Foreign Exchange Earnings of Rs.60,302 crore received by India through Tourism During January-June 2015

Foreign Exchange Earnings in Jan-June 2015 Register a Growth of 6.2% over same period of previous year

The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to India during January - June, 2015 were 3.85 million with a growth of 3.4% over corresponding period of 2014. The Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism in India during January - June, 2015 were Rs.60,302 crore with a growth of 6.2% over corresponding period of 2014.

Steps taken by the Government to boost tourism in the country are as below:

i New Schemes:

Pursuant to the announcement made in the Budget 2014-15, the following two new schemes were launched in 2014-15 under Central Sector:

a) Swadesh Darshan - Integrated Infrastructure Development as Theme-Based Tourist Circuits. Twelve Circuits have been identified for development under this Scheme. The circuits identified are North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit and Ramayana Circuit.

b) National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD). In the first phase, 12 cities have been identified for infrastructure development. The cities identified are Amritsar, Kedarnath, Ajmer, Mathura, Varanasi, Gaya, Puri, Dwarka, Amravati, Kanchipuram, Vellankanni and Guwahati.

ii. Central Financial Assistance:

Ministry of Tourism operates various schemes through which Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided to States/Union Territories (UTs) and other central agencies for overall development of tourism in the country.

iii. Publicity and Promotion:

The Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a holistic destination, including the various tourism destinations and products of every State/Union Territory of the country, in the domestic and international markets.

As part of its promotional activities, Ministry of Tourism undertakes centralized international media campaigns (prints, electronics and online) under the Incredible India brand-line in key source markets as well as potential markets across the world.

The Ministry of Tourism also provides financial assistance to stakeholders for promotion of tourism in the international and domestic markets under the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme.

iv. e -Tourist Visa:

At present, e-Tourist Visa facility is available for citizens of 77 countries arriving at 9 airports in India.

The e-Tourist Visa enables the prospective visitor to apply for an Indian Visa from his/her home country online without visiting the Indian Mission and also pay the visa fee online. Once approved, the applicant receives an email authorizing him/her to travel to India and he/she can travel with a print out of this authorization. On arrival, the visitor presents the authorization to the immigration authorities who then stamp the entry into the country.

v. Cleanliness and Hygiene:

To tackle the problem of hygiene and cleanliness at tourist destinations, the Ministry of Tourism has taken the initiative of Campaign Clean India with a vision to ensure an acceptable level of cleanliness and hygiene practices at tourist destinations. This campaign is to be sustained through adoption and involvement of private and public sector stakeholders as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

vi. Trained Language Speaking Guides:

Selection and Training of Regional Level Tourist Guides, including linguist guides, is an ongoing process and the Ministry conducts the training programmes, through the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM), periodically.

vii. Safety of Women Tourists:

The Ministry of Tourism had advised the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations to set up Tourist Police at prominent tourist spots. As a result, the State Governments /UT Administrations of Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha have deployed Tourist Police, in one form or the other

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