Working in India and the Indian subcontinent

Indian head-hunters are looking for the expertise of more experienced European managers to help move businesses forward. While this applies mostly in technological fields, there are opportunities in hospitality too. Tourism is a growing industry and luxury hotels are springing up everywhere.

The recent Indian Ocean tsunami will have an effect on tourism for some time to come, with the south-east coast particularly badly affected.

Upsides

• The chance to travel and see India, from the north and the Himalayas to the south and the tropics of the Indian Ocean, is definitely a major bonus
• India is rapidly catching up with technology and the modern industrialised world - don't expect a developing nation, although some things may not be up to Western standards.

Downsides

• This is the second most populated country on the planet, so expect people everywhere, all the time
• The summer can be stiflingly hot - so check the air-conditioning situation of apartments, offices and cars
• Expect to be the odd one out in a cultural sense.

General facts
Official name: Republic of India
Population:1,067,421,100
Capital: New Delhi (population: 10.2 million)
Languages: Hindi, Bengali, numerous others
Currency: rupee
Religions: Hindu, Muslim, numerous others
Land area: 2,973,190sq km (1,147,949sq miles)
Climate: In the north and central region, during the winter months, cooling winds from the Himalayas generate mild and dry conditions. In the far south and along the Arabian Sea coastline, conditions remain hot and humid most of the year. The spring months are very hot, as winds from the Indian Ocean blast the country. With summer come the monsoon rains.

Where to find out more

www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/in.html
www.tourindia.com/htm/homepage.htm
www.india-travel.com/
www.indianembassy.org/

Sri Lanka

In the news for all the wrong reasons, beautiful Sri Lanka was one of the countries worst affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. Before this disaster, the country's tourism was suffering from the ongoing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists. It could be a while before tourism gets back to normal here, so be sure to check out the latest information from the Foreign Office website - see: www.fco.org

General facts
Official name: Sri Lanka
Population: 19,905,000
Capital: Colombo (population, 656,000; metropolitan area, 2.4 million
Languages: Sinhala, Tamil, others
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
Religions: Buddhist (70%), Hindu, others
Land area: 64,740sq km (24,996sq miles)
Climate: Sri Lanka is hot and humid throughout the year. Summer monsoons, from May to October, cover much of the island with rain. In the dry season, severe drought is not uncommon.

Where to find out more

www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html
www.srilankatourism.org/

Maldives

Surely, this is pure paradise - 1,200 islands strung in a series of coral atolls just north of the equator in the Indian Ocean. Hotel companies have been quick to see the benefits, and Four Seasons, Hilton and the Taj Group all have resorts on the islands. The main attractions are the fishing and scuba diving, as well as the complete "get away from it all" feeling.

General facts
Official name: Republic of Maldives
Population: 286,000
Capital: Malé (population: 81,000)
Languages: Maldivian Dhivehi, English
Currency: rufiyaa
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Land area: 300sq km (116sq miles)

Where to find out more
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/mv.html
www.visitmaldives.com.mv

Seychelles

This country is made of more than 20 islands off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, which are popular for weddings and honeymoons in particular. Once again, game fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling are the main attractions for visitors.

General facts

Official name: Republic of the Seychelles
Population: 82,000
Capital: Victoria (population: 23,000)
Currency: Seychelles rupee
Languages: English (official), French (official)
Religions: Catholic Christian, others
Land area: 270 sq km (104 sq miles)
Climate: lying south of the Equator, the Seychelles are warm and humid throughout the year, with high temperatures staying between 78º and 83º. The South-east monsoon season is from late May to September, when the temperature cools slightly, warming up during the North-west monsoon from March to May.

Where to find out more:www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/se.html
www.seychelles-travel.co.uk/