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Washington D.C. Is Targeting More Markets in India For Tourists

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Washington D.C. Is Targeting More Markets in India For Tourists


Skift Take

Think Washington D.C. is all business suits and formal wear? Destination DC’s CEO wants you to think again.

Elliott Ferguson, CEO of Destination DC, knows what’s needed to boost Indian arrivals to the U.S. capital.

Along with others in the travel industry, Ferguson calls out the U.S. visa process as the primary hurdle for Indian travelers. Despite some improvements, the wait for a visa interview still exceeds 300 days.

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“Economically, the U.S. understands the importance of tourism, but if we do not make it easier for the international tourists to come into the country, we’re missing out on opportunities,” Ferguson told Skift during his recent trip to India.

And while the average stay of an Indian tourist coming in to Washington is 3.5 nights, Ferguson said they are targeting day trippers, who come to the city thinking there won’t be much to see and do.

“We want visitors to really experience America as a whole — we only wish that they start their trip in Washington and end it in the city as we want them to stay for more than just a night.”

More Nonstop Flights and Targeting More Markets

The increase in Indian arrivals has been encouraging. Ferguson, said Washington D.C. had more than 147,000 visitors from India in 2023, a 50% increase from 2022 and 11% ahead of pre-pandemic numbers.

Ferguson identified the need for more nonstop flights.

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Currently Air India is the only airline flying direct between Delhi and Washington. Before Covid, Washington D.C. had more direct flights connecting it with Indian cities.

Ferguson also emphasized the importance of targeting key markets beyond Delhi and Mumbai, focusing on cities like Goa, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Ludhiana and Chandigarh.

D.C.’s Image

Washington D.C. is the seventh most visited destination in the U.S. by the overseas global community. Ferguson acknowledged that being a small city with 700,000 people, the city can’t accommodate 40 million visitors, and can never by Number 1. But he wants to make sure that more international overseas tourists are aware of what Washington has to offer.

He wants to dispel Washington’s “serious” image, let visitors to know that the city is also fun.

Washington DC. is also a popular destination for business travel, as well meetings, incentives, conventions and events. Happy with the performance in that sector, Ferguson said Destination DC wants to make sure that 60% of trade shows in Washington are international.

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“However, trade shows are saying that they are not seeing countries like China and India come because of how long it takes to get a visa. We want to make it easier to get these people to come into our country,” he said.

Ferguson said that for now the city would be targeting the 4 million U.S. visas that are already held by Indians. The U.S. Embassy in India usually issues tourist visas for a 10-year period. “So there’s a targeted market there that we continue to focus on,” he said.

Discussions at the Skift India Summit taking place in Delhi-NCR from March 19-20, will center around the outbound Indian traveler.

Skift India Summit Registration

Discounted price of $495 (Solo) and $445 (Group) for a limited time only. Full-price tickets are $745 (Solo) and $695 (Group).

Please read our FAQ for details about refunds, safety procedures, and other details.

Subscriber Benefits

Subscribers to Skift Research, Skift Pro, Daily Lodging Report, Skift Short-Term Rental Report, and Airline Weekly receive discounts off full-price tickets to in-person events. Visit our Subscriber Benefits page to find your discount code. 

Online Attendees

A limited number of free online tickets will be released in the spring for paid subscribers.



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Washington, D.C

AAPI Data Releases 2026 AAPI State Fact Sheets, Highlighting the Growing Influence of AAPI Communities Across All 50 States and Washington, D.C. – AAPI Data

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AAPI Data Releases 2026 AAPI State Fact Sheets, Highlighting the Growing Influence of AAPI Communities Across All 50 States and Washington, D.C. – AAPI Data



MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Ong
press@aapidata.com

AAPI Data Releases 2026 AAPI State Fact Sheets, Highlighting the Growing Influence of AAPI Communities Across All 50 States and Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC – Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) and AAPI Data today released the 2026 AAPI State Fact Sheets, a comprehensive set of demographic and voter data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Updated every two years, the fact sheets provide policymakers, advocates, researchers, journalists, campaigns, and community organizations with essential data on the nation’s fastest-growing racial demographic and voter bloc.

“AAPI voters are shaping elections nationwide, yet our communities are still too often overlooked or misunderstood,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote.  “These fact sheets give organizers, policymakers, media, and advocates the context they need to build more informed, effective, and inclusive engagement strategies and to better understand AAPI communities’ growing impact on American democracy.”

“Our communities are growing rapidly in places well beyond the Northeast and the Pacific West,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, Founder and Executive Director of AAPI Data. “It is critical for news media, funders, and civic engagement organizations to use these updated findings to ensure accuracy and efficacy in their work.”

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The 2026 State Fact Sheets include state-specific information on:

  • AAPI population and eligible voters
  • Population growth trends
  • Citizenship and immigration data
  • Language access and English proficiency
  • Economic indicators, including poverty and health insurance coverage
  • Geographic concentrations by county
  • Voter demographics and civic engagement

The fact sheets are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and include both monoracial and multiracial AAPI populations. Together, these data provide a more complete picture of AAPI communities and equip decision-makers with the information needed to better serve and engage one of the country’s fastest-growing populations. 

The 2026 AAPI State Fact Sheets are available for free and may be downloaded individually by state or as a combined report at: https://apiavote.org/policy-and-research/aapi-demographics-by-state/. The factsheets can also be found on the AAPI Data website: https://aapidata.com/demographics/2026-aapi-voter-state-fact-sheets


About AAPI Data

AAPI Data is a national research and policy organization producing accurate data to support community narratives that drive action toward enduring solutions for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Learn more at aapidata.com.

About APIAVote

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Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement. See our website for more information at https://www.apiavote.org/



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Kronenwetter mom in D.C. to remember son, victims of internet crimes

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Kronenwetter mom in D.C. to remember son, victims of internet crimes


WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAW) – It’s a day for gathering and remembering victims of internet crimes.

The parents of Bradyn Bohn, the D.C. Everest teen who was a victim of sextortion, are in Washington, D.C. for the event.

A sign with Bradyn’s picture, his name, ‘forever 15′– along with too many more– sit outside the capitol.

It’s the inaugural ‘Social Media Victims Remembrance Day.’ A number of lawmakers were on hand. Bradyn’s mom, Brittney Bird, says Congress needs to choose families over big tech.

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“My first thought is it’s absolutely heartbreaking,” she said. ”None of us should be here. These groups have been doing this for coming up on four years now. And there hasn’t been a change. If four years ago there would have been a change, my son would be here. Countless children would still be here. It’s heartbreaking, but at the same time there’s strength in numbers. So there’s that strength. And it gives us hope, you know, that things will change and that we’ve got each other.”

Bradyn died by suicide in March 2025 after a sextortion scheme. The efforts of his parents helped lead to the creation of Bradyn’s Law, signed into law last December. It established sextortion as a new crime, and imposes severe penalties on perpetrators.

Click here to download the WSAW news app or WSAW First Alert weather app.

Click here to submit a news tip or story idea.

Copyright 2026 WSAW. All rights reserved.

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First Nebraska civics bee champion crowned, will head to Washington, D.C. for national competition

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First Nebraska civics bee champion crowned, will head to Washington, D.C. for national competition


The state competition, which was put on by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, had three rounds. The first two rounds included 20 multiple choice questions about various historical documents, court cases and civics concepts.

In the final round, the top five students gave short pitches about the essays they submitted on improving a problem in their community. Bernal wrote about the Tyson Plant closure after she visited Lexington in December.

“Things were really starting to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, the Tyson plant is actually closing,’” Bernal said. “Around two weeks later, during the first day back from winter break, my social studies teacher said we’re going to be writing an essay about a problem we see in our community. I thought, ‘Wow, this is something really positive I could use my voice for.’”

In her essay, Bernal said she wanted to bring awareness to the closure and host job fairs for those impacted. Other topics included student mental health, impacts of flooding and the childcare crisis.

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Tara Lea, executive vice president of partnerships and programs for the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said more than 500 students submitted essays across Nebraska, making the state fifth in the nation for participation and first per capita.

“We had no idea what to expect when we signed up to do this,” Lea said. “We were just excited all 50 states were doing it. We were proud to be one of them, but Nebraska showed up.”



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