Question : Arrival of Foreign Tourists

(a) whether the Government has witnessed a considerable increase in foreign tourists visiting India during the current year;
(b) if so, the details of foreign tourists arrived India during the last three years, State-wise including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir;
(c) the revenue earned therefrom along with its impact on GDP of the country;
(d) whether the Government has started new tourism projects and has provided special package to State Governments to attract more tourists; and
(e) if so, the details thereof, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2013, 2014, 2015 and January – October, 2016 were 6.97 million, 7.68 million, 8.03 million and 6.96 million (Provisional), respectively.

The Ministry of Tourism does not compile the State/UT-wise break-up of FTAs. However, the Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs), as differentiated from FTAs, to different States/UTs including the States of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir during 2013, 2014 and 2015 are given in Annexure-I. This information is not available for the year 2016.


(c): The Foreign Exchange Earnings through tourism in India during 2013, 2014, 2015 and January – October, 2016 were Rs.1,07,671 crore, Rs.1,23,320 crore, Rs.1,35,193 crore and Rs.1,24,371 crore, respectively.

As per 2nd Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) of India, and its subsequent estimates, the contribution of tourism to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 was 6.77%, 6.76%, 6.76% and 6.88% respectively. This information for the subsequent years is not available.

(d) and (e): The Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance for tourism projects, including those under the special package/plan announced by the Government of India to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.

The Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned projects under special financial packages to the States of Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir, details of which are at Annexure-II. The objective of these special packages is to develop tourism infrastructure and to incentivise the tourism sector in these States for attracting foreign and domestic tourists and create employment opportunities for the local population.
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