India emerging as biggest tourism hub across the globe; over 11 lakh tourists arrived in December

New Delhi, January 15: Tourism sector of the nation is blooming year by year, as the Foreign Tourists Arrivals have bloomed by 15.2% in December 2017 as compared to December 2016. And also 48.3% Growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals on e-Tourist visa in December 2017 Over December 2016.

The following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FTAs on e-Tourist Visa during the month of December 2017:

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs):

· The number of FTAs in December 2017 was 11.76 lakh as compared to FTAs of 10.21 lakh in December 2016 and 9.13 lakh in December 2015.

· The growth rate in FTAs in December 2017 over December 2016 was 15.2%, compared to 11.9% in December 2016 over December 2015.

· FTAs in the year 2017 were 101.77 lakh with a growth of 15.6% over 2016, compared to FTAs of 88.04 lakh with a growth of 9.7% is 2016 over 2015.

· The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December 2017 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (19.04%) followed by USA (16.90%), UK (10.41%), Australia (5.31%), Canada (3.85%), Russian Fed. (3.79%),Malaysia (3.11%), Germany (2.08%), China (2.06%), Sri Lanka (2.01%), Singapore (1.85%), France (1.81%), Japan (1.64%), Thailand (1.60%) and Italy (1.44%).

· The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during December 2017 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (25.80%) followed by Mumbai Airport (17.31%), Haridaspur Land Check Post (9.75%), Chennai Airport (6.36%), Bengaluru Airport (5.33%), Dabolim (Goa) Airport, (5.29%), Kolkata Airport (4.95%), Cochin Airport (3.92%), Hyderabad Airport (3.02%),Ahmedabad Airport (2.63%), Gede Rail Land Check Post (1.94%), Trivandrum Airport (1.64%), Trichy Airport (1.44%), Ghojadanga Land Check Post (1.26%) and Sonauli Land Check Post (1.14%).

FTAs on e-Tourist Visa:

· During the month of December 2017, a total of 2.41 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1.62 lakh during the month of December 2016 registering a growth of 48.3%.

· In the year 2017, a total of 16.97 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 10.80 lakh in 2016, registering a growth of 57.2%.