The Modi government's achievements on the tourism are mixed. While foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) have been growing consistently aided by a slew of steps including e-tourist visa, the earnings have actually declined.
During the January to November 2015 period, FTAs to India stood at 7.10 million, up 4.5% over 6.79 million over the corresponding period last year. But foreign exchange earnings, or FEEs, were $17.68 billion between January and November this year, down 3.8% from $18.38 billion during the January to November period last year.
The FTA and FEE figures are provisional.
The biggest measure to boost FTAs was e-tourist visa. The facility that was available to citizens of 43 countries till December last year, was increased to citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.
During the 11-month period this year, 3.41 lakh foreign tourists arrived on e-tourist visas, an almost 12-fold increase from 24,963 tourists in the corresponding period last year, according to a press statement by the ministry of tourism.
During the 11-month period, intra-SAARC tourism was discussed at the 5th meeting of SAARC working group on tourism in New Delhi on 25 and 26 November, 2015. Besides promoting tourism within the region, the meeting also explored ways and means to promote the SAARC region as a tourism destination in international markets.
