Tourism sector in India continues to witness encouraging trends

According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release, the tourism sector in India continues to witness encouraging trends despite the fears of global economic slow down. The foreign tourist arrivals to India have touched 3.87 millions by September 2008, which is an increase of 10.4 per cent over corresponding period of previous year. While the percentage increase in foreign tourist arrivals of 2007 over 2006 for the month of September was only 1.3 per cent, the increase in 2008 has been as high of 9.6 per cent.

The foreign exchange earnings to India in tourism sector has touched Rs 36,464 crore by September this year, which is a 17.8 per cent increase over previous year for the corresponding period while the increase in 2007 over 2006 for the same period was 13.7 per cent. Interestingly in September 2007, there was a negative growth of foreign exchange earnings over 2006. However, the trend has been reversed and there has been 21.2 per cent increase in forex earnings in September 2008 as compared to 2007.