Tourist arrivals surge in September

India has recorded an over six percent surge in the arrival of foreign tourist arrivals in September, contributing Rs.9,512 crore to the country's foreign exchange reserves, an official data said on Friday.

As many as 5.40 lakh foreign tourists visited India in September 2015, while their numbers stood at 5.09 lakh during the same period last year.

"There has been a growth of 6.1 percent in September 2015 over September 2014," the tourism ministry said.

During the month under review, maximum number of people who toured India belonged to Bangladesh (18.81 percent), followed by the US (10.99 percent) and Britain (7.96 percent).

Tourists from Malaysia constituted 4.72 percent, Sri Lanka 4.69 percent, Australia 3.39 percent, China 3.37 percent, and Japan 3.20 percent.

Germany contributed 2.89 percent to foreign tourist arrivals in India, while Canada's share was 2.51 percent, Nepal 2.44 percent, France 2.39 percent, Singapore 2.13 percent, Pakistan 1.61 percent and Afghanistan 1.27 percent.

"These top 15 countries account for 72.37 percent of total foreign tourists arrivals during September 2015," the statement said.

During the month, a total of 31,729 tourist arrived on e-Tourist visa, launched in November 2014, as compared to 2,170 during the month of September 2014.

At present e-Tourist visa facility is available for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.

In September, foreign exchange earnings rose by 5 percent to Rs.9,512 cr. It was Rs.9,057 cr during the same period last year.