Dip in foreign tourist arrivals in September

Notwithstanding the high voltage overseas road shows and Incredible India campaign, the decline in foreign tourist arrivals in the country continues.

The number of foreign tourists visiting the country in September this year was 3,17,308 as against 3,30,874 for the same period last year, a decline of 4.1 per cent.

In August also there was a decrease in foreign tourists arrivals. While 3,57,761 foreigners visited the country in August this year, their number was 3,91,423 during the same period last year.

"There are several factors behind the decline in foreign tourist arrivals. While the global slowdown is one of the major reasons, the swine flu scare and travel advisories issued by the US and other countries have also affected the arrivals," said a senior Tourism Ministry official.

The ministry had launched a series of roadshows overseas including in the US, Australia, Dubai and Europe in recent months to woo tourists and is hopeful that they would pay rich dividends in coming months.

"We are expecting a good show in the coming tourist season," said the official.

The total number of foreign tourists who visited the country during January to September this year was 3,574,595 against 3,871,163 for the same period last year.

Though there has been a decline in foreign tourist arrivals, India's foreign exchange earnings have increased during this time. The country earned Rs 3,798 crores as foreign exchange from tourists in September this year against Rs 3,143 crores in the same period last year.

The total forex earnings during January to September this year was Rs 37,589 crores against Rs 36,464 crores for the same period last year.