KOCHI: Foreign exchange earnings (FEE) through tourism in India in the first three months of 2017, in dollar terms, have shown a double-digit growth, for the first time in two years. The major reasons for this change are increase in footfalls due to vis-on-arrival facility, large number of business travellers and lower base in the past few years. FEE during January-March 2017 period was $6.907 billion with a growth of 15.4 per cent compared to $5.986 billion with a growth of 6.8 per cent in the January- March 2016 over January- March 2015.
The data from the Ministry of Tourism shows that the foreign tourist arrival into the country during the first quarter of 2017 was 28.45 lakh with a growth of 13.4 per cent over same period last year. During January- March 2017, a total of 4.67 lakh tourists arrived on e-Tourist Visa compared to 3.21 lakh during January-March 2016. Industry players see this as a positive trend.
“The tourism sector in the country, in general, was going through a tough time in the past two years. In 2017, from the initial signs it is evident that a revival is happening. Visa-on-arrival facility, now extended to over 160 countries, has played a crucial role in this shift. Going forward the industry expects that the tourism scenario in the country will change for the better,” said Abraham George, managing director, Intersight Tours and Travels, and member of Kerala government’s Tourism Advisory Committee.
The UK, the US, Russia, France, China, Germany and Canada are the biggest beneficiaries of the e-visa facility offered in the country. According to the data, the growth rate in FEE in dollar terms in March 2017 over March 2016 was 15.8 per cent compared to 9.8 per cent growth in March 2016 over March 2015. FEE via tourism in Indian currency was Rs 46,310 crore with a growth of 14.6 per cent.
“As the investment climate is favorable now, many business travelers are coming to the country. All these have contributed to the positive change,” said Thomas C Thottathil, vice-president, corporate communications, Cox and Kings.