Tourism sector in India registers positive growth during July 2009

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has compiled monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) 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 recorded during July 2009 were 4.32 lakh as compared to 4.29 lakh FTAs during July 2008 and four lakh in July 2007.
• There has been an improvement in the growth rate of FTAs in July 2009 (0.6 per cent) as compared to June 2009 (0.2 per cent).
• Positive growth in the monthly FTAs, though nominal, has been witnessed for the second time in July during 2009.
• FTAs for the period January - July 2009 at 28.99 lakh were lower as compared to 31.49 lakh in January - July 2008.

• FEE during the month of July 2009 were Rs 4983 crore as compared to Rs 3870 crore in July 2008.