Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India grow 9%

New Delhi ” Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from tourism on the basis of data received from major airports.

FTAs in India during the Month of August 2010 were 3.82 lakh as compared to FTAs of 3.50 lakh during the month of August 2009 and 3.83 lakh in August 2008.

There has been a growth of 9.0 % in August 2010 over August 2009 as compared to a growth of (-) 8.6 % registered in August 2009 over August 2008.

Growth rate in August 2010 (9.0%) is more than double of that observed during July 2010 (4.1%).

FTAs during the period January-August 2010 were 34.67 lakh with a growth rate of 9.7 %, as compared to the FTAs of 31.60 lakh and a negative growth rate of 7.7 % during January-August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.

FEE from tourism during the month of August 2010 were Rs. 4620 crore as compared to Rs. 4115 crore in August 2009 and Rs. 3626 crore in August 2008.

The growth rate in FEE in Rs. terms in August 2010 over August 2009 was 12.3 % as compared to growth rate of 13.5 % in August 2009 over August 2008.

FEE during the period January-August 2010 were Rs. 41437 crore with a growth rate of 22.6 %, as compared to FEE of Rs. 33791 crore with a growth of 1.4 % during January -August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.

FEE in US$ terms during the month of August 2010 were US$ 992 million as compared to FEE of US$ 851 million during the month of August 2009 and US$ 845 million in August 2008.

The growth rate in FEE in US$ terms in August 2010 over August 2009 was 16.6 %.

FEE during the period January-August 2010 were US$ 8997 million with a growth rate of 30.7 % as compared to FEE of US$ 6886 million with a negative growth of 15.3 % during January – August 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.