Question : FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVALS DURING COMMONWEALTH GAMES

(a) the number of foreign tourists arrived in India alongwith the foreign exchange earning therefrom during the Commonwealth Games, 2010;

(b) the details of the tourists sites visited by them during the said Games, State-wise;

(c) whether the hotel bookings were low during the said Games, 2010;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has ascertained the causes of low occupancy of rooms in the hotels; and

(f) if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken by the Government to attract foreign tourists in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM (SHRI SULTAN AHMED)

(a) & (b): As per the information of the Bureau of Immigration, the total number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) at Delhi airport during 1st to 14th October 2010, was 75606. The Ministry of Tourism does not compile Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) for a specific event and also the information on the sites visited by foreign visitors in different States.

(c), (d) and (e): Foreign Tourists Arrivals to any country depends on various factors like safety and security, health, season, cost, publicity etc. The Ministry of Tourism, however, does not collect data on the occupancy levels of hotels.

(f): The Ministry of Tourism undertakes a series of promotional activities in overseas market with the objective of increasing foreign tourist arrivals to the country. These activities include advertising, participation in travel fairs, exhibitions, road shows, India Evenings, seminars and publication of brochures etc.