Tourism looks up, optimism on post-Games flow

There has been an increase of eight per cent in the number of foreign tourists and about 25 per cent in the foreign exchange earnings from tourism in April-September over the period last year.

Foreign tourist arrivals in September over last year were 12.6 per cent higher. This was the fastest pace since May, when 345,000 foreign tourists came, a rise of 15.5 per cent. However, compared to August, there was a slight decline.

Given that 2009 was an economic crisis year, which hit the tourism industry, too, 2010 is being said to be a recovery year. The growth, however, is less than expected.

“Till date in October, people have not come in the huge numbers we had expected, but post October, we (will see) a very healthy growth in the winter season,” said Sabina Chopra, co-founder, Yatra.com.

The travel industry is hoping to cash in on the infrastructure developments that have taken place for the Commonwealth Games after the latter get over. “We have drawn international attention with a fantastic opening ceremony of the CWG, which showcased our culture and was watched the world over. The tourism industry will be benefited by it in the days to come,” a senior official at Delhi Tourism said.

Travel agencies have seen higher demand in domestic travel or outbound, as compared to inbound travel. “We still have a long way to go to if we compare ourselves with countries like Thailand and Malaysia, who get much more foreign tourists than us,” said Keyur Joshi, co-founder and COO, MakemyTrip.

Foreign tourist arrivals fell by 3.3 per cent to 5.11 million in 2009, compared to 5.28 million in 2008. Foreign exchange earnings fell by three per cent in 2009 to $11.39 billion (Rs 51,000 crore), compared to $11.75 bn in 2008.