10.7% growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in April 2016 over the same period in 2015. Bangladesh accounts for highest share of tourist arrivals followed by USA and UK in April 2016. Rs. 11, 637 crores Foreign Exchange earned through tourism in April 2016.

Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on the basis of Nationality-wise, Port-wise data received from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism on the basis of data available from Reserve Bank of India. The following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEEs from tourism during the month of April, 2016.

 Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs):

·           FTAs during the Month of April, 2016 were 5.99 lakh as compared to FTAs of 5.42 lakh during the month of April, 2015 and 5.35 lakh in April, 2014. There has been a growth of 10.7% in April, 2016 over April, 2015.

·           FTAs during the period January- April, 2016 were 31.08 lakh with a growth of 10.1% as compared to the FTAs of 28.23 lakh with a growth of 3.0% in January- April, 2015 over January- April, 2014.

·           The Percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during April, 2016 among the top 15 source countries was highest from Bangladesh (18.09%) followed by USA (12.24%), UK (9.58%), Sri Lanka (3.71%), Malaysia (3.23%), China (3.14%), Australia (3.05%), Germany (3.02%), France (2.86%), Canada (2.83%), Russian Federation (2.81%),  Japan (2.50%), Nepal (2.07%), Singapore (1.85%) and Thailand (1.61%).     

·           The Percentage share of  Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during April 2016 among the top 15 ports was highest at Delhi Airport (29.12%) followed by Mumbai Airport (16.85%), Haridaspur Land check post (9.77%),Chennai Airport (7.82%),  Bengaluru Airport (6.66%), Kolkata Airport (4.16%), Cochin Airport (3.51%), Hyderabad Airport (3.07%), Goa Airport (2.84%), Gede Rail (2.31%), Trivendrum Airport (1.54%), Ahmadabad Airport (1.44%), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.31%) Attari-Wagah (1.13%), and Ghojadanga land check post (0.96%).

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism in India in Rs. terms and in US$ terms

·           FEEs during the month of April, 2016 were Rs. 11,637 crore as compared to Rs. 10,091 crore in April, 2015 and Rs. 9,179 crore in April, 2014.

·           The growth rate in FEEs in rupee terms during April, 2016 over April, 2015 was 15.3% as compared to the growth of 9.9% in April, 2015 over April, 2014.  

·           FEEs from tourism in rupee terms during January- April, 2016 were Rs. 52,048 crore with a growth of 15.7% as compared to the FEE of Rs. 44,966 crore with a growth of 5.0% during January- April, 2015 over January- April, 2014.

·           FEEs in US$ terms during the month of April, 2016 were US$ 1.747 billion as compared to FEEs of US$ 1.609 billion during the month of April, 2015 and US$ 1.520 billion in April, 2014.

·           The growth rate in FEEs in US$ terms in April, 2016 over April, 2015 was 8.6% compared to the growth of 5.9% in April, 2015 over April, 2014.

·           FEE from tourism in US$ terms during January- April, 2016 were US$ 7.733 billion with a growth of 7.2% as compared to the US$ 7.214 billion with a growth 3.6% during January- April, 2015 over January- April,  2014.