Swine flu scare seems to have kept away many foreigners from visiting India, as there is a downward trend in tourist arrivals.

India received 448,493 foreign tourists in October this year as against 452,566 in the same period last year, a 0.9 percent decrease.

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Attributing the negative growth to the swine flu scare, Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said: "Tourist arrivals is witnessing a downturn due to the swine flu scare. However, our forex earnings are going up these days."

There is a 13.1 per cent growth in foreign exchange earnings in October (Rs 4,806 crores) as compared to the corresponding period last year (Rs 4,248 crore).

"We have earned Rs 42,395 crore as forex till October this year as against Rs 40,712 crores in January-October period last year," said a senior Tourism Ministry official.

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