NEW DELHI: Foreign exchange earnings (FEEs) through Tourism have seen a constant rise in last three years of Narendra Modi government. FEEs during the month of April, this year were Rs 14,692 crore as compared to Rs 11,495 crore in April 2016 and Rs 10,091 crore in April 2015.
According to the union ministry of Tourism, the growth rate in FEEs in rupee terms in April 2017 over April 2016 was 27.8% compared to positive growth of 13.9% in April 2016 over April 2015. The data says that FEEs during the period January- April 2017 were Rs 61,605 crore with a growth of 18.9%, as compared to the FEE of Rs. 51,812 crore with a growth of 15.2% in January- April 2016 over January- April, 2015.
A senior official of the union tourism ministry said that this has become possible due to government’s sustained focus on tourism and facilities for the tourists, both foreign and domestic. India has taken huge strides in the tourism sector in the last year with its rank in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), 2017 had also shown a 12 places jump from 2015. Rank of India in TTCI Report of 2017 was 40 as compared to 52 in 2015, 65 in 2013 and 68 in 2011, added the official.
So far as arrival of foreign tourists is concerned, it has also gone up significantly. The number in April, this year was 7.40 lakh as compared to corresponding number of 5.99 lakh in April, 2016 and 5.42 lakh in April, 2015.
Foreign tourists arrival during the period January- April 2017 were 35.85 lakh with a growth of 15.4%, as compared to 31.08 lakh with a growth of 10.1% in January- April 2016 over January- April 2015.
The official said that apart from the tourism development, Centre making available e-Visa facility for overseas nationals of over 150 countries is one of the main reasons.