Strategy to Attract Foreign Tourists

The Ministry of Tourism has taken various initiatives to attract more foreign tourists in the country. The details are as under:

a) Launch of e-Tourist Visa for citizens of 77 countries.

b) Promotion of the destinations through the Incredible India Campaign across the globe.

c) Participation in major International Tourism Travel Fairs and Exhibitions.

d) Organising Road Shows to promote tourism destinations and products of country in major tourist source markets in collaboration with stakeholders.

e) Development and promotion of “Niche Tourism” products.

f) Creating an increased pool of trained manpower in Hospitality Tourism sectors for delivery of quality service to the tourist.

g) Release of regular domestic advertisement campaign in national print and electronic media.

h) ‘Welcome Booklet’ with information on Dos and Don’ts for tourists, contact details of India Tourism domestic offices and Tourist Helpline Number for distribution at immigration counters to tourists arriving at international airports.

i) 24x7 ‘Incredible India Help Line’ to provide the tourist valuable information and to guide them during emergencies.

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT), as part of its on-going promotional activities releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international markets, under the ‘Incredible India’ brand-line, to showcase India’s tourism potential and to increase foreign tourist arrivals to the country. In addition, a series of promotional activities are also undertaken through the India Tourism Offices overseas in important and potential source markets overseas, with the objective of attracting a larger number of foreign tourists to the country. These include participation in international travel fairs and exhibitions; organising Road Shows, Know India seminars & workshops; organizing and supporting Indian food and cultural festivals; publication of brochures, offering joint advertising and brochure support, and inviting media personalities, tour operators and opinion makers to visit the country under the Hospitality programme of the Ministry.

The Ministry of Tourism also provides financial assistance to approved stakeholders and Tourism Departments of States/Union Territories for promotion of tourism in overseas markets, under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme.

The Ministry of Tourism has launched following two new schemes pursuant to the Budget 2014-15 announcements:

1) Swadesh Darshan for Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits around Specific Themes.

2) National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) to beautify and improve the amenities and infrastructure at pilgrimage centres of all faiths.

Twelve theme based circuits i.e. North East Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit and Ramayana Circuit have been identified for development under “Swadesh Darshan”. The circuits can provide engaging and complete tourism experience to both domestic and foreign tourists.

Under PRASAD, initially twelve cities have been identified namely Ajmer, Amritsar, Amravati, Dwarka, Gaya, Kedarnath, Kamakhaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi and Velankanni.

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Promotion of Tourism in Uttar Pradesh

Under the PRASAD scheme, two pilgrim sites in Uttar Pradesh namely Mathura and Vrindavan are amongst the 12 sites identified under the scheme. The following projects under the scheme have been sanctioned to the State of Uttar Pradesh during the year 2014-15:

(Rs. in Lakh)

Sl. No.	Project Name	Amount Sanctioned
1	Development of Mathura-Vrindavan as Mega Tourist Circuit Phase – II	1493.00
2.	Tourist Facilitation Centre at Vrindavan	936.00

Two new schemes i.e. ‘Swadesh Darshan’ and ‘PRASAD’ have been introduced by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Under the Swadesh Darshan scheme 12 theme based circuits have been identified for integrated tourism development in the country. These are Ramayana Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Eco Circuit, Rural Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, North East Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit and Tribal Circuit. The State of Uttar Pradesh is covered in many of these circuits.

Development and promotion of tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for tourism infrastructure projects that are complete as per existing scheme guidelines and are sanctioned subject to availability of funds and utilization of funds released earlier.

The State Government of Uttar Pradesh have undertaken various measures to develop and promote tourism in the State. The tourist spots are publicised through website/posters/brochures, participation in international and national travel marts and seminars.

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‘Campaign Clean India’ Launched Tourism Ministry

Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Campaign Clean India’ to sensitize all sections of society on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in public places particularly monuments and tourist destinations. This Campaign is to be sustained through adoption and involvement of private and public sector stakeholders as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It is a voluntary scheme and no funds have been allocated by the Government for this campaign.

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has adopted Qutab Minar in Delhi and an MOU has been signed between Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and the Ministry of Tourism for undertaking various works at Taj Mahal, Agra under this campaign.

Further, Ministry of Tourism has operationalized 2 new Plan Schemes of Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD from 2014 – 15. Under these schemes the Ministry provides financial support for Infrastructure development including wayside amenities, garbage bins, sewerage/effluent disposal, etc.

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Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) Through Tourism Show an Increasing Trend Rs. 1,23,320 Crore FEEs through Tourism during 2014: Dr. Mahesh Sharma

The total Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) through tourism in India during 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 is as below:

Year	FEEs through tourism in India (in Rs. Crore)
2010	64,889
2011	77,591
2012	94,487
2013	1,07,671
2014	1,23,320

The number of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) to Sarnath,

Varanasi and Bodhgaya during 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 are given below:

Year	Sarnath	Varanasi	Bodhgaya
2010	314510	219088	96103
2011	343122	245660	293519
2012	355294	278573	207933
2013	362113	285252	139556
2014	374268	287761	225668

The Ministry of Tourism, as part of its on-going activities, regularly releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international markets, under the “Incredible India” brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of India with the objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals to the country. The Ministry of Tourism also promotes various tourism destinations and products through its website and publicity and promotional material produced from time to time.

In addition, a series of promotional activities are undertaken in important and potential tourist generating markets overseas through the India Tourism Offices overseas with the objective of showcasing India’s tourism potential and promoting tourism to the country, including the Buddhist sites. These promotional activities include participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organising Road Shows, “Know India” seminars & workshops; organizing and supporting Indian food festivals; publication of brochures, offering joint advertising and brochure support, and inviting media personalities, tour operators and opinion makers to visit the country under the Hospitality Programme of the Ministry.

Ministry of Tourism organises the International Buddhist Conclave once in two years with participation of delegates from overseas with the objective to showcase and project the Buddhist heritage of India and attract more tourists to the region.

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Foreign Tourist Arrivals(FTAs) register a growth of 11.3 % in July 2015 over July 2014

USA accounts for the highest share of FTAs in July 2015

Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on the basis of Nationality-wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India. The following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEEs from tourism during the month of July 2015.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs):

· FTAs during the Month of July 2015 were 6.33 lakh as compared to FTAs of 5.69 lakh during the month of July 2014 and 5.06 lakh in July 2013. There has been a growth of 11.3% in July 2015 over July 2014.

· FTAs during the period January-July2015 were 44.78 lakh as compared to FTAsof 42.75 lakh during the period January- July 2014. FTAs during January-July 2015 registered a growth of 4.8% over the period January-July2014.

· The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during July2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from USA (16.51%)followed by Bangladesh (16.44%), UK (12.29%), France (3.43%), Sri Lanka (3.36%), Malaysia (3.32%), Canada (2.75%), Germany (2.45%), China (2.33%), Japan (2.25%), Australia (2.21%), Nepal (2.16%), Singapore (1.71%), Oman (1.57%) and Saudi Arabia (1.55%) . These top 15 countries account for 74.33% of total FTAs during July2015.

· The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during July2015 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (27.04%) followed by Mumbai Airport (17.48%), Chennai Airport (10.66%), Haridaspur Land check post (9.38%), Bengaluru Airport (7.32%), Cochin Airport (4.96%), Hyderabad Airport (4.64%), Kolkata Airport (3.88%), Gede Rail (1.78%), Trivandrum Airport (1.67%), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.40%), Amritsar Airport (0.97%), Ghojadanga Land check post (0.93%) and AttariWagha Land check post (0.78%). These top 15 ports account for 94.74% of total FTAs during July 2015.

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism in India in rupee terms and in US$ terms

· FEEs during the month of July 2015 were Rs11,452 crore as compared to Rs10,336crore in July 2014 and Rs8,620crore in July 2013.

· FEEs from tourism in rupee terms in January-July 2015 were Rs 71,754 crore as compared to the FEEs of Rs 67,096 crore during January- July 2014 .

· FEEs in US$ terms during the month of July 2015 were US$ 1.800 billion as compared to FEEs of US$ 1.721 billion during the month of July 2014 and US$ 1.442 billion in July 2013.

· FEEs from tourism in US$ terms during January-July2015 were US$ 11.409 billion with a growth of 3.2% as compared to the US$ 11.055 billion with a growth of 1.9% during January-July2014 over January-July2013.