Foreign tourist flow goes up in 2006

New Delhi, Dec 6 (UNI) The arrival of foreign tourists to India has registered 12.9 per cent growth during the first eleven months of the current year.

The growth, however, was less by .2 per cent as compared to 13.1 per cent recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Tourism Ministry sources said here today as many as 3,882,427 foreign tourists visited during January-November this year as against 3,439,199 during the same period in 2005.

In March, the maximum of 24.7 per cent growth was recorded this year.

There has been growth in the arrival of foreign tourists during the past five years under the impact of the high-voltage "Incredible India" campaign.

There was a growth of 16.9 per cent in foreign exchange earnings during the first eleven months of this year as compared to 16.7 per cent last year.

Foreign earnings received during January-November this year was 5746.86 million US dollars as against 5,063.53 million US dollars.

UNI SH HS VC1816