Foreign Tourist Arrivals register a decline of 8.6 per cent in August 2009

According to a PIB release, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has complied monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data received from major airports. Following are the important highlights with regards to these two important indicators of tourism sector.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs):

• FTAs during the month of August 2009 were 3.58 lakh as compared to FTAs of 3.91 lakh during the month of August 2008 and 3.58 lakh in August 2007.
• There has been a decline of 8.6 per cent in FTAs in August 2009 as compared to positive growth of 0.2 per cent and 0.6 per cent in June 2009 and July 2009 respectively.  
• FTAs during January - August 2009 were 32.57 lakh, where as the figure recorded for the same period last year stood at 35.40 lakh.

• FEE during the month of August 2009 were Rs 4,115 crore as compared to Rs 3,626 crore in August 2008.