OREANDA-NEWS. The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India from May to October 2014 has registered a positive growth over the same period of the preceding year. The details are given below:

Month

FTAs (in lakhs)

Growth over same month of preceding year (in %)

May

4.21

0.8

June

4.92

9.0

July

5.72

12.9

August

5.69

16.9

September

4.95

9.2

October

6.56

9.6

Total

32.05

10.0

 

The Union Ministry of Tourism, as part of its on-going activities, releases print, electronic, online and outdoor media campaigns in the international and domestic markets, under the Incredible India brand-line, to promote various tourism destinations and products of the country.   In addition, a series of promotional activities are undertaken in important and potential tourist generating markets overseas through the India tourism Offices abroad with the objective of showcasing India’s tourism potential.

The Ministry of Tourism also provides financial assistance to stakeholders for promotion of tourism in the international and domestic markets under the Marketing Development Assistance Scheme.

The Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) enabled with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Scheme was launched on 27.11.2014 for nationals of 43 countries whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight- seeing, short duration medical treatment, casual business visit, casual visit to meet friends or relatives etc. for a short stay of 30 days.

The restriction of two-month gap on re-entry of foreign nationals coming to India on Tourist Visa and Tourist Visa on Arrival has been lifted with effect from 4th December, 2012.  

The Ministry of Tourism had advised the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations   to set up Tourist Police at prominent tourist spots.

An advisory has been posted on the Ministry of Tourism website www.incredibleindia.org indicating that India remains safe destination for international Tourists including women tourists. 

To tackle the problem of hygiene and cleanliness at tourist destinations, the Ministry of Tourism has taken the initiative of launching the Campaign Clean India with a vision to ensure an acceptable level of cleanliness and hygiene practices at tourist destinations.

Selection and Training of Regional Level Tourist Guides including linguist guides is an ongoing process and the Ministry conducts the training programmes, through the Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM), periodically. 

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.