India sees over 15% growth in foreign tourist arrivals

New Delhi, August 17

India has registered a growth of over 15 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals from January to July this year, with many opting for e-visa facility, the tourism ministry said in a statement.

The highest number of tourists arrived from Bangladesh (20.12 per cent), followed by the US (16.26 per cent), the UK (10.88 per cent) and France (3.01 per cent), said the statement which was released on Wednesday.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) from January to July 2017 were 56.74 lakh, recording a growth of 15.7 per cent as compared to 49.03 lakh in the corresponding period last year, it said.

A total of 7.88 lakh foreign tourists arrived in India in July, an increase of 7.4 per cent as compared to the same month last year, it said.

The ministry said foreign tourists, who arrived on e-visa, also substantially increased in July.

A total of 1.19 lakh tourists came on e-visa last month as compared to 0.68 lakh in July 2016, registering a growth of 73.3 per cent.

From January to July this year, a total of 8.36 lakh tourists arrived on e-visa as compared to 5.4 lakh during the corresponding period last year, recording a growth of 54.7 per cent, the statement said.

The UK’s share was highest among the tourists availing e-visa facility at 12.9 per cent, followed by the US (12 per cent), the UAE (7.2 per cent), France (6.4 per cent), Oman (6.1 per cent) and China (5.4 per cent). PTI