Foreign tourist arrival grows 11.8% in August

Foreign tourist arrival witnessed an 11.8 per cent growth in August 2016 against the same period the last year, reveals data collected by Tourism Ministry. Though Bangladesh nationalists account for highest share in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) data, the number of tourists coming from USA and UK has soared in August 2016.  

“The central government has earned Rs 12,903 crore as foreign exchange through tourism in August 2016,” said an official. Tourism Ministry compiles monthly estimates of FTAs on the basis of nationality-wise, port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs). FTAs during the Month of August, 2016 were 6.70 lakh as compared to FTAs of 5.99 lakh during the month of August, 2015 and 5.76 lakh in August, 2014. “There has been a growth of 11.8% in August, 2016 over August, 2015,” added the official.

Encouraged by these numbers, the ministry is now organising first ever, Incredible India Tourism Investment Summit-2016. The three–day long summit will start from Wednesday wherein domestic and global investors will be wooed by the Centre and state governments’ tourism department representatives.  

The emphasis will be on six major areas which will include why to invest in brand Incredible India, development of core infrastructure for tourism and growing medical tourism.  

The government will also showcase many niche tourism products at the summit. 

“Major stakeholders including states and UTs will display their ready-to-invest projects. Financial institutions, business developers, cruise liners, domestic investors, entertainment companies, global investors, helicopter services, hoteliers, restaurateurs, spa and Yoga centres, tour and travel operators, urban developers, venture capitalist, civic amenity providers- all will gather under one roof to give investment a huge push in tourism sector,” tourism ministry official added.