In a good sign for Indian economy, the foreign tourist inflow in India has witnessed steep increase in last few years.

New Delhi, Feb 21/Nationalturk – The foreign tourist inflow in India has witnessed steep increase in last few years.”

“At least 17.91 million foreign tourists visited India in 2010. Similarly, 19.50 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2011 and 20.73 foreign tourists visited India in 2012,”  Indian Minister of State for Tourism K Chiranjeevi informed lawmakers in Rajya Sabha, upper house of Indian parliament.

Referring to domestic tourist visits, he said 747.70 million domestic tourists visited different parts of country in 2010. “The figure rose to 864.53 million in 2011 and 1036.35 million in 2012”.

‘Foreign tourists preferred to visit Maharashtra, Goa’

The minister said the foreign tourists preferred to visited Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

“The fewer number of foreign tourists visited North Eastern States and Indian administered Kashmir,” the minister said.

Some North Eastern states and Indian administered Kashmir have been witnessing turmoil due to militancy. However, the ground situation in these states have improved considerably as militant violence has come down.

Meanwhile, in order to attract more tourists to the country, Indian government of has relaxed its visa manual to extend the collective landing permits facility with effect from April 1, 2013.

According to Indian government figures, contribution of tourism in employment generation of the country during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 were 10.2%, 10.8% (Provisional) and 11.5% (Provisional) respectively.

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