India's tourism industry hit by 26/11, Swine flu scare: Shelja

I / London November 10, 2009, 14:29 IST

Mumbai terror attack on November last year, subsequent Swine flu scare and global recession has lead to a decline in tourists visting India, Union Tourism Minister Kumari Shelja has said.

"Owing to the terror attack on Mumbai, subsequent Swine flu scare and global recession, tourism has taken a hit in India as well," she told newspersons here yesterday.

She said between January and October this year, there were 40.23 lakh foreign tourists as against 43.24 lakh during the corresponding period last year.

The foreign exchange earned from tourism during the period between January and October this year was $8600 million as against $9696 million during the corresponding period last year - a 10.3 per cent decline.

However, in terms of Rupees, the Foreign Exchange Earnings this year till October was Rs 42,395 crores as against Rs 40,712 crores during the corresponding period last year - an increase of 4.1 per cent.

Tourists from USA took the top position with 8,27, 866 visiting India last year followed the UK - 7,87,197.

Describing tourism industry in India as a "dynamic industry" Shelja said it contributed 6 per cent to the GDP and accounted for 9 per cent of the work force.

"It is growing and in future we hope to see a lot of growth in the sector," she said.