London: Mumbai terror attack on November last year, subsequent Swine flu scare and global recession has lead to a decline in tourists visting India, Union Tourism Minister Kumari Shelja has said.
"Owing to the terror attack on Mumbai, subsequent Swine flu scare and global recession, tourism has taken a hit in India as well," she told newspersons here yesterday.
She said between January and October this year, there were 40.23 lakh foreign tourists as against 43.24 lakh during the corresponding period last year.
The foreign exchange earned from tourism during the period between January and October this year was USD 8600 million as against USD 9696 million during the corresponding period last year - a 10.3 percent decline.
However, in terms of Rupees, the Foreign Exchange Earnings this year till October was Rs 42,395 crores as against Rs 40,712 crores during the corresponding period last year - an increase of 4.1 percent.
Tourists from USA took the top position with 8,27, 866 visiting India last year followed the UK - 7,87,197.
Describing tourism industry in India as a "dynamic industry" Shelja said it contributed 6 percent to the GDP and accounted for 9 percent of the work force.
"It is growing and in future we hope to see a lot of growth in the sector," she said.
Asked about the tourism situation in Kashmir, she said though there were certain incidents, "I am glad to say in the recent months things have been looking up in Kashmir."
The minister was speaking at the three-day World Travel Market here which opened yesterday, 21 states and 60 private organisations are participating.
She hoped that at least one lakh people will visit Delhi - both from India and abroad - during the Commonwealth Games in October next year.
"India provides a wide variety of tourist destinations - adventure tourism, beaches, mountains, wildlife, wellness and we want to promote tourism in a big way," she added.
"India is home to over 30 World Heritage sites, few countries can boast such cultural diversity, from the ruins of Hampi to the legacy of great Moghul monuments such as the Taj Mahal," Selja said.
Bureau Report
