proximity to the
ocean as well as to Goa, and its status as the film
capital. Tourists from north India visit Mumbai
especially during the winter months of December
and January

© Euromonitor International TRAVEL AND TOURISM: CITY TRAVEL BRIEFING - MUMBAI PASSPORT 5