India Tourism shows a phenomenal growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals by over 15 % growth and 17% growth in Foreign Exchange Earnings in 2017 said Mr. K. J. Alphons, Union Minister of State for Tourism, Govt of India in Rajya Sabha recently.
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India is starts promote India as a holistic destination including its rich cultural, historical, religious and natural heritage.
According to provincial data, 1,01,77,248 foreign tourists has visited India in 2017 compared to 88,04,411 in 2016 with a growth rate of 15.6%. . Foreign Exchange earnings in 2017 is INR 1,80,379 crores. India received INR 1,54,146 crores in 2016.
The latest statistics also shows 10.2% growth in Foreign Exchange Earnings (In Rupee terms) in February 2018 over February 2017. FEEs during the month of February 2018 were Rs.17, 407 crore as compared to Rs.15,790 crore in February2017 and Rs.13,661 crore in February 2016.
FEEs during the period January- February 2018 were Rs.35,132 crore with a growth of 10.0%, as compared to the FEE of Rs.31,925 crore in January-February 2017 with a growth of 16.8% over January- February 2016.
The Foreign Tourist Arrivals in February, 2018 also shows a growth of 10.1% over February, 2017. The number of FTAs in February, 2018 was 10.53 lakh as compared to FTAs of 9.56 lakhs in February, 2017 and 8.49 lakhs in February, 2016.
62.0% growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals on e-Tourist Visa in February, 2018 over February, 2017.
The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during February 2018 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (18.28%) followed by USA (12.40%), UK (11.75%), Canada (4.36%), Russian Federation (4.20%), France (3.24%), Malaysia (3.14%), Germany (3.04%), Sri Lanka (2.89%), Australia (2.65%), China (2.33%), Japan (2.09%), Thailand (1.92%), Afghanistan (1.65%) and Nepal (1.41%) .
The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during February 2018 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (30.95%) followed by Mumbai Airport (15.85%), Haridaspur Land Check Post (8.58%), Chennai Airport (6.60%), Goa Airport (5.32%), Bengaluru Airport (4.93%), Kolkata Airport (4.75%), Cochin Airport (2.63%), Gede Rail Land Check Post (2.58%), Hyderabad Airport (2.39%),Ahmedabad Airport (2.05%), Amritsar Airport (1.46%), Sonauli Airport (1.28%), Ghojadanga Land Check Post (1.27%) and Trivandrum Airport (1.23%).
During the month of February, 2018, a total of 2.76 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1.70 lakh during the month of February, 2017 registering a growth of 62.0%.
During January- February 2018, a total of 5.16 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 3.22 lakh during January-February 2017, registering a growth of 60.3%.