Indian Tourism Sector Registers Positive Growth in July 2009

There has been an improvement in the growth rate of foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) to India in July 2009 (0.6 per cent) as compared to June 2009 (0.2 per cent) FTAs during July 2009 were 4.32 lakh as compared to FTAs of 4.29 lakh during the same month last year and 4.0 lakh in July 2007. The improvement in the growth rate of FTAs in July 2009 has been 0.6 per cent as compared to June 2009 which was 0.2 per cent.
Positive growth in the monthly FTAs, though nominal, has been witnessed for the second time during the year 2009, the Tourism Ministry said. FTAs during January-July 2009 stood at 28.99 lakh as compared to 31.49 lakh in January-July 2008.
Foreign exchange earnings (FEE) from tourism during July 2009 were Rs.49.83bn compared to Rs 38.7bn in July 2008. An improvement was observed in the growth rate of FEE (in Rupee terms) in July 2009 (28.8 per cent) compared to June 2009 (11.5 per cent), May 2009 (8.7 per cent) and April 2009 (7.6 per cent).
FEE during January-July 2009 were Rs 296.76 bn compared to Rs 296.95 bn in January-July 2008.
FEE in USD terms during the month of July 2009 were USD 1028mn as compared to USD 904mnin July 2008. FEE during January-July 2009 were USD 6035mn as compared to USD 7289mn during January-July 2008.