Growth in foreign tourist arrival dips in April

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The growth of foreign tourists arrival has slipped to a single digit in April this year -- a sharp decline from an average of 13-15 per cent in the last five years.

In April 2006, tourist arrivals had jumped 24.7 per cent, one of the highest recorded in recent years.

The tourism ministry is at a loss to explain the reason for the dip, except saying that this may be due to the advent of early summer and the resultant high temperature touching up to 43 degree celsius.

In fact, the growth in foreign tourist arrival in February and March this year were 13.6 per cent each as against 10.1 per cent and 11 per cent respectively in the previous year.

However, the overall growth in the first four months of the current year was 13.1 per cent as against 14.4 per cent during the corresponding period last year.

Under the impact of the high-voltage "Incredible India campaign," which was launched five years ago, India tourism has been recording an annual growth of 13 to 15 per cent in foreign tourist arrival.

The growth in foreign exchange earning also went down to 10 per cent in April this year as against 28.9 per cent last year.

UNI