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10 Jan, 2016

Indian visitor arrivals +4.4% in 2015, but US$ tourism earnings -2.8%

New Delhi, 08-January-2016, Ministry of Tourism media release – Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on the basis of Nationality-wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India.

Following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEEs from tourism during the month of December, 2015:

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)

(+) FTAs during the month of December 2015 were 9.13 lakh as compared to FTAs of 8.85 lakh during the month of December 2014 and 8.22 lakh in December 2013. There has been a growth of 3.2% in December 2015 over December 2014.

(+) FTAs during the period January-December 2015 were 80.16 lakh with a growth of 4.4%, as compared to the FTAs of 76.79 lakh with a growth of 10.2% in January- December 2014 over January- December 2013.

(+) The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December 2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (18.67%) followed by Bangladesh (11.64%), UK (11.60%), Australia (5.25%), Canada (4.23%), Russian Fed. (3.68%), Malaysia (3.13%), Germany (2.61%), China (2.48%), Sri Lanka (2.39%), Singapore (2.01%), France (1.99%), Japan (1.85%), Thailand (1.68%) and Pakistan (1.60%). These top 15 countries account for 74.81% of total FTAs during December 2015.

(+) The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December 2015 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (27.34%) followed by Mumbai Airport (20.82%), Haridaspur Land check post (6.65%), Bengaluru Airport (6.33%), Chennai Airport (5.44%), Goa Airport (5.24%), Kolkata Airport (4.22%), Cochin Airport (4.04%), Hyderabad Airport (3.67%), Ahmedabad Airport (3.29%), Trivandrum Airport (2.19%), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.67%), Gede Rail (1.39%), Attari-Wagah Land check post (1.28%) and Sonauli Land check post (1%). These top 15 ports account for 94.57% of total FTAs during December 2015.

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism in India in Rupees terms and in US$ terms:

(+) FEEs during the month of December 2015 were Rs. 13,253 crore as compared to Rs. 12,988 crore in December 2014 and Rs. 11,994 crore in December 2013.

(+) The FEEs in Rupees terms during December 2015 registered a positive growth of 2.0% over December 2014 as compared to positive growth of 8.3% in December 2014 over December 2013.

(+) FEEs from tourism in rupees terms during January-December 2015 were Rs. 1,26,211 crore with a growth of 2.3% as compared to the FEE of Rs. 1,23,320 crore with a growth of 14.5% during January- December 2014 over January- December 2013.

(+) FEEs in US$ terms during the month of December 2015 were US$ 1.991 billion as compared to FEEs of US$ 2.069 billion during the month of December 2014 and US$ 1.936 billion in December 2013.

(+) The FEEs in US$ billion in December 2015 registered a decline of 3.8% over December 2014 as compared to positive growth of 6.9% in December 2014 over December 2013.

(+) FEEs from tourism in US$ terms during January-December 2015 were US$ 19.676 billion with a negative growth of 2.8% as compared to the US$ 20.236 billion with a positive growth of 9.7% during January- December 2014 over January- December 2013.