5.29 lakh foreign tourists visited India in May

New Delhi, Jun 15 As many as 5.29 lakh foreign tourists arrived in India in May, a growth of 3.7 per cent over the same month last year, while foreign exchange earnings (FEEs) registered a jump of 8.2 per cent, the government said today.

5.1 lakh overseas tourists visited the country during the corresponding month last year, Tourism Ministry said in a release.

Among the top 15 source countries, Bangladesh accounted for the highest share of tourist arrivals in May with 20.48 per cent, followed by the US (15.68 per cent), the UK (7.56), Malaysia (3.74), Sri Lanka (3.39) and China (3.24 per cent).

Japan's share was 2.69 per cent, while that of Canada 2.62 per cent, Germany 2.48, Australia 2.42, Singapore 2.23, France 2.14, Nepal 2.06, Pakistan 1.73 and Oman 1.66 per cent. During January-May, with 36.36 lakh visitors the Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) registered a growth of 9.1 per cent, the ministry said.

In May, FEEs were to the tune of Rs 10,285 crore as compared to Rs 9,505 crore in the same month last year, a growth of 8.2 per cent.

During January-May this year, FEEs from tourism were Rs 62,333 crore, a growth of 14.4 per cent over Rs 54,471 crore in the first first five months of last year, the ministry added.

PTI