China's Ctrip invests $180 million in MakeMyTrip

Beijing: Travel website Ctrip.com has invested USD 180 million (about Rs 1,200 crore) in Indian online travel company MakeMyTrip.

The deal was conducted in the form of convertible bonds, Ctrip.com said in a statement today. "With the investment, we will have a place in the rising online travel market in India," Ctrip.com CEO Liang Jianzhang said.

The partnership will benefit both companies, as there are many similarities between China and India's online tourism, state-run Xinhua quoted MakeMyTrip CEO Deep Kalra saying.
Founded in 2000, MakeMyTrip is the biggest online travel agent in India. Tourism grew by 10 percent in the country last year, according to research company PhocusWright.

Online sales rose 16 percent last year. Ctrip.com said the move will make it easier for Chinese tourists to visit India. Over 100 million Chinese tourists visited abroad last year spending billions of dollars.

The increasing numbers of Chinese tourists abroad made India and number of countries to woo them with easy visa access.

India has extended the e-visa scheme to the Chinese tourists.