By BW Hotelier

ACCORDING TO the monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) compiled by the Ministry of Tourism, the FTAs during October 2015 were 6.80 lakh as compared to 6.68 lakh during the same period last year and 5.98 lakh in October 2013.There has been a growth of 1.7 per cent in October 2015 over October 2014.-FTAs during the period January-October 2015 were 62.88 lakh with a growth of 4.3 per cent, as compared to the FTAs of 60.28 lakh with a growth of 11.4 per cent in January- October 2014 over January- October 2013.

The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during-October- 2015 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (15.22 per cent), followed by USA (12.99 per cent), UK (11.31 per cent), Sri Lanka (3.69 per cent), Germany (3.62 per cent), Canada (3.58 per cent), Australia (3.37 per cent), Malaysia (3.03 per cent), France (3.01 per cent), Nepal (2.67 per cent),China (2.55), Japan (2.42 per cent), Russian Federation (2.03 per cent), Singapore (1.65 per cent) and Pakistan (1.59 per cent). These top 15 countries account for 72.73 per cent of total FTAs during October 2015.

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism in India during October 2015 were Rs 9,611 crore as compared to Rs 10,041 crore in October 2014 and Rs 8,645 crore in October 2013. FEEs from tourism in January-October 2015 were Rs 1,01,348 crore with a growth of 2.5 per cent as compared to the FEE of Rs 98,901 crore with a growth of 16.3 per cent during January-October 2014 over January- October 2013.