Dollar earnings from tourism down 1 % at $1.29 bn in August as rupee slumps

Foreign exchange earnings from overseas tourists arriving in India declined by nearly 1 per cent to $1.294 billion in August 2013, from $1.306 billion in August 2012, amidst a nearly 10 per cent decline in the rupee's exchange rate against the US currency in the last one month.

Foreign exchange earnings from overseas tourists arriving in India during August 2011 stood at $1.264 billion.

During the January-August 2013 period, however, foreign exchange earnings from tourism grew 6.7 per cent year-on-year to $12.025 billion, against a 5.6 per cent growth to $11.273 billion in January-August 2012 over the corresponding period of 2011.

Rupee earnings from tourism, however, increased in August 2013 by 12 per cent to Rs8,139 crore compared to Rs7,260 crore in August 2012 helped by its falling value.  Foreign exchange earnings in rupee terms had increased by a whopping 26.6 per cent in August 2012 from Rs5,734 crore in August 2011.

During January-August 2013, foreign exchange earnings from tourism increased by 14. per cent to Rs67,712 crore, from Rs59,409 crore in January-August 2012, which in turn had recorded a growth of 23.7 per cent over the corresponding period of 2011.

Foreign tourist arrivals in August 2013 rose 6.4 per cent year-on-year to 4.74 lakh from 4.46 lakh in August 2012, which in turn was up 4 per cent from 4.28 lakh tourists in August 2011.

Foreign tourist arrivals during January-August 2013 were up 3.6 per cent at 43.06 lakh against 41.56 lakh tourists during January-August 2012.