Foreign tourist flow likely to go up this year

New Delhi, Apr 9 (UNI) In a clear indication of increased foreign tourist inflow during the year, the first three months recorded an impressive 14.4 per cent increase in the number of tourists from different countries as compared to the corresponding period in 2006.

The Foreign Exchange Earning during January-March this year totalled Rs 9,102.42 crore as compared to Rs 7,792.37 crore during the same period last year, recording an increase of 16.8 per cent.

The increase in foreign exchange earning was only 13.3 per cent in 2006 as compared to 2005.

As many as 1,421,007 foreign tourists visited India during January-March this year as against 1,242,282 in the first three months in 2006.

Tourism Ministry sources said here today that "the trend obtained during the first three months of this year is an indication of an increased flow of foreign tourists throughout the year." "While 2006 recorded about 13 per cent increase in tourist arrival, this is expected to go up to 16 per cent this year," sources said, citing the projections for 2007.

All the three months of the current year registered an increased growth in the arrival of foreign tourists and also in the inflow of foreign exchange as compared to the corresponding period last year.

The increase in the foreign tourist arrival was 15.8 per cent in January and 13.6 per cent in both February and March.

UNI