10 % Growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals During January to March 2016 Over the same Period In 2015

Foreign Tourists Arrivals (FTAs) during the period January - March 2016 were 25.08 lakh with a growth of 10.0% as compared to the FTAs of 22.81 lakh with a growth of 3.5% in January- March 2015 over January - March 2014. FTAs during the Month of March 2016 were 8.17 lakh as compared to FTAs of 7.29 lakh during the month of March 2015 and 6.90 lakh in March 2014. There has been a growth of 12.1% in March 2016 over March 2015.

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) during the month of March 2016 were Rs. 13,115 crore as compared to Rs. 11,133 crore in March 2015 and Rs. 10,479 crore in March 2014.

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 March 2016.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs):

· FTAs during the Month of March 2016 were 8.17 lakh as compared to FTAs of 7.29 lakh during the month of March 2015 and 6.90 lakh in March 2014. There has been a growth of 12.1% in March 2016 over March 2015.

· FTAs during the period January- March 2016 were 25.08 lakh with a growth of 10.0% as compared to the FTAs of 22.81 lakh with a growth of 3.5% in January- March 2015 over January- March 2014.

· The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during March, 2016 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (14.07%) followed by UK (13.16%), USA (11.84%), Germany (3.74%), Canada (3.57%), Sri Lanka (3.48%), Malaysia (3.45%), Russian Federation (3.19%), China (2.92%), France (2.92%), Australia (2.83%), Japan (2.43%), Nepal (1.72%), Singapore (1.67%) and Thailand (1.60).

· The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during March 2016 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (33.82%) followed by Mumbai Airport (15.97%), Haridaspur Land check post (7.83%),Chennai Airport (7.30%), Bangaluru Airport (5.44%), Goa Airport (4.05%), Kolkata Airport (4.02%), Cochin Airport (3.76%), Hyderabad Airport (2.72%), Gede Rail (1.67%), Amritsar Airport (1.63%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.63%), Trivendrum Airport (1.48%), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.34%) and Gaya Airport (0.96%),

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

· FEEs during the month of March 2016 were Rs. 13,115 crore as compared to Rs. 11,133 crore in March 2015 and Rs. 10,479 crore in March 2014.

· The growth rate in FEEs in rupee terms during March 2016 over March 2015 was 17.8% as compared to the growth of 6.2% in March 2015 over March 2014.

· FEEs from tourism in rupee terms during January- March 2016 were Rs. 40,411 crore with a growth of 15.9% as compared to the FEE of Rs. 34,875 crore with a growth of 3.6% during January- March 2015 over January- March 2014.

· FEEs in US$ terms during the month of March 2016 were US$ 1.958 billion as compared to FEEs of US$ 1.783 billion during the month of March 2015 and US$ 1.716 billion in March 2014.

· The growth rate in FEEs in US$ terms in March 2016 over March 2015 was 9.8% compared to the growth of 3.9% in March 2015 over March 2014.

· FEE from tourism in US$ terms during January- March 2016 were US$ 5.986 billion with a growth of 6.8% as compared to the US$ 5.605 billion with a growth 2.9% during January- March 2015 over January- March 2014.