FTAs to India increase by 1.7 per cent in April 2010

According to a PIB release, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has compiled monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) on the basis of data received from major airports.   Following are the important highlights, as regards to these two important indicators of tourism sector for April 2010.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs):

FTAs during the month of April 2010 were 3.54 lakh as compared to FTAs of 3.48 lakh during the month of April 2009 and 3.61 lakh in April 2008. There has been a growth of 1.7 per cent in April 2010 over April 2009 as compared to a negative growth of 3.5 per cent registered in April 2009 over April 2008. Despite closure of airspace for more than a week in Europe due to volcanic eruption in Iceland, India registered a positive growth of 1.7 per cent in FTAs in April 2010

Growth rate in FTAs during April 2010 (1.7 per cent) is lower than that observed during March 2010 (12.9 per cent). FTAs during the period January-April 2010 were 19.18 lakh with a growth rate of 10.6 per cent, as compared to the FTAs of 17.35 lakh and a negative growth rate of 11.7 per cent during January-April 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from Tourism in Indian Rupee terms and USD terms FEE during the month of April 2010 were Rs 4518 crore as compared to Rs 4061 crore in April 2009 and Rs 3773 crore in April 2008.

The growth rate in FEE in Rupee terms in April 2010 over April 2009 was 11.3 per cent as compared to growth rate of 7.6 per cent in April 2009 over April 2008. FEE in USD terms during the month of April 2010 were USD 1013 million as compared to FEE of USD 811 million during the month of April 2009 and USD 943 million in April 2008. The growth rate in FEE in USD terms in April 2010 over April 2009 was 24.9 per cent as compared to the negative growth of 14.0 per cent in April 2009 over April 2008.(hospitalitybizindia)