Foreign tourists brought in $1.54 billion May 2016

Foreign exchange earnings from tourism stood at $1.537 billion in May 2016, up 3.1 per cent compared to $1.491 billion during May 2015, which in turn was up 11.5 per cent against the $1.337 billion earned in May 2014.

During the first five months of the year (January-May 2016) foreign exchange earnings from tourism stood at $9.270 billion, with a growth of 6.5 per cent compared with $8.705 billion in January-May 2015, which in turn showed a growth of 4.9 per cent over January-May 2014.

Rupee earnings from foreign tourists during May 2016 stood at Rs10,285 crore up 8.2 from Rs9,505 crore in May 2015, which in turn was up 19.8 per cent from Rs7,936 crore in May 2014.

Earnings from tourism in rupee terms during January-May 2016 recorded a growth of 14.4 per cent at Rs62,333 crore against Rs54,471 crore with a growth of 7.3 per cent during January-May 2015 over January-Ma y 2014.

Bangladesh accounted for the highest share of tourist arrivals, followed by the US and the UK in April 2016.

Foreign tourist arrivals during May 2016 grew 3.7 per cent to 5.29 lakh against 5.1 lakh during May 2015. It was 4.65 lakh in May 2014.

Tourist arrivals during January-May 2016 showed a growth of 9.1 per cent at 36.36 lakh against 33.32 lakh in January-May 2015, which in turn showed a growth of 4.0 per cent over the January-May 2014 figure.

In percentage terms, among the top 15 source countries tourist arrivals were the highest from Bangladesh (20.48 per cent), followed by USA (15.68 per cent), UK (7.56 per cent), Malaysia (3.74 per cent), Sri Lanka (3.39 per cent), China (3.24 per cent), Japan (2.69 per cent), Canada (2.62 per cent), Germany (2.48 per cent), Australia (2.42 per cent), Singapore (2.23 per cent), France (2.14 per cent), Nepal (2.06 per cent), Pakistan (1.73 per cent), and Oman (1.66 per cent).

Among centres that account for major share of tourist arrivals, Delhi had the highest share of 26.37 per cent, followed by Mumbai Airport (17.30 per cent), Haridaspur Land check post (11.78 per cent), Chennai Airport (9.03 per cent), Bengaluru Airport (7.54 per cent), Kolkata Airport (4.66 per cent), Cochin Airport (3.89 per cent), Hyderabad Airport (3.71 per cent), Gede Rail (2.73 per cent), Trivandrum Airport (1.76 per cent), Ahmadabad Airport (1.68 per cent), Tiruchirapalli Airport (1.67 per cent), Attari-Wagah (1.38 per cent), Goa Airport (0.82 per cent), and Ghojadanga land check post (0.65 per cent).