According to a PTI report, the tourism industry has started feeling the pinch of global slowdown with the number of foreign tourists arriving in India showing a significant decline this year. The number of tourists visiting the country touched 4, 71,627 in March this year against 5, 41,478 in March 2008, which is 69,851 less than the corresponding period last year. The decrease in March 2009 is due to the global slowdown, a senior Tourism Ministry official told PTI. Tourism Ministry has launched a series of road shows abroad in association with tour operators to woo tourists.
‘‘While road shows are already being held in Singapore, Australia, Ireland, Malaysia and the UK, more such shows are being planned in Japan, Korea, Mexico,’’ Vijay Thakur, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) told PTI, adding, ‘‘We will launch a month-long Incredible India campaign in different cities of the US and Canada including Boston, Los Angeles, California, San Francisco and Toronto in May 2009.” |