Forex earnings from tourists up 2.67 per cent in February

Foreign exchange earnings from foreign tourists arriving in India showed a modest 2.67 per cent increase in February 2012 at $1.73 billion compared to a 17.48 per cent increase to $1.68 billion during February 2011, from $1.43 billion in February 2010.

Earnings from tourists in dollar terms rose 15.3 per cent to $3.41 billion during January-February 2012 compared with a growth of 11.6 per cent to $2.96 billion during January-February 2011.

Foreign exchange earnings (in rupee terms) from tourists arriving in India rose 11.1 per cent to Rs8,502 crore in February 2012 compared with Rs7,653 crore in February 2011, which in turn was 15.2 per cent higher than the Rs6,646 crore earned in February 2010.

During January-February 2011, the country's earnings from foreign tourist arrivals rose 27.5 per cent to Rs17,125 crore from Rs13,430 crore in January-February 2010, which in turn was up 9.7 per cent from the year-ago period.

Tourist arrivals during February 2012 were up 6.6 per cent at 6.77 lakh as compared to 6.36 lakh tourists visiting the country during February 2011, which in turn was up 15.5 per cent compared to 5.52 lakh tourists visited Indian in February 2010.

Foreign tourist arrivals in January-February 2012 rose 7.9 per cent to 13.59 lakh against 12.59 lakh in January-February 2011, which in turn grew 12.4 per cent year-on-year.